Touro College, School of Health Sciences discriminated me, dismissed me from the Occupational Therapy Program, its College as well as prohibited me from pursuing opportunities it offers in other academic disciplines, disregarded my appeal letters, took away my right to pursue education and framed me for a crime I did not commit. Attempted falsifying business records 2nd degree. Bellow you will find the description of what took place in Touro College, School of Health Sciences Occupational Therapy Program. I have also included in the package two loose leaf binders. One binder has transcripts, registration papers, appeal letters, e-mails from professors and staff, an audio cassette and a CD of a conversation that took place with me and Professor Claire Daffner who discriminated me in the dual degree B.S. in Health Sciences and M.S. in Occupational Therapy Program in Touro College. The other binder has exams and term papers. I reported and sent my evidence to various agencies including, United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights who later dropped the investigation. I also reported Touro College's discrimination to channels, CBS 2, NBC 4, ABC 7, WPIX 11. I also contacted the FBI and explained my situation about my discrimination and unfair practices and reported how police came to my residents without court a order, or subpoena and did not read me Miranda Warning, or told me the charges brought against me. I told the FBI that Touro College has illegal practices and abuses its power as well as wrote an e-mails to United States Student Association who responded quickly to me, but Touro College has not made any attempt to resolve the situation. I am afraid to go to jail.

Below you will find a more detailed version of my story and the experience I have been going through since I joined Touro College as a student. Touro College, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences with the help of Michael Cherner's graduation form awarded me its Associate in Arts (A.A.) Degree in Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts & Sciences, June 28, 2005.

THIS IS MY STORY

My name is Michael and I live in Brooklyn, New York. I identify myself as an American Citizen who came to this country as a young boy from Belarus. It used to be part of former Soviet Union. I am in a legal loophole. Touro College framed me for crime I did not commit and took away my right for education. I received a misdemeanor and, I may get a jail sentence. I am afraid because I do not want to go to jail. Misdemeanor, which I got, is unjust because police, lawyers and the U.S. Department of Education authorities hided most evidence under the influence of Touro College.

In 2005 Spring, I came to see Michael Cherner's in his office at 1726 Kings Highway Touro College Campus. I asked my Michael Cherner if I would be eligible for graduation. Michael Cherner asked my Student ID then looked into his computer. He told me that I have good grades and I have enough credits for graduation. He gave me a graduation form with major declaration for me to sign then told me to give it to the registrar and bursar. A month or so later, I logged into my Touro College Academic account and noticed that 2 backdated History courses I never attended appeared for 2004 Fall Semester and they are (GHS – 105 – YA U.S HISTOR Y – 1763-1900 4 Credits Grade A) and (GJS – 271 – OL AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY 3 Credits Grade A). Few months passed and 2005 Spring Semester 2 more backdated History courses I never attended appeared and they are (GCA – 133 -YM HIST OF MUSIC I: ANCIENT TO BAROQUE 4 Credits grade A) (GHS-106-YA HISTORY OF THE U S 1877 TO PRESENT 4 Credits Grade A).

One day, in the morning, when I was getting ready to go to work, police came to my home without a court order. They did not read me Miranda Warning and told me to take off my tie. My lawyer Ilya Z. Kleynerman told me that if I pursue a court appeal it will ruin my life and make Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Lenzner very angry.

It all started when I applied to Touro College School of Health Sciences program in dual degree in BS in Health Sciences and MS in Occupational Therapy. In the year of 2004 I was invited for an interview with Claire Daffner a professor in the Occupational Therapy program in Touro College. On the interview Professor Claire Daffner, asked me questions regarding my national origin, my family socioeconomic status as well as made racial remarks. Claire Daffner asked me the following questions during the interview, "Do you live in a Russian Ghetto?, What do your parents do for a living?, Are you an Introvert or an Extravert?, What are you going to do if you are not going to be accepted into the program?”

Within a month, in mail I received a rejection letter stating that I was not accepted into the program.

Later, I was accepted in the program for the Fall of 2005 semester with the assistance of Michael Cherner and Andrique Baron. I was invited to Bayshore campus to meet with Elyse Pimsler and in her office she told me, “Andrique Barron is no longer your advocate.” As the semester went along in Gross Anatomy course at Bayshore Occupational Therapy Program I was segregated away from Occupational Therapy students and forced to sit with Physical Therapy students during examinations and lectures. I received unfair exams, was graded unfairly and did not receive class curves as other OT students received. I was truly neglected by professors. I believe that as an Occupational Therapy student I was a performing better than average but my grades were lowered and not curved as the rest of the class. Unfortunately the lack of support and negative environment produced by faculty and staff made it difficult for me to pursue my dream of becoming an Occupational Therapist. I turned to Professor Piroska Szabo the Gross Anatomy Professor for help, but unfortunately she was the one lowering my grades. Professor Piroska Szabo said to me, “"No one will ever ask you about your grades, and you are used to failing". Imagine what I have been going through. In Gross Anatomy cadaver dissection laboratory I was placed in the back of the class and received little attention from instructors. I felt hopeless and had no one to turn to. I was emotionally tormented by the events that took place.

Not knowing what to do next, I turned to Michael Cherner the Director of Kings Highway Touro College campus and Andrique Barron Director of admissions in Touro College for help; who were both sent to jail recently. My Gross Anatomy Professor Piroska Szabo failed me in the course and I met with the Occupational Therapy Department Leave of Absence and Academic Standing Committee to discuss my future in Occupational Therapy Program and asked for a second chance to retake the Gross Anatomy course. The committee put me on academic probation with the condition that If I do well in the Gross Anatomy course I will be allowed to continue my studies. I retook the Gross Anatomy course in Manhattan Campus for Spring 2006 semester with Professor Stephen Kanter who gave me an excellent grade. Afterward, the committee sent me a letter stating that I would be placed on academic probation and be allowed to transfer to Manhattan Occupational Therapy Program and begin my full time studies in Summer of 2006 semester under the conditions that I maintain my GPA, not fail more than 3 courses and Professor Claire Daffner would be my academic advisor and that I would have to see her weekly.

Later, I was invited to Claire Daffner's class, where she gave me and other students registration papers to select courses for the upcoming Summer 2006 semester in Occupational Therapy program at Manhattan campus. I chose a full time course load of twenty credits for this semester. Claire Daffner collected my signed registration papers along with other students in the class.

The courses I registered for are: (HS-150 Kinesiology 4 Credits), (HS-190 Neurosciences 4 Credits), (OT-123 Growth & Development II 2 Credits), (OT-131 Psycho Social 3 Credits), (OT-135 Substance Abuse Seminar 1 Credit), (OT-175 OT Theory & Practice I 3 Credits).

During my mandatory weekly meetings with her, she verbally abused me, made threats that I will fail all of my courses, diagnosed me with an "Auditory Processing Disorder" (She is not a medical doctor), as well as told me that other students are smarter and better than me. I have this on audio recording tape and CD. Claire Daffner told me, "You don't know what I am capable of doing." As a student, I did well in all of my courses but Instructors under Claire Daffner's influence lowered my grades and made my learning environment unbearable for me. As a result, Claire Daffner Professor of OT-175 OT Theory & Practice I 3 Credits failed me in her course. Professor Lana Goodman of OT-131 Psycho Social 3 Credits failed me despite of my excellent performance in her class. I received a letter in mail stating that I am dismissed from the Occupational Therapy Program. The requirement to be kicked out from the program is by failing 3 courses. Theoretically I did not fail 3 courses but Gross Anatomy course which I retook and received an excellent grade was not accounted for as a passing course. It is Claire Daffner who did this. Afterward, I appealed to the Occupational Therapy Committee including Dean School of Health Sciences Joseph Weisberg as well as Associate Dean School of Health Sciences Gerald D. Barry Ph.D to allow me continue my education and become an Occupational Therapist, but I was denied every appeal by Occupational Therapy Department Leave of Absence and Academic Standing Committee. I also asked Joseph Weisberg to arrange a hearing with me but he never did. During a meeting with Vera-Jean Clark Brown the Director of Occupational Therapy Program, she said to me, “You will never become an Occupational Therapist”. Months later to a year after I have been dismissed from the Occupational Therapy Program I noticed in my Touro College student log in account that I was missing 27 credits in the following courses and they were not reflected anymore on my transcript.

The following courses were deleted are:

(HS-104 Gross Anatomy 7 Credits), For Spring 2006 Semester, I retook

(HS-150 Kinesiology 4 Credits), For Summer 2006 Semester

(HS-190 Neurosciences 4 Credits), For Summer 2006 Semester

(OT-123 Growth & Development II 2 Credits), For Summer 2006 Semester

(OT-131 Psycho Social 3 Credits), For Summer 2006 Semester

(OT-135 Substance Abuse Seminar 1 Credit), For Summer 2006 Semester

(OT-175 OT Theory & Practice I 3 Credits). For Summer 2006 Semester

As soon as I found out that my courses has been deleted, I contacted the Director of Occupational Therapy Program, Vera-Jean Clark Brown. Ms. Clark Brown told me that I should not see the professors in regard to my missing courses and grades instead, see Vladimir Rozin the main Registrar at the Manhattan Touro College Campus at 27-33 West 23 Street. She also told me, “You're a nice guy I feel sorry for you.”

During a meeting with the Registrar Vladimir Rozin I demanded that he return my courses and that I was discriminated by Professor Claire Daffner in addition to that, I have exams and paperwork to prove that I did attend those courses as well as have appeal letters where the courses are defined. He told me that it is the administration's fault and that I should find my registration papers for these courses on my own. He also said to me, “You smell like a criminal”.

Months later, I wanted to complete my Bachelor Degree, despite the fact that my grades were stolen from me. I met with Lacey Shaw an Adviser at Touro College, who told me that I will not be able to be accepted into Touro College and that I will be told the same thing by everyone including the Dean. But he gave me registration forms for courses to complete my Bachelor's Degree. I went through the registration process twice and at the end I was told to see Vladimir Rozin who told me that I should have asked his permission before I began my admission and registration process. Rozin told me to go with him to see Middle States representative about my situation and was told by both of them that there is nothing they can do. The Representative told me to apply to Excelsior College and later on I sent my transcript to Excelsior College.

Recently, I met with Dr. Bernard Lander president of Touro College and I respectfully requested that he give me a second chance at life and allow me to complete my Bachelor's Degree.

I contacted the Office of the President who told me to see Avery Horowitz, Associate Dean of Students for Advisement and Counseling. Mr. Avery Horowitz told me that I would be allowed to register for courses he even asked me about what degree which would I want to pursue. I told him Psychology or Liberal Arts. He told me it is okay and that I should see Sofia Volfson an Academic Adviser at Touro College Flatbush Ave J campus to register for courses. During my advisement with Ms Sofia Volfson I filled out registration papers for courses. I was even advised by her to sit in Experimental Psychology course while registration would process. I set in one class, but later she told loudly in the hallway, "I was set up, I couldn't do anything!" She told me that I have a permanent Touro College hold. She even attempted to snatch away my student copy of registration papers for courses I signed up for. I felt frightened and left the building not knowing what to do next.

Later, I wrote numerous appeals to President Bernard Lander, Allan Kadish Senior Provost, and to Office of the President asking them to give me a second chance to complete my Bachelor's degree but I had no reply from them. Allan Kadish took over Touro College after Bernard Lander retired.

Later, I contacted and reported these problems to the United Stated Department of Education Office for Civil Rights as well as the FBI, United States Students Association, CBS 2, NBC 4, ABC 7, WPIX 11, letting them know about the events that took place at Touro College and that my rights have been violated numerous times. U.S Department of Education Office for Civil Rights sent me a letter in mail stating that my request for Touro College investigation is denied and that my occupation of study is Physical Therapy and not Occupational Therapy. Office for Civil Rights dropped the investigation.

I don't know what to do next, I am afraid to go to jail.

Sincerely,

Michael

I think you all must be youthful people. Agreed, as an "undergraduate," you should work for your credentials -- in any chosen field. Let's face facts, though. If you are NOT in the business of saving people's lives or biogenetic discovery, what the heck.

I am all for buying a degree. Most of the colleges that offer MA's in BS (and you know what that is) just overrate their courses, charge you an arm and a leg, put you in a mound of student loan debt and you get nothing for your troubles but a year and a half wait and a mounting debt.

Go for it. Wish someone could help me get a bogus MA in something like Political Science or Human Resources. Would pay decent money for it from an accredited college.

Hope there are MORE cash for diplomas out there.

Gothamist leaves out an important point made in the D.A.'s official statement: Touro College itself discovered the corruption and notified the police and D.A. If systematic corruption were involved, Touro College would ignore or suppress such criminality.

For teachers, students and staff who work honestly, this betrayal by the two administrators is a punch in the gut. Touro, in fact, has raised entrance and exit standards and implemented many quality control methods: multiple measures of skills, departmental grading (to normalize standards), faculty development, and detailed reports to the state and regional accreditation bodies.

-a Touro teacher (and not an easy grader!)

I agree with you....people are very quick to judge. I am seeing that more and more people are questioning anyone who went to Touro. It is very disturbing that so many people who worked hard to earn a degree are becoming objects of questions. Even silly jokes....As for the quickness of judging people and blame the system...lets be real, that's just the norm for society today.

In my opinion, this is really a morality issue. I went to a "name" university for my undergraduate degree and witnessed a great amount cheating. Some students would not even show up to class as they would pay other students to do the work for them...I went to a "gin mill" school to get my masters and saw more hard working professionals trying to better their lives. I actually learned more in that environment. Cheating in education has become increasingly pervasive at all levels and instead of addressing the true cause we are all too quick to judge and blame the system.

If the department of education respected the teachers who took the time to obtain degrees from known colleges...maybe people would be more likely to put the effort in for their further degrees....instead of going to the diploma mills...which seem so plentiful in NYC. Paying for a degree from Touro is like shoplifting from a dollar store!!

Well, I graduated from a CUNY school and let me tell you that it was more *glorified* high school than "Harvardesque." (For the record, I didn't go to high school in New York.)

(I'll just add that I'd leave CUNY out of it. Compared to Touro, the CUNY schools I've taught at are Harvardesque.)

At the beginning of my graduate career I adjuncted in the South Brooklyn division of Touro. What I saw was pretty disturbing - Russian immigrants with very weak English were taking (at best) highschool-quality classes in order to get associates degrees. The busiest corner of the building was the financial aid office, and I wondered if they were using public money for this or just saddling these people with debt. It was a fun first experience to meet the students (who were very interesting), but I felt that whatever it was it was not a college.

Teachers were also involved! They were all in this together...

"We're all in this together, baby" as they like to say.

I wonder if it concerned the Continuing Ed division. Many continuing ed or adult ed divisions within unoversities are a major cash cow. Most do not offer scholarships, an if they do, it's only enough to cover books. Money raised from these divisions go toward grants to "traditional" college students at their more prestigious or main Arts & Science schools. Touro is not the only institution of "higher learning" that is guilty with respect to this controversy; just look at other universities in NYC.

As an a hiring manager, however, I will have doubts about hiring students from Touro in the future.

A lot of issues here, and not just those relating to the main topic.

Someone mentioned that Touro college provides financial support to Zionist causes? I didn't know that. I don't have anything against Israel but I'm just surprised to learn that.

The issue that concerns me is that there are people somewhere in this city working with children with Master's degrees in Ed that they did not earn to achieve, and people working as Physician Assistants in hospitals and medical offices with degrees they did not earn - these people are dealing with people's lives everyday!

Master of Ed candidates requires teaching experience prior to graduation. Do schools actually verify that students have actually fulfilled that requirement? How did the Dept. of Ed possibly have let that slip by? And maybe Touro should upgrade their hiring standards for clerical and administrative staff....?

I will agree that there are too many "colleges" out there, esp. in this city. that are just worthless diploma mills; the only people that benefit are union members and "professors" that provide nothing more than their opinions - some not all but still alot of them! IMHO, many CUNY schools should be vocational training schools.

Seems to me this was done by a few individual employees with access to grades, and other paperwork. This has minimal bearing on Touro as a general organization. Following some of the above comments, maybe we should get rid of CUNY for some of the individuals accused of fraud about a year and half ago (Hunter college)?

I personally think this is an act of one or two greedy individuals who just had access they should not have had. If you think NYU or other top schools are safe from this type of money-hungry behavior, you are greatly mistaken.

There are too many universities in existence today. Some of them, desperate to survive, try this type of thing.

It is sad. Maybe NY state will discredit them, the same way it went after Drake and Interboro..

uh, because my degree from NYU is barely worth anything and at least NYU has a name.

To the three commentors above, it seems very easy to speak from an ignorant point of view. It requires minimal effort, or brain activity. How about some basis for your hate statements befor you trash something you knwo nothing about?

Surprising? Not to me. This whole city is about making as much money as you can.

The money Touro "college" raises goes directly towards zionist causes in Israel.

It's all a scam.

Mikhail Cherner is another person charged in this scheme. The article also mentions that fake medical doctor's degrees are floating out there.

Why isn't Morgenthau looking into that? Will it upset the zionist moneytrain?

a diploma from "Touro" is actually worth anything?