Students team up with IRS to gain experience
By: Scott Carroll
Issue date: 10/2/09 Section: News
The Internal Revenue Service is coming to The University of Memphis.
Today, the Adrian Project will team up 25 U of M students with 40 IRS agents for a simulated financial fraud investigation.
After agents swear in students from the School of Accounting and the Criminal Justice Program as honorary special agents for the day, the students will patrol campus equipped with rubber training pistols, bulletproof vests, handcuffs and walkie-talkies.
Andy Wilson, professor in criminology and criminal justice, said the program is modeled after the actual day-to-day operations of the IRS and will give students a glimpse into the life of an IRS criminal investigator.
He said students will "solve real-world fraud cases involving drugs, money laundering and terrorism, working alongside IRS criminal investigators."
The exercise will give students a chance to practice what they've been studying, said Christopher Pikelis, special agent in charge of the Nashville field office for IRS Criminal Investigation, in a press release.
"They are going to be able to use the knowledge they've gained through their accounting and criminal justice classes and apply this to a real-life situation," he said.
The workshop will have students conducting interviews, analyzing financial documents, performing surveillance, carrying out an undercover operation, executing search warrants and testifying before a grand jury.
"It's basically a day in the life of an IRS agent," Wilson said. "It's great experience."
The program, started in 2002 at Adrian College in Michigan, takes place on 35 campuses across the country.
Participants were selected after they submitted their applications and a short essay on why the Adrian Project would benefit them.
Nicole Taylor, criminal justice graduate student, said working with the IRS will be great practice for her future career.
"I'm doing it for the investigative experience," she said. "I want to go into law enforcement, whether it's local or federal. In the criminal justice realm, investigation is really my interest."
Taylor said she'll be interested to see other students' reactions to the exercise, especially since students will be wearing bulletproof vests and carrying training pistols, which are to remain holstered at all times.
"Hopefully, they won't run off somewhere or get scared," she said.
Diane Vescovo, a magistrate judge and U of M alumna, will take part in the exercise by questioning the students and authorizing their search warrants.
U of M President Shirley Raines, who will give the closing remarks for the day, and attorney Larry Laurenzi will also participate in the workshop.
Today, the Adrian Project will team up 25 U of M students with 40 IRS agents for a simulated financial fraud investigation.
After agents swear in students from the School of Accounting and the Criminal Justice Program as honorary special agents for the day, the students will patrol campus equipped with rubber training pistols, bulletproof vests, handcuffs and walkie-talkies.
Andy Wilson, professor in criminology and criminal justice, said the program is modeled after the actual day-to-day operations of the IRS and will give students a glimpse into the life of an IRS criminal investigator.
He said students will "solve real-world fraud cases involving drugs, money laundering and terrorism, working alongside IRS criminal investigators."
The exercise will give students a chance to practice what they've been studying, said Christopher Pikelis, special agent in charge of the Nashville field office for IRS Criminal Investigation, in a press release.
"They are going to be able to use the knowledge they've gained through their accounting and criminal justice classes and apply this to a real-life situation," he said.
The workshop will have students conducting interviews, analyzing financial documents, performing surveillance, carrying out an undercover operation, executing search warrants and testifying before a grand jury.
"It's basically a day in the life of an IRS agent," Wilson said. "It's great experience."
The program, started in 2002 at Adrian College in Michigan, takes place on 35 campuses across the country.
Participants were selected after they submitted their applications and a short essay on why the Adrian Project would benefit them.
Nicole Taylor, criminal justice graduate student, said working with the IRS will be great practice for her future career.
"I'm doing it for the investigative experience," she said. "I want to go into law enforcement, whether it's local or federal. In the criminal justice realm, investigation is really my interest."
Taylor said she'll be interested to see other students' reactions to the exercise, especially since students will be wearing bulletproof vests and carrying training pistols, which are to remain holstered at all times.
"Hopefully, they won't run off somewhere or get scared," she said.
Diane Vescovo, a magistrate judge and U of M alumna, will take part in the exercise by questioning the students and authorizing their search warrants.
U of M President Shirley Raines, who will give the closing remarks for the day, and attorney Larry Laurenzi will also participate in the workshop.