Free Republic

KIEV, Ukraine - Ukraine's U.S.-born justice minister acknowledged Tuesday that he never earned a master's degree from Columbia University despite listing the achievement on his government-sponsored Web site. ADVERTISEMENT The disclosure by Roman Zvarych, 51, follows weeks of controversy over his educational background. The staunch ally of President Viktor Yushchenko has faced increasing pressure to produce his diplomas after news reports suggested he had studied at the school but had not completed the degree. "From 1976 until 1978, I studied at the School of International Affairs at the Columbia University and I don't have a master's degree," Zvarych told reporters....

The full 9th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals (composed of 28 judgeships) recently upheld the wildly unpopular 2-1 ruling of its smaller three judge panel, agreeing with Sacramento atheist Michael Newdow that it was unconstitutional for students to recite the words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance. Judge Stephen Reinhardt, concurring in the full 9th Circuit order, explained: We may not – we must not – allow public sentiment or outcry to guide our decisions. . . . Any suggestion, whenever or wherever made, that federal judges should be encouraged by the approval of the majority or deterred by...

This year marks 225(older, but timeless article) years since our Founding Fathers gave us our National Birth Certificate. We continue to be the longest on-going Constitutional Republic in the history of the world. Blessings such as these are not by chance or accidental. They are blessings of God. On July 2, 1776, Congress voted to approve a complete separation from Great Britain. Two days afterwards — July 4th —the early draft of the Declaration of Independence was signed, albeit by only two individuals at that time: John Hancock, President of Congress, and Charles Thompson, Secretary of Congress. Four days later,...

SEATTLE -- A KIRO Team 7 Investigation exposes Washington teachers who buy illegitimate college degrees. They can profit. You pay! Worse yet, Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne discovers a loophole that technically makes this legal. The state Superintendent's office gladly approves automatic pay increases for teachers who complete their masters or doctorate. I've discovered, however, the state does not routinely check to see if the degrees are from real or certified universities. We tracked down some educators who are either getting more money, or more respect, than they deserve. Dr. Kevin Evoy is principal at Thurgood Marshall Middle School in Olympia....

Earlier this year multiple stories surfaced in the national media exposing the problem of federal government employees obtaining "fake" degrees to acquire salary increases. These "degrees" were claimed by employees at the Department of Homeland Security, the Pentagon, the Transportation Security Administration, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Department of Treasury and the Department of Education. Illegitimate degrees also surfaced in a number of state reviews of teacher personnel files. In 2002, three Oregon teachers had their credentials revoked after claiming to hold degrees from La Salle University in Louisiana, a now-defunct diploma mill (there is an accredited La Salle in...