A student claiming cancer and deafness is being investigated by university police for deception and forgery.
University police have not released further information other than the student is female and is enrolled in the Teachers College.
By claiming such disabilities the student received special accommodations and monetary support.
"A representative from the dean of students' office shared that a student may have perpetrated a deception against Ball State and other individuals with in the university community," Robert Fey, assistant chief of police, said of the case.
"The substance of the allegation is that the suspect falsely claimed severe medical illness and may have falsified medical documents," Fey said.
Certainly this student's actions are outrageous and unacceptable, but the more interesting thought is this:
How does a situation like this happen?
Richard Harris, director of Ball State's disability services, said a student with cancer typically receives elevator keys, more accessible parking and priority class scheduling.
Harris said his office deals with more than 500 students, which makes it nearly impossible to run thorough checks on students' claims.
But 500 students is a relatively small number -- only 2.5 percent out of approximately 20,000 students.
So, essentially, the office does not have the resources or time to check up on 2.5 percent of the student body.
"Even if we had the time and staff I don't think we would do a background check," Harris said. "Often we do return materials that have been improperly filled out. At some point we have to accept that what comes from physicians is correct. We generally make a very very good effort to make sure that it has been properly prepared."
Effort is not the problem, though, and by no means is the disability services office entirely to blame.
Perhaps the university should consider expanding the office and increasing its resources, because certainly more than 2.5 percent of the student body knows how easy it is to con this university now.
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