My name is Yuqi Zheng, a graduate student of the Master of Engineering Management at Northwestern University. I am going to graduate in June 2019, but I have been referred for expulsion from the McCormick School of Engineering by The Academic Hearing Board on April 11, 2019.

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Last year, I suffered from some mental issue, thus I found a mental consulting website and through this, I reached out to a person who called herself as a therapist but actually was cheating me. Because as an international student, I have no idea about the therapeutic systems in the U.S., therefore I did not realize I was deceived at that time. After talking through the phone, the fake therapist team suggested I bring my dog to the class as a relief way and good for my treatment. In order to prove I needed that, I needed to apply for the agreement from ANU (Accessible NU). Thus the fake therapist provided me a statement proving my major depression situation but actually offering a fake document. Without knowing this, I provided this to ANU, then later ANU let this fake therapist finish a Provider Form through me. However, after ANU tried to contact my therapist, they found this fake therapist used other authorized therapist’s name and contact information and this real therapist has no idea about me. At this time, I just knew that I was cheated. With losing $ 540, I could never contact to this fraud group again.

The hearing board recommended for expulsion for three interrelated reasons:

1)    Aiding and Abetting Academic Dishonesty by providing false information in connection with an inquiry regarding academic integrity;

2)    Falsification of Records and Official Documents: Altering documents affecting academic records; forging signatures of authorization or falsifying information on an official academic document; forging signatures of authorization or falsifying information on an official academic document, grade report, letter of permission, petition, drop/add form; ID card; or any other official University document;

3)    Obtaining an unfair advantage (undertaking activity with the purpose of creating or obtaining an unfair advantage over other students’ academic work).

BUT, AS FACTS, there is a clear manifest discrepancy between the evidence provided to the Academic Hearing Board and all three of the committee's findings. Specifically, at the critical moment when I was expelled, the Academic Board believed that: (1) I knew the November 19, 2018, letter was forged and/or obtained the November 19, 2018, letter in a knowing attempt to fool the University; and (2) I knew that the person posing as an internet administrative assistant to a therapist was a fraud.

         However, that finding is contradicted by several important points: (1) I received help from letters and administrative assistants through the procedures which I considered legal; and (2) In my home country, China, the provision of therapeutic services is still in its infancy; unregulated; and often laced with fraud; and (3) There is no evidence in the university that I know the right way to get therapeutic services in the United States; and (4) reinforcing my contentions, the November 19, 2018, letter (and later requests through ANU) requested only one anodyne accommodation (allowing a dog to be brought to class, no other academic advantages like extending the exam time, open-booked exam, etc); and (5) I do suffer from mental issues that led to me being hospitalization in December 2018. The November 19, 2018, letter and subsequent aid from a con artist are true red herrings, and I do not deserve to be expelled based on the charges related to that letter or the actions of the administrative assistant. (6) I reported to the police in March 2019.

I believe there are lots of cultural and language barriers in this case. It is a disaster to destroy the career and mind of an excellent, honest, young student, because of wrong judgment. I request Mr. Provost and Mr. President can see all the facts and overturn the expulsion decision on me.