New College Independent Alumni/ae Association

Even law enforcement can sometimes use help with the guiding narrative. New College trustees may have been grossly incompetent college administrators, but they were perfectly competent con men. After all, half of them were lawyers.

Closed down for defrauding the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the US Department of Education, one of the perpetrators of the fraud at New College of California is now attempting to convert assets of the school through a specious claim in San Francisco Superior Court.

Although the California Department of Justice has opened a file on New College and its parent corporation the Arlene Francis Foundation, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for them or the San Francisco District Attorney to pursue a case against the trustees or their accomplices. For one thing, the San Francisco DA is an elected position in a Democratic Party stronghold, and New College trustee Agar Jaicks (Peter Gabel’s father-in-law) was Democratic National Committeeman.

This doesn’t mean the DA or AG would participate in a cover-up, but they might decide not to investigate or prosecute crimes of highly-connected politicos. It’s been known to happen. Nancy Pelosi’s half million dollar pork shoveled New College’s way a few years back is an indication of Jaicks’ clout.

Well, it doesn’t get any better than this. Matthew Wilkes, board member of Peter Gabel’s private Arlene Francis Foundation (New College’s landlord) and master mind of the 3-year WASC con job that landed New College in hot water with both WASC and the US Department of Education, filed suit on May 9, 2008 against New College for breach of contract. The referenced contract for consulting services in dealing with WASC between August 2007 and May 2008 was signed by acting New College president Luis Molina on March 12, 2008. Wilkes claims he had an oral contract covering the previous seven months.

Wilkes claim, at the rate of $500/day plus expenses, amounts to $71,817. Wilkes’ expenses include lodging, food, and monthly travel to Brooklyn, New York.

The California Superior Court case management conference is set for October 10, 2008 at 9am, Department 212, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco.