Wharton MBAs discuss the expulsion of another student

Every year, thousands of students hoping to make their mark on the business world apply to Wharton's MBA program, but only an elite 780 make it.

That's why 2003 Wharton MBA student Yasmin Lokhandwala believes that the 2002 Wharton MBA student expelled last week wasted one of these coveted spots.

"The MBA program accepts about 800 MBA students each year, and by being dishonest, [the student] obviously wasted one seat that could have gone to a more deserving candidate," Lokhandwala said. "This program is prestigious. It can change people's lives. One seat matters."

According to Wharton School Vice Dean Anjari Jain, the student was expelled on March 18 after it was discovered that the student provided misleading information, including a "forgery," in an application to the school. Jain said the student violated the "statement of application integrity," which is found on the application itself and must be signed by all applicants.

The student appealed the decision to Wharton's Executive Committee, but the nine-member faculty panel upheld Jain's initial decision. Wharton officials would not release the name of the student, citing federal regulations and University policy.

Though fierce competition surrounds admission into the Wharton MBA program -- recently rated the best in the world by The Financial Times -- Wharton graduate student Chris Seay said he believes the high-pressure atmosphere is not to blame for the student's actions.

"I think [in] any kind of hyper competition to get into a coveted school... and Wharton is obviously very competitive at the MBA level, you're going to have people that take unfair advantage," Seay said. "I don't know that is necessarily specific to Wharton, but you might find in very competitive situations people taking unethical chances."

In fact, Seay said he feels that Wharton's policy of not disclosing students' grades generally helps deter such unethical acts.

"I haven't seen a lot of cheating, and I think the grade nondisclosure policy -- we don't disclose our grades to recruiters, nor are they allowed to ask -- goes a long way in helping with that," he said. "As long as you don't fail out, we all have the same standing... it encourages more teamwork. Because of that, anyone who cheats, you kind of have to question their motivation."

However, Lokhandwala said that because of her own cultural background, she can understand what might have motivated the student to seek unfair advantage.

"I come from India, and it's a country of haves and have-nots, and that's why you see people going to any extent to make sure that they get one step up," Lokhandwala said. "That's why I can understand what must have driven this student to do this, but that doesn't justify it. The school needs to live up to its high moral and ethical standards, and the student should have respected that."

Seay said he feels Wharton has lived up to high ethical standards simply in its handling of the issue.

"I think it's a good comment on Wharton that when this act was pointed out to Wharton, they acted on it and didn't shove it under the mat," Seay said. "They expelled the student and publicly admitted the mistake. I think that sets a good tone for the school."

Lokhandwala said that she, too, felt Wharton handled the student's situation appropriately.

"I am really happy with the way the school has handled it," she said. The student, she said, "broke a rule and got punished for it. They let the student body know that we aren't going to tolerate this."

Lokhandwala also said that she respected Wharton's decision not to release the student's name.

"I do believe that everybody has a right to make a fresh start and being expelled from Wharton is drastic punishment enough," Lokhandwala said. The student, she said, "spent a lot of money, and got expelled four weeks before graduation. I hope [the student] can make a new start using honest means."

To prevent such tragedies in the future, Seay said he would like Wharton to further elucidate the ethics guidelines and expectations.

"I think the ethics committee should publish a very sanitized version of infractions monthly, just so everyone knows the kinds of things that are going on and what the consequences are," he said. "There's always gray areas, and I don't want to know names or specifics, but I if I know in general that last month somebody got in trouble for doing X, then I would know, 'OK, that's where the line is.'"

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