11-24-2003, 07:46 AM
It was stunning enough that a young woman saddled with a University (sic) of Toledo degree managed to find work at the Washington Post.
(Sure, she had lied on her resume, denying she had ever attended the University (sic) of Toledo. But who wouldn't? And, in any case, this wasn't known until much later).
But that wasn't enough for Janet Cooke. On April 13, 1981, the University (sic) of Toledo graduate was awarded the Putlizer Prize.
This was heady, heady stuff indeed for a "university" accustomed to grading the achievements of its graduates on a flat curve, Special Olympics-like.
But, sadly, it was short-lived. When, in shock, The Blade called the Post and began asking questions, it all began to unravel.
These days, Cooke's career more closely resembles that of other University (sic) of Toledo graduates. When last seen, she was selling underwear at a Hudson's in Kalamazoo, Mich.
<a href='http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/day/04_17_2001.html' target='_blank'>Janet's story.</a>
<a href='http://feastofhateandfear.com/archives/cooke.html' target='_blank'>Jimmy's World</a>
(Sure, she had lied on her resume, denying she had ever attended the University (sic) of Toledo. But who wouldn't? And, in any case, this wasn't known until much later).
But that wasn't enough for Janet Cooke. On April 13, 1981, the University (sic) of Toledo graduate was awarded the Putlizer Prize.
This was heady, heady stuff indeed for a "university" accustomed to grading the achievements of its graduates on a flat curve, Special Olympics-like.
But, sadly, it was short-lived. When, in shock, The Blade called the Post and began asking questions, it all began to unravel.
These days, Cooke's career more closely resembles that of other University (sic) of Toledo graduates. When last seen, she was selling underwear at a Hudson's in Kalamazoo, Mich.
<a href='http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/day/04_17_2001.html' target='_blank'>Janet's story.</a>
<a href='http://feastofhateandfear.com/archives/cooke.html' target='_blank'>Jimmy's World</a>