Campus Files: For Profit - Part 2: Thrown to the Wolves

Release Date: May 21, 2025
Host: Ashley Pizzuti
Produced by Audacy

Introduction

In the second installment of the "For Profit" mini-series, Campus Files delves deeper into the harrowing realities faced by students entangled in the for-profit college industry. This episode, titled "Thrown to the Wolves," continues the narrative of Ashley Pizzuti, a former student of the Brooks Institute of Photography, shedding light on systemic issues, mounting debts, and the arduous path to seeking justice.

Ashley’s Journey Begins

Ashley Pizzuti opens up about her early aspirations and the pivotal moment that led her to enroll at the Brooks Institute of Photography.

• Background and Passion for Photography
  • Ashley: "I grew up in Northern California in, essentially, in a trailer park with a single mom. I got a camera for Easter when I was seven... While most kids played house, I would play portrait studio." [02:33]

Her mother emphasized the importance of higher education, pushing Ashley towards community college with aspirations of becoming a teacher—a path that didn't align with Ashley's true passion.

• Influence of Family
  • Ashley: "She knew what time I got off work and within a few minutes of being home, my phone would ring... This was the life that you want." [05:13]

Enrollment at Brooks Institute

Ashley describes her recruitment process and the initial allure of the Brooks Institute, instilled by a persuasive recruiter named Tim.

• Recruiter’s Tactics
  • Ashley: "He knew my struggles and sold Brooks as a fresh start... This is the life that you want." [05:13]

Shortly after enrolling, Ashley's optimism is shattered when she meets Tim again on her first day of classes.

• First Encounter on Campus
  • Ashley: "I enter my recruiter's office where he is hastily throwing all of his personal items into a box... You need to watch your back." [06:15]

Unveiling Systemic Issues

The episode intertwines Ashley’s personal story with broader insights into the for-profit college industry's modus operandi.

• For-Profit College Exploitation
  • Ian Mott: "At its peak, the for-profit college industry was getting $30 billion a year from the Department of Education grants and loans. These schools are really not schools. They're call centers with some kind of a veneer of a school attached to it." [02:07]

Ashley and another student, Mike De Giacomo, discover alarming similarities in their experiences, highlighting the deceptive practices of Career Education Corporation (CEC), the parent company of Brooks Institute.

Mounting Debt and Deceptive Practices

Ashley confronts the financial realities after graduation, revealing the astronomical debt incurred and the lack of promised support from the institution.

• Debt Shock
  • Ashley: "We're looking at, I think it was somewhere around $140,000 for a photography degree in journalism." [19:00]

Despite graduating with honors, Ashley faces the harsh truth of her unfinished degree and overwhelming student loans.

• Institution’s Betrayal
  • Ashley: "So I technically don't even have a bachelor's degree. And if I were to go back to school, I'd start over from square one." [19:57]

Legal Battles and Insufficient Settlements

Attempts to seek financial relief through legal channels result in minimal settlements, leaving Ashley and her peers grappling with insurmountable debt.

• Class Action Lawsuit
  • Ashley: "In 2009 after the settlement, we each got a check for $1,200, which at the time was less than one month's payment." [22:50]

The arbitration clauses in promissory notes further cripple students' ability to challenge the system legally.

• Arbitration Clauses
  • Ian Mott: "An arbitration clause means that any legal dispute between a student and a CEC owned school had to be settled out of court." [23:07]

Advocacy and the Fight for Justice

Undeterred by initial setbacks, Ashley becomes a beacon of hope, leading a collective movement to hold CEC accountable.

• Organizing Former Students
  • Ashley: "I started my own Facebook group... and it quickly grew to the hundreds." [25:40]

Her efforts culminate in meetings with government officials and participation in policy-making discussions aimed at dismantling the harmful practices of for-profit institutions.

• Policy Influence
  • Ashley: "We were invited through the Debt Collective's day of action in May... It was pretty amazing." [33:14]

Despite political challenges, including the election of Donald Trump, Ashley perseveres, pushing for Congressional support to cancel student loans for victims of fraudulent educational practices.

• Legislative Push
  • Ashley: "We have a meeting with Durbin. Can you help us?... We're very much hopeful that she would be put in power, but we're very much aware of the reality of that not happening." [35:08]

Conclusion and Ongoing Struggles

As the episode concludes, Ashley's relentless pursuit for justice exemplifies the struggle of countless students burdened by deceptive for-profit educational institutions. While progress has been made, the path to comprehensive relief remains fraught with obstacles.

• Final Plea
  • Ashley: "We stood outside as we watched people peeking through the blinds. There's tears streaming down people's faces like, I'm $500,000 in debt for a worthless degree. Please do something." [36:33]

Key Takeaways

• Systemic Exploitation: For-profit colleges prioritize profits over education, leading to deceptive recruitment and unsustainable debt for students.

• Legal Hurdles: Arbitration clauses and inadequate settlements prevent students from effectively seeking redress through legal channels.

• Advocacy Importance: Grassroots movements led by affected individuals like Ashley are crucial in pushing for policy changes and accountability.

• Government Involvement: Legislative support is essential in providing relief and preventing further exploitation in the education sector.

Notable Quotes

• Ashley Pizzuti: "I was just standing in the doorway completely stunned. Like, this wind has been taken out of my sails." [06:50]

• Ian Mott: "These schools are really not schools. They're call centers with some kind of a veneer of a school attached to it." [02:33]

• Ashley Pizzuti: "I never got that expensive degree. So I technically don't even have a bachelor's degree." [19:57]

• Ian Mott: "An arbitration clause means that any legal dispute between a student and a CEC owned school had to be settled out of court." [23:07]

• Ashley Pizzuti: "We're looking at, I think it was somewhere around $140,000 for a photography degree in journalism." [19:00]

Conclusion

"Thrown to the Wolves" offers a poignant exploration of the dark underbelly of the for-profit education industry. Through Ashley Pizzuti's personal narrative, listeners gain an intimate understanding of the systemic challenges faced by students and the long road toward achieving meaningful reform. As Campus Files continues to unravel these complex issues, it underscores the urgent need for accountability and support for those ensnared by exploitative educational institutions.