Campus Files: Scandals, Secrets & Crimes at American Universities

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Texas Tech’s Big Bet | The Quarterback Who Became a Liability Nov 04, 2026

Show notes

Brendan Sorsby was one of the most coveted quarterbacks in college football, with schools competing fiercely to land him. When Texas Tech spent millions to sign him, there was talk he could help deliver a national championship. But Sorsby would turn out to be a very expensive problem for the university.

For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Aaron Swartz at MIT | The Cost of Information Oct 28, 2026

Show notes

In January 2011, a camera hidden in a seemingly innocuous closet on the campus of MIT captured a few minutes of silent but fateful footage. For his actions captured on video, the young tech prodigy and activist, Aaron Swartz, faced up to 35 years in prison, fines totalling a million dollars, the loss of his right to vote, and the likely end of his promising career. Two years later, both MIT, and federal prosecutors would come under fire when Aaron Swartz died by suicide.

For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Wakeyleaks | Wake Forest's Stolen Plays Oct 21, 2026

Show notes

Wake Forest players couldn’t seem to get down the football field. Even their trick plays weren’t working. Some remember thinking it felt like the other team had access to their playbook. It would take years, and an investigation, to confirm that suspicion wasn’t so far-fetched. There had, in fact, been a leak from inside the program.

For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

The Censorship School | Overhaul of Texas Tech Oct 14, 2026

Show notes

One morning in Lubbock, an isolated town in northwest, Texas. The funeral go-ers are gathering outside one of Texas Tech’s Administration buildings. Behind them, University Regents file into the building, preparing for a Board of Regents meeting. The mourners are protesting the ""end of academic freedom"" at Texas Tech.

For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Beating the House | The MIT Blackjack Team Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

By day, they were MIT students and working professionals. By night, they played blackjack at casinos. Using mathematics and card counting, the MIT blackjack team found a way to beat the house and walk away with huge sums of money. They were good at it. Maybe too good. And before long, the casinos started to catch on.

For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

The Pit of Hades | Chemical Weapons at American University Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

In the 90s construction crews discovered a small collection of leftover World War I era munitions buried in the ground. This discovery triggered a massive and ever expanding search. The situation was made far more terrifying when researchers learned of a pit where a massive stockpile of chemical weapons was buried. Back in World War I, the Army crews burying these materials nicknamed this spot “The Pit of Hades”, calling it the most feared and respected place on the grounds. But the trouble was, nobody alive knew where this pit was buried.

For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Radioactive Oatmeal | MIT’s Experiments on Institutionalized Children Sep 23, 2026

Show notes

In the mid-20th century, Americans were paying closer attention to nutrition. MIT researchers wanted to determine the nutritional value of oats. But their study required children to eat oatmeal containing radioactive tracers. They found those children inside a state institution.
For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

BenLadner.com | American Universities Drudge Report Sep 16, 2026

Show notes

The early 2000s on American University, was a time of political intrigue... at least in student government. Eventually, one former student government member decided he'd had enough and created his own student paper named after the president of the University, Ben Ladner. As a result, he'd end up in court, in an alteraction with secret service, and more.
For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

Behind Closed Doors | Inside the Harlow Primate Lab Sep 09, 2026

Show notes

Madeline had always loved animals, so she was thrilled to land a job at UW’s primate lab. But what she discovered inside was nothing like she expected -- and ultimately drove her to fight for greater accountability in scientific research.

For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

ELIZA | The Worlds First "AI" Chatbot Sep 02, 2026

Show notes

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, one researcher is credited with creating the very first chatbot, a technology that, almost exactly 60 years in the future, would explode into the mainstream, alter the global economy, and raise significant questions about the future. It turns out, that man, Joseph Weizenbaum, would also become one of its earliest critics, seeing it as deceptive, playing upon our natural vulnerabilities.

Read Jeff's book, Inventing ELIZA: https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262052481/inventing-eliza/
Try ELIZA online: https://anthay.github.io/eliza.html
For a transcript of this episode: https://bit.ly/campusfiles-transcripts

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