Stress, Test-Avoidance, and Unmet Needs: Lessons Learned from Eldo Kim and the Model Minority Stereotype - Higher Education: This week, Eldo Kim, a 20-year-old sophomore at Harvard University, falsely emailed university administrators that there were shrapnel bombs in four campus buildings because he was under incredible amounts of pressure to do well in his “GOV 1368: The Politics of American Education” final examination according to media reports. If Kim is convicted of the hoax, he faces up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.Kim’s misstep is surely an act that should not go unexcused, but I feel obligated to ask why few see Kim as a possible victim in this tragic event. While I do not condone his criminal actions, I am curious to understand what forces exerted enough pressure for Kim to feel that the benefits of a canceled or delayed exam outweighed the costs of possible prison time. For instance, Kim clearly did not want to get caught for the hoax. He created a fake email account and used a temporary IP address before sending the false email message. It is quite possible Kim did not know the consequences he would incur if he were caught, but I believe that is beside the point.
