The Breakdown: Coach Sentenced in the College Admissions Scandal Gets No Prison Time

Getty Images: Scott Eisen / Stringer

The Breakdown is DoSomething's current events newsletter, where you can read the news and change the news. Want headlines and action in your inbox? Subscribe to The Breakdown.

The One Big Thing

The First Person Sentenced in the College Admissions Scandal Gets No Prison Time

Former Stanford sailing coach Jon Vandemoar was sentenced to two years of supervised release along with a $10,000 fine for his role in the nationwide college admissions scheme. Vandemoar admitted to accepting bribes in exchange for his help exploiting the alternate admissions process for athletic recruits to get undeserving students admitted to the college. Coaches from several colleges have also been charged, as well as the parents of these students, but Vandemoar’s light sentencing has some concerned that they’ll be let off just as easily. This scandal has exposed the way that college admissions processes advantage affluent students, with legacy and donor preferences making a big difference in who gets in and who doesn’t.

(Pop) Culture Shock

Rihanna Urges Her Fans to Pay Attention to What’s Happening in Sudan

Rihanna used her Instagram story to draw attention to the uprising (and subsequent massacre) taking place in Sudan. Sudanese protesters led a mass campaign of civil disobedience, calling for the current ruling military council to transition to a democratic government. Protests have been met with extreme violence from the military. The regime also shut down Sudan’s internet access in an attempt to further censor and control the population. Celebrities like Rihanna and George Clooney have spoken out about the political crisis online, as well as Sudanese influencers and bloggers.

The Good News Is...

The Justice Department Is Addressing the Link Between Domestic Abuse and Gun Violence

The Department of Justice created a task force that’s trying to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers. The group is made up of working attorneys who will share their best practices for bringing domestic abusers with gun offenses to justice. Federally prosecuting these cases is often challenging because domestic violence laws can vary between states, so the group will provide guidance for navigating this legal process. The Justice Department hopes that this crackdown will also curb the amount of mass shootings, since most take place as acts of domestic violence.

That's What He Said

“Behind me, a filled room of 9/11 first responders, and in front of me, a nearly empty Congress. Sick and dying, they brought themselves down here to speak to no one.”

-Jon Stewart, appealing to the House Judiciary Committee. The committee unanimously passed a bill reauthorizing the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund as a result of his testimony.

Quick Hitters

Why aren’t more people talking about… how the President wants to fund a return trip to the moon with the $8 billion surplus in the Pell Grant program.

Meanwhile, in Uganda... Ebola has spread from the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing a 5-year-old boy.

My heroes today are… the record-breaking US women’s national soccer team.

Today in viral cuteness… the pet duck who received a handmade wheelchair to help her get around.

I’m obsessed with… Tessa, a campaigns intern! She’s Canadian, and today at lunch she asked me what the New York Mets were and then pulled out an entire bag of tangerines. A true office icon.