FORMER ROUGHRIDER CHARGED IN U.S. ADMISSIONS SCAM
By: Joti Grewal
Sooke News Mirror
A Vancouver businessman, philanthropist and former Saskatchewan Roughrider is among those arrested in the United States in connection with the college admissions scandal involving some of the most elite universities in the world.
The U.S. Department of Justice arrested several people allegedly involved in a conspiracy to cheat on college entrance exams and the admission of students at such schools as Yale, Stanford, University of Southern California, and Georgetown.
David Sidoo, 59, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud on March 8 in San Jose, Calif., and appeared in U.S. District Court this week.
Court documents reveal Sidoo allegedly payed $200,000 to have someone take standardized tests for his two sons as part of the admissions process to U.S. universities.
According to the University of British Columbia’s website, where he is listed on the Faculty of Education page, Sidoo graduated from UBC in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He led the UBC Thunderbirds as a defensive back to their first Vanier Cup National Championship in 1982. The Sidoo Field at Thunderbird Stadium is named for him.
He later played professionally with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (DB, 1983-84) and was inducted in the BC Football Hall of Fame.
Sidoo is the president and CEO of the Vancouver-based East West Petroleum Corporation, and runs a charitable organization. He has received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Order of BC.
