Yale University Apologizes for Fax

It has been verified that the fax negating the doctorate Shin Jeong-ah (35) claimed to have received from Yale University was authentic, sent by fax to Dongguk University from Pamela Schirmeister, Associate Dean of the Yale Graduate School.

Dongguk University held a press conference on December 27 and said, “We received a note on December 17 stating that the fax that Yale University sent to Dongguk University regarding Shin on September 22, 2005, was signed by Schirmeister and is genuine. The person who sent it was Deputy General Counsel Susan Carney.”

Dongguk University added that, “Yale University also apologized for revealing in July that the fax regarding authenticity of the certificates and dissertation papers was false.”

Dongguk University also said, “Yale University would not answer Dongguk University’s question regarding the relationship between Schirmeister and Shin.”

Dongguk University requested Shin’s academic certificate to Yale University on September 5, 2005, and received Shin’s doctorate certificate and graduation certificate signed by Schirmeister via fax in the same month.

However, in July this year when Shin was hiding due to the doctorate degree forgery incident, Yale University stated that “The fax Dongguk University received is different in form from Yale’s documents, and the signature has been forged. It seems the certificate was forged on paper bought from Yale University’s stationery store.”

Cho Ui-yeon, chief of Administrative Affairs Office at Dongguk University, said, “Yale University is accounting for this incident saying that they were ‘in the rush of business’ but it is probably not an administrative mistake. If a detailed investigation is inconclusive, we will take this matter up with an investigative institution in the United States.”

Dongguk University is demanding a specific explanation regarding the faxes, and is considering legal measures against Yale University for libel.

gaea@donga.com