Trump University Students Were Pressured To Give It 'Good' Reviews

Did Trump University really get a high approval rating of 98 percent from students? That is what the Presidential candidate, Donald Trump, claims. But his argument is being challenged, after ex-students of his school reveal that they had been forced into giving the university top ratings, according to The New York Times.

Trump University, a non-accredited online education enterprise called Trump Entrepreneur Initiative, which "educated" 7,000 students over the years, has a number of lawsuits slapped on it. Students dished out almost $35,000 every year when they were given inflated reports of the school's worth. But today, the university is faced with suits from the New York Attorney General and a class action lawsuit in San Diego, explains Fortune.

The students had been told to rate teachers as well as the class on a scale of one to five. However, the university did not clearly offer an option of anonymity, say court documents. College employees too told students that they had to fill out surveys so that they could get their graduation certificates.

A number of instances seem to support The Times charge. After having left a poor score for his instructor, John Brown got three phone calls from the school, so he finally changed his rating into a 'good' one, as he was asked to.

"Tired of the continuing phone calls," he later testified, "I finally gave in." That was the wallop needed to boost his scores.

Robert Tufenkian, another ex-student, reported that his instructor had declined to leave the classroom while he was writing, and just watched him fill out his evaluation.

Robert Guillo, his schoolmate, said that the teacher had pleaded to be given a high score, with the note that "Mr. Trump might not invite me back to teach again."

Trump is now facing a fusillade of criticism from his rival Presidential contestants.

In his defence, Trump claims that his university got a 98% approval from students, but discontented students are just looking to gain from the lawsuits after having enjoyed the university's benefits.