by John M. Curtis
(310) 204-8700

Copyright June 3, 2007
All Rights Reserved.

reaching security inside Stanford University, Fullerton, Calif. Troy High graduate 18-year-old Azia Kim impersonated an incoming freshman and lived in two different dorms for the past eight months. Without proper registration and without a key, the Orange County teenager pulled off the hoax, slipping through an open window with her roommate's consent. While staff members recently blew her cover, she managed to evade school officials for nearly the entire school year. Kim talked with students about doing homework and completing tests, cleverly impersonating a typical freshman, despite attending no classes. In the wake of the April 16 massacre at Virginia Tech, Kim's charade raises disturbing questions about campus security. When 21-year-old senior Seung-Hui Cho murdered 32 students in cold blood, Virginia Tech officials and campus police shared the blame.

      Stanford's imposter committed no violence but violated the privacy and security rights of legitimately matriculated students. “I had no idea,” said freshman Jessica Wacker, 18, stunned that Kim could have slipped between the cracks. “Everybody was so surprised. It's so strange that everybody in the dorm could have not known about somebody staying here. She just blended in so you really couldn't tell,” underlining the fact that most undergraduates are too pressured and oblivious to pay attention. Cho's fellow Virginia Tech students also ignored the warning signs until it was too late. While students can't be expected to police their own dorms, Stanford officials dropped the ball. Unlike Cho, Kim satisfied her pathology through impersonating a Stanford freshman, a formidable accomplishment to high school wannabes seeking the brass ring of acceptance at elite schools.

      Imposters and impersonators mirror a personality profile marked by damaged self-esteem and a powerful need for approbation. Kim was asked by university officials to leave the campus, ending a bizarre chapter, exposing gaping holes in campus security. “She was perpetuating a lie that she had been attending the university,” said Wacker. “I think she had told her parents, and she perpetuated the lie so far that she actually had to come to the campus to stay here,” speculating about why the Fullerton teenager impersonating a Stanford freshman. No one knows what happened in the Kim family but it's possible the unrealistic expectations—with intense fears of failure and disappointing the parents—prompted Kim to snap. Stowing away in the Stanford dorms
without attending classes showed Kim's desperate attempt to preserve the lie to herself and her family.

      Kim's impersonation surprises many people believing that someone's always watching the switch. When Massachusetts Institute of Technology's 55-year-old dean of admissions Marilee Jones resigned in disgrace April 27 for lying about her credentials after 28 years of service, it stunned students and university officials. Jones was responsible for scrutinizing the veracity of applicants to the nation's most prestigious technical institute. Imposters, exaggerators and prevaricators find there way to all walks of life. Notre Dame's former football coach George O'Leary resigned in disgrace Dec. 16, 2001 after lying about a master's degree and playing college football. Employers and universities are required to do more than rubber stamp resumes: They must verify important credentials or live with the consequences. Kim's actions made fools of Stanford officials.

      University spokesman Kate Cheslely couldn't explain (a) how Kim slipped through the cracks or (b) what would possess someone to take such desperate steps. Resident advisor Takeo Rivera, 21, at the Okada dorm where Kim stayed, showed concern for Kim's well-being after getting ejected from campus. Judging by Takeo's empathy, it's possible he knew she was a stowaway and let her stay. “Even though she was not a student, I feel we have a responsibility to be compassionate,” said Rivera, ignoring his responsibility to protect the security of properly matriculated dorm residents. Allowing busy undergraduates to assume responsibility for dorm safety doesn't afford adequate security. Kim apparently befriended the basketball-playing roommate of freshman Alisa Haber, 19, who allowed Kim to crawl through the dorm room window because she had no key.

      Since the Virginia Tech massacre, university officials bear compelling responsibility to assure the safety of students and campus personnel. There's no excuse for campus officials to allow Kim's security breach. While no one was injured or lost property, things could be different the next time around. Allowing frenzied teenagers to supervise freshman dorms doesn't afford enough security to busy undergraduates. “We consider these allegations, if confirmed, to be a serious breach of security within our resident halls,” said Greg Boardman, vice provost of student affair, stating the obvious but taking no responsibility for dropping the ball. Kim might be the world's best imposter but university officials must implement foolproof security measures to prevent future incidents. Instead of calculating a bill for Kim's parents, Stanford should take a serious look at campus security.

About the Author

John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He's editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.

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