Voices for the Victims
College holds a mythic place in American culture, hailed as the best four years of your life and revered as a beacon of integrity and excellence. But behind the polished campus tours and glossy brochures lies a far more complicated reality.
Each episode of Campus Files uncovers a new story, exploring everything from rigged admissions to sports scandals, free speech, and hazing.
Consider this your unofficial campus tour.
Do you have tips or story ideas?
Send us an email: campusfilespod@gmail.
69 most recent episodes
Visit website →The story of the New College of Florida becoming a pawn in Ron Desantis' campaing for president, and what happens when a school is reshaped by force and against the will of students and faculty.
For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campu
In 1950, the City College of New York pulled off one of the greatest Cinderella stories in sports history, winning both the NIT and NCAA tournaments in the same season. The team, made up largely of Black and Jewish players, became a symbol of possibi
In the first weeks of Donald Trumps second term, the Department of Government Efficiency ransacked the federal government. One student at Brown University decided to take the same approach and bring DOGE to campus.
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What was supposed to be a light workout during football orientation ended in tragedy. Calvin Dickey, a freshman with sickle cell trait, collapsed and died days later. His parents say Bucknell failed to follow basic safety protocols and then withheld
The fight at Utah Valley University over whether or not to install a memorial to Charlie Kirk after his assassination on campusRead Matthew's work: https://www.uvureview.com/author/matthewfranke/For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campus
Sorority recruitment has grown increasingly competitive, with more applicants and the same limited number of spots. A new industry has emerged to meet the pressure: sorority rush consultants. For thousands of dollars, they promise to coach students t
The story of Mark Welsh III, the beloved president of Texas A&M who was dramatically forced out as part of a conservative backlash to academic freedom in higher ed.
Read Kate and Nico's Reporting: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/10/texas-a-m-ma
For decades, freshman orientation came with an unusual requirement: students had to pose for a photograph - completely naked.It wasn’t a fringe practice. Colleges across the country, including several Ivy League schools, did it.Why? And what happened
In our last episode of the season (season 2 is in the works), we look at MIT's Media Lab, which long dazzled the public with its bold ideas and groundbreaking projects. But behind that reputation was a secret: much of the lab’s funding traced back to
Cornell's oldest and most historic a capella group was suddenly shut down in 2017 when allegations of severe hazing came to light.
For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts
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Most Chinese nationals at Stanford never intended to be intelligence assets. But under Chinese law, if the government demands information, they must comply. Two student journalists investigate the sprawling espionage campaign taking place on their ow
Just a few years ago, colleges across the country were pouring resources into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Today, many of those same offices are being dismantled. In some states, the pressure runs so deep that professors are strip
Since World War II, America has led the world in science and medicine by making an unusual choice: instead of keeping research in government labs, it invested directly in universities. That partnership fueled decades of discovery and breakthroughs. B
Lately you’ve probably been hearing about the Department of Education a lot as the Trump administration moves to dismantle it. For many, this move feels shocking and unprecedented. In reality, it's just the latest chapter in a long-running battle ove
A student reporter uncovers troubling rumors about misconduct at University of Washington's prestigious Robinson Center, a school for students as young as 14.
For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts
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As a freshman at Long Beach State, Chele joined a church that was popular with other students. What she didn't know: the group had been accused of cult-like behavior by students nationwide. Years later, she's sharing her story — and warning others ab
In 1965 a group of 5 people broke into a secret Naval base to kidnap a key figure as part of a covert operation. That key figure? A goat named Bill. The kidnappers? West Point cadets.
For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-tran
In 2019, the head doctor for Penn State’s football team was fired after resisting pressure from the head coach to clear injured players. His story exposes a deeper crisis in college sports: when wins and revenue are at stake, who’s protecting the pla
The operation we now know as Operation Varsity Blues didn’t begin the way you might expect. It was uncovered by chance. Prosecutor Eric Rosen takes us behind the scenes of how investigators discovered—and ultimately prosecuted—the largest college adm
In 2016, Loyola University welcomed a new president, sparking excitement on campus — the first woman and the first layperson ever to lead the school. But the honeymoon didn’t last. Soon, the student paper found itself facing an administration determi
Pranks are a legendy part of life on campus in America. There's one campus in particular that has a unique tradition of it's own. This is the story of how Bessie, a 300 pound fiberglass cow, found her way to the top of the Great Dome at MIT.
For a t
Mills College, the first all-women’s college west of the Rocky Mountains, had a rich history of social justice and women's leadership. That is, until the school shocked everyone by announcing it was going bankrupt and would soon be absorbed by a new
For years, Dartmouth’s student newspaper quietly struggled to stay afloat. Then in 2021, a student uncovered a case of massive financial fraud that would shake the paper to its core.
For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-trans
Few people know that most of our modern medical knowledge is based on centuries old research using human remains, often stolen. While those practices are thankfully gone today, the market for human remains is as strong as ever. In 2023, the public go
It’s been called the most powerful—and most secretive—fraternity in America. For decades, a shadowy group known as The Machine has controlled student government at the University of Alabama through intimidation and backroom deals. And it matters—beca
The future of for-profit schools, and the millions of students who have attended them hangs in the balance as a key legal protection is under threat from the courts and the Trump administration.
For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campu
Ashley Pizzuti fell in love with photography from an early age, and found what felt like the perfect opportunity to start the career of her dreams. She would soon learn that her school was part of an industry designed to prey upon students like her,
For the last 30 years, a group of schools have targeted America's most vulnerable students, saddling them with mountains of debt and a poor education, all for the sake of profit. Mike DiGiacomo fell victim to two of these schools.
For a transcript o
Half of all college students and 73% of social fraternity members experience hazing. As it turns out, hazing has a long and deadly history in the United States and we know about this history in large part because of the hard work of one man, Hank Nuw
In 2016, a woman overdosed on meth in a Pasadena hotel room. The man who provided the drugs: Dr. Carmen Puliafito, the dean of USC’s Keck School of Medicine. As one reporter at the Los Angeles Times fought to expose the truth, he encountered a power
Cornell's Brian Wansink was at the top of his field, renowned for translating behavioral science into practical tips for improving eating habits. He famously popularized the notion that we tend to eat more when served in large bowls. But, when skepti
In 2010, USC launched a fully remote version of its prestigious social work program. According to USC’s website, it offered the same professors, curriculum, and career services as the on-campus version. However, those who enrolled—at a cost of over $
Holden Thorp was the chancellor of UNC when the university faced the worst atheltic scandal in its history. This week, he opens up about his experience—revealing what he knew, what he kept hidden from the public, and what he would do differently if g
In 2019, after nearly two decades at Duke University, one of its most popular—and controversial—professors was abruptly ousted. For the first time, Evan Charney reveals the untold story behind his departure.
For a transcript of this episode: https:/
In 2022, Columbia University math professor Michael Thaddeus published a 21-page analysis accusing his own university of submitting flawed data to U.S. News & World Report. His findings would cause the entire academic world to question the legitimacy
In 2016, police uncovered a multi-million dollar drug ring operated by fraternity brothers at the College of Charleston. The police report reads like a Breaking Bad episode, complete with firearms, grenade launchers, and hundreds of thousands of doll
In February 2011, George Desdunes was kidnapped by freshman pledges as part of a hazing ritual. He was blindfolded, tied up, and made to consume a lethal amount of alcohol. When George's mother stepped in to get answers, she was met with silence.
For
In 2023, Joe Gow, the long-serving chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, began posting pornographic videos featuring him and his wife, revealing a double life the couple had long kept hidden. This revelation ultimately cost him his job
In 2023, Joe Gow, the long-serving chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, began posting pornographic videos featuring him and his wife online, revealing a double life the couple had long kept hidden. This revelation ultimately cost him
In 2002, Harvard undergraduate student Amit Paley stumbled upon a strange entry in Harvard’s archival database: “Secret Court Files, 1920.”
This discovery unearthed a dark and little-known chapter in Harvard’s history—a secret disciplinary tribunal c
In 2013, Alpha Gamma Delta senior Melanie Gotz made national headlines when she revealed that sorority hopefuls were being cut from rush based on race. Her allegations shed light on the entrenched segregation within the University of Alabama’s Greek
For years, UNC protected its athletic dominance wth fake classes to keep athletes eligible. In 2011, the secret exploded into public view, threatening to shatter the university’s athletic standing.
Read Andy’s book: https://press.umich.edu/Books/D/Di
Between 1993 and 2011, UNC operated a shadow curriculum—hundreds of courses and independent studies that never met, required no work, and awarded high grades. The reason? To keep athletes eligible for UNC's multi-million dollar sports program.
Read J
Jane Doe 15 tells her story.
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More survivors of sexual violence at Liberty speak for the first time, revealing yet again how deeply the coverup culture on campus is rooted. Our reporting has led to a lawsuit against Liberty, in which the women featured in episode 3, those in this
Liberty University strayed far from its mission under the leadership of Jerry Falwell Jr, but even in the wake of his departure, the future of the school may be determined by those who enabled him.
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Atypical Liberty students face enormous and sometimes dangerous pressure on campus.
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It pays to be connected to the Falwells.
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From the Liberty Police Department, to the student newspaper, to faculty, staff, and administration, loyalty was constantly tested, and enforced.
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Jerry Falwell Sr founds Liberty University in 1971. Amid financial turmoil, Jerry Falwell Jr takes over in 2007. Business booms, but at what cost?
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Liberty has failed to address, and even covered up the stories of women who have been sexually harassed and assaulted on campus.
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Giancarlo Granda, AKA “The Pool Boy” reveals the predatory nature of the Falwells. Exclusive audio reveals another side, and another character in the middle of this story.
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A never-before told story details Jerry and Becki Falwell’s behavior at the height of their power. And a favor comes with big enough strings attached to change the course of an election.
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Following the last episode of Season 2, the creators of Gangster Capitalism received a tip about a secret scheme to keep Wayne LaPierre in power.
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A former Ackerman employee explains how expenses were hidden. Leaked audio of Wayne LaPierre lets people know the real damage under his watch. Where will the NRA go from here?
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Board members are receiving money directly from the NRA. A fundraiser and a major donor decide they’ve seen enough.
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Could this be more than business? Could it be personal? A deeper look at the NRA attorney at the center of everything.
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The NRA has a new program to help lift them out of financial despair, and a fresh face to run it. But both turn out to be disasters.
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A dream job slowly becomes something very different for a former NRA fundraiser, as ethical questions come to light.
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A financial surplus becomes a deficit once Wayne LaPierre is elevated to EVP, and he is questioned about the relationship with Ackerman McQueen, more than 20 years ago. An old friend with a clever maneuver helps to keep the status quo.
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Lines are drawn, as Wayne LaPierre’s supremacy is tested, and the rift spills out into public.
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A show of strength and unity kicks off the 2019 Annual Convention, but behind the scenes, the NRA is nearing a civil war.
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With sentences starting to be handed out to those who’ve plead guilty in this scandal, some cases are coming to a close. Others who’ve plead not guilty may have an uphill battle, despite their potential argument that Rick Singer followed the steps of
An argument is made that just because we are repelled by the indicted parents’ behavior, that doesn’t make it criminal. In fact, one opinion is that the parents may face no punishment. Some solutions are presented, but a mother and a son show us that
A Singer parent negotiates a deal for her son to have the ACT taken for him, without him even being in the same state, and a college admissions insider reveals the a la carte menu that wealthy parents have when donating to schools, also known as “The
A best friend, a mentee, and a former coworker provide an intimate account of Rick Singer’s transition from the boy determined to transform himself, to the coach who refused to accept failure, to the man whose obsession with wealth would be his ultim
Federal agents make an arrest for securities fraud, and get much more than expected. They are offered information that leads to a man they’d never heard of - Rick Singer, and the biggest scandal in education history. Once Singer is caught, he brings
Rick Singer’s “Side Door” has another, more expensive option that clients like actor, Lori Loughlin opt for. The scam? $500,000 to get your kids accepted to college as Division 1 athletes - even if they never actually played the sport. Race and statu
Through transcriptions of wiretapped conversations between Rick Singer, Felicity Huffman, and others, Episode 1 brings to life just how dirty these schemes were. We also hear from a student who cheated on his SAT, a psychologist who deals with studen