Custom lacrosse shooting strings. Man Pleads Guilty to CVS Pharmacy Robbery Spree in Southeast Michigan

How did a decoy pill bottle lead to the arrest of a pharmacy robber. What controlled substances were targeted in the CVS robberies. How many felony charges did the suspect plead guilty to.

The String of CVS Pharmacy Robberies

In a startling series of events that unfolded across southeast Michigan, a man has admitted to orchestrating multiple armed robberies targeting CVS pharmacies. Kristopher Kukola, 38, pleaded guilty to four federal felony counts of robbery of a controlled substance on July 6, 2023. These crimes, which took place in the spring and summer of 2022, have shed light on the ongoing issue of pharmacy robberies and the lengths to which law enforcement agencies go to apprehend such criminals.

Timeline of the Robberies

• May 24, 2022: Van Buren Township CVS
• June 2, 2022: Saline CVS
• June 8, 2022: Van Buren Township CVS (second incident)
• June 14, 2022: Ann Arbor CVS
• July 7, 2022: Milan CVS

The string of robberies began on May 24, 2022, at a CVS pharmacy in Van Buren Township. Over the next six weeks, Kukola targeted four more pharmacies across southeast Michigan, employing similar tactics in each incident.

Modus Operandi: How the Robberies Were Carried Out

Kukola’s method of operation was consistent throughout his crime spree. He would approach the pharmacy counter wearing a mask, display what appeared to be a black handgun (later revealed to be a BB gun), and demand specific controlled substances. In some instances, he presented a list of desired drugs to the pharmacists.

Demands and Threats

During the robberies, Kukola made various demands and threats to ensure compliance. In one incident, he stated, “I don’t mean to alarm you, but this is a robbery. Get me all the Norco and Vicodin you have; you have 10 seconds.” In another, he threatened to start shooting if more drugs were not provided, saying, “Everyone’s lives are in your hands right now.”

Targeted Controlled Substances

The robberies focused on acquiring a variety of narcotic medications. Which drugs were most frequently demanded during these pharmacy robberies? The list of stolen substances included:

• Norco
• Vicodin
• Adderall
• Percocet
• Xanax
• Codeine
• Oxycodone

These medications are all classified as controlled substances due to their potential for abuse and addiction. The targeting of such drugs highlights the ongoing opioid crisis and the lengths to which individuals will go to obtain these substances illegally.

The Breakthrough: Decoy Pill Bottle and Arrest

The turning point in this case came during the final robbery on July 7, 2022, at the CVS Pharmacy in Milan. How did law enforcement finally apprehend the suspect? The arrest was made possible through the clever use of a decoy pill bottle equipped with a GPS tracker.

The Decoy Strategy

During the Milan robbery, the pharmacist, while filling a bag with pills as demanded, discreetly included a “decoy” pill bottle containing a GPS tracker. This bottle was monitored by a third-party security company, allowing law enforcement to track the suspect’s movements in real-time.

The Chase and Arrest

Following the GPS signal, police tracked Kukola to an apartment complex in Belleville. Upon arrival, they observed him fleeing from a Silver Jeep Compass. Despite an attempt to evade capture, including misdirecting officers by claiming “the guy you are looking for ran that way,” Kukola was ultimately apprehended with the assistance of a police K9 unit.

Evidence and Confession

Upon searching Kukola’s vehicle, law enforcement discovered crucial evidence linking him to the string of robberies. What items were found in the suspect’s possession? The search yielded:

• The stolen drugs
• The decoy pill bottle with the GPS tracker
• A black BB gun used to simulate a real firearm during the robberies

Following his arrest, Kukola was interviewed by FBI agents. During this interview, he admitted to robbing the four CVS pharmacies and confirmed that he had used a BB gun to carry out the crimes.

Legal Proceedings and Guilty Plea

On July 6, 2023, Kristopher Kukola appeared in the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan to face charges related to his pharmacy robbery spree. To how many charges did the suspect plead guilty? Kukola entered guilty pleas to four federal felony counts of robbery of a controlled substance.

Potential Sentencing

Each count of robbery of a controlled substance carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. However, as part of the plea agreement, prosecutors have agreed to recommend a low minimum sentence in accordance with Kukola’s sentencing guidelines. The final sentencing decision is scheduled for November 7, 2023, when the court will determine the appropriate punishment based on various factors, including the severity of the crimes and any mitigating circumstances.

Impact on Pharmacy Security and Public Safety

The string of robberies orchestrated by Kukola has brought attention to the vulnerability of pharmacies and the need for enhanced security measures. How can pharmacies better protect themselves and their employees from such incidents?

Potential Security Enhancements

1. Improved surveillance systems
2. Panic buttons for staff
3. Time-delayed safes for controlled substances
4. Enhanced staff training on robbery protocols
5. Collaboration with local law enforcement for increased patrols

The successful use of a GPS-tracked decoy pill bottle in this case may inspire more pharmacies to adopt similar technologies as a deterrent and aid in capturing suspects in the event of a robbery.

Broader Implications: The Opioid Crisis and Pharmacy Robberies

This case is not an isolated incident but rather a symptom of the broader opioid crisis affecting communities across the United States. Pharmacy robberies targeting controlled substances have become increasingly common, posing risks to pharmacy staff, customers, and public safety.

Addressing Root Causes

To effectively combat pharmacy robberies and the underlying issues driving them, a multi-faceted approach is necessary. This may include:

• Improved access to addiction treatment programs
• Enhanced prescription drug monitoring programs
• Public education on the dangers of opioid abuse
• Stricter regulations on opioid prescriptions
• Support for alternative pain management strategies

By addressing the root causes of opioid addiction and implementing comprehensive prevention and treatment strategies, communities may see a reduction in pharmacy robberies and related crimes.

Law Enforcement Collaboration and Investigation Techniques

The successful resolution of this case highlights the importance of collaboration between various law enforcement agencies. The investigation involved local police departments, the FBI Detroit Violent Crime Task Force, and federal prosecutors.

Innovative Investigation Methods

What innovative techniques are law enforcement agencies employing to combat pharmacy robberies? Some notable approaches include:

• Use of GPS-tracked decoy medications
• Analysis of robbery patterns to predict potential targets
• Enhanced information sharing between agencies
• Deployment of rapid response teams
• Utilization of advanced forensic techniques for evidence collection

These methods, combined with traditional investigative techniques, are crucial in addressing the growing concern of pharmacy robberies and related drug-related crimes.

Community Impact and Prevention Efforts

The string of pharmacy robberies perpetrated by Kukola had a significant impact on the affected communities in southeast Michigan. Beyond the immediate danger posed to pharmacy staff and customers, such incidents can lead to increased fear and anxiety among residents.

Community Response and Prevention

How can communities work together to prevent pharmacy robberies and support those affected by them? Some potential strategies include:

1. Neighborhood watch programs focused on pharmacy locations
2. Community education on recognizing and reporting suspicious behavior
3. Support groups for pharmacy staff affected by robberies
4. Local initiatives to address substance abuse and addiction
5. Partnerships between pharmacies, law enforcement, and community organizations

By fostering a sense of shared responsibility and implementing proactive measures, communities can work towards creating a safer environment for all residents.

The Role of Technology in Pharmacy Security

The successful use of a GPS-tracked decoy pill bottle in Kukola’s case demonstrates the potential of technology in enhancing pharmacy security. As criminals become more sophisticated, so too must the methods used to protect pharmacies and their valuable inventories.

Emerging Security Technologies

What cutting-edge technologies are being developed to improve pharmacy security? Some promising innovations include:

• AI-powered video surveillance systems capable of detecting suspicious behavior
• Biometric access control for medication storage areas
• Smart packaging with embedded tracking devices
• Automated dispensing systems that limit human access to controlled substances
• Real-time inventory tracking and anomaly detection systems

While these technologies show promise, it’s important to balance security measures with the need for efficient pharmacy operations and patient privacy.

Legislative Responses to Pharmacy Robberies

The increase in pharmacy robberies has prompted lawmakers to consider new legislation aimed at deterring such crimes and protecting pharmacy staff and customers. How are policymakers addressing this issue?

Potential Legislative Actions

Some proposed and enacted measures include:

1. Increased penalties for pharmacy robberies
2. Mandatory minimum sentences for crimes involving controlled substances
3. Funding for enhanced security measures in high-risk pharmacies
4. Stricter regulations on the storage and dispensing of controlled substances
5. Support for drug take-back programs to reduce the circulation of unused medications

While legislative action can play a role in addressing pharmacy robberies, it’s essential to consider the broader context of drug policy and its impact on public health and safety.

The Future of Pharmacy Security and Drug Abuse Prevention

As cases like Kukola’s continue to make headlines, it’s clear that the issue of pharmacy robberies and drug abuse will remain a significant challenge for communities across the United States. Addressing this complex problem will require a multifaceted approach involving law enforcement, healthcare providers, policymakers, and community members.

Holistic Approaches to Prevention

What comprehensive strategies can be implemented to reduce pharmacy robberies and address underlying issues of substance abuse? Some potential approaches include:

• Integration of mental health and addiction services into primary care
• Development of non-addictive pain management alternatives
• Enhanced prescription drug monitoring programs across state lines
• Public-private partnerships to fund addiction research and treatment
• Community-based prevention programs targeting at-risk populations

By addressing the root causes of drug abuse and implementing comprehensive prevention and treatment strategies, communities may see a reduction in pharmacy robberies and related crimes, ultimately creating safer and healthier environments for all residents.

Man pleads guilty to string of CVS pharmacy robberies across southeast Michigan

ANN ARBOR, MI – A man accused of robbing several pharmacies at gun point before being captured with the help of a decoy pill bottle has pleaded guilty.

Kristopher Kukola pleaded guilty, July 6, to four federal felony charges after admitting to robbing several CVS Pharmacy locations in southeast Michigan in the spring and summer of 2022, court records show.

Kukola, 38, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan to four federal felony counts of robbery of a controlled substance, a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

In pleading guilty, prosecutors agreed to recommend to the court that Kukola be sentenced to a low minimum sentence in accordance with his sentencing guidelines, which will be calculated at the time of sentencing, which is scheduled for Nov. 7.

Kukola was arrested after a decoy pill bottle was handed over to him during one of the robberies, leading police to his location.

Related: Decoy pill bottle leads to arrest of suspect in several CVS pharmacy robberies

The FBI Detroit Violent Crime Task Force began investigating a string of armed robberies of CVS pharmacies in southeast Michigan in June 2022, according to a federal complaint filed in the federal court. In the robberies, Kukola stole a variety of narcotics, including Norco, Vicodin, Adderall, Percocet, Xanex, Codeine and Oxycodone.

The first armed robbery occurred at 10:36 p.m., May 24, where Van Buren Township police were called to the CVS pharmacy at 10915 Belleville Road for an armed robbery.

The pharmacist told officers a masked man approached the counter and said, “I don’t mean to alarm you, but this is a robbery. Get me all the Norco and Vicodin you have; you have 10 seconds” before reaching into his pocket and showing the handle to a black handgun, according to the federal affidavit.

After being given a selection of pills in a bag, the man told the pharmacist to lay on the floor, and then he fled the scene, records show.

On June 2, Saline police were called to an armed robbery of the CVS pharmacy at 413 E. Michigan Ave., where a masked man handed the pharmacist a torn piece of paper listing a variety of drugs to be handed over before displaying a black handgun.

Again, after being handed a bag full of controlled substances the man told the pharmacist to lay on the floor before he fled the scene.

On June 8, the CVS pharmacy at 10915 Belleville Road in Van Buren Township reported being robbed again by a man who appeared to be the same man who robbed the pharmacy in May, according to the affidavit.

In this instance, the pharmacist told the suspect he could not open the pill safe due to a three-minute delay. The suspect told the pharmacist, “That is OK. If other customers come in, I am just another customer.”

After being handed a bag full of controlled substances, the man said, “I know there are more than this. Everyone’s lives are in your hands right now. I will start shooting everyone, I know there is more,” records show.

The pharmacist then returned to the pill safe and filled the bag with more prescription drugs before being told again to lay on the ground while the suspect fled.

On June 14, Ann Arbor police were called to the CVS Pharmacy at 3535 Plymouth Road for a reported armed robbery.

The suspect, demanding controlled substances from the pill safe, was told there was a three-minute lock on the safe before being tossed some Norco by another pharmacist, satisfying his demands before the suspect fled the pharmacy.

On July 7, Milan Police were called to the CVS Pharmacy, 1249 Dexter St., for a reported armed robbery.

A man handed the pharmacist a note listing several controlled substances, a timeframe for how long it should take to gather them and “no cops” written on the bottom.

While filling the bag with pills, the pharmacist slipped a “decoy” pill bottle into the bag which had a GPS tracker in it monitored by a third-party security company.

Police, tracking the GPS pill bottle, found the fleeing suspect driving a Silver Jeep Compass and followed it to an apartment complex in Belleville where he leapt from the vehicle and attempted to run away.

A police K9 unit found the man, later identified as Kukola, who attempted to deceive officers by telling them “the guy you are looking for ran that way.”

Police searched Kukola’s Jeep and found the stolen drugs, the decoy bottle and a black BB gun.

Later that day, Kukola was interviewed by FBI agents and admitted to robbing the four CVS pharmacies, using a BB gun to commit the act.

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It’s more than just legacy admissions : Planet Money : NPR

CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 29: People walk through the gate on Harvard Yard at the Harvard University campus on June 29, 2023 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

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CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS – JUNE 29: People walk through the gate on Harvard Yard at the Harvard University campus on June 29, 2023 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Scott Eisen/Getty Images

A few weeks ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ended affirmative action in college admissions. The ruling held that the race-conscious admission programs of Harvard University and the University of North Carolina violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. It’s now deemed unconstitutional for colleges — both public and private — to weigh race as a factor in who they should admit.

Affirmative action for minority kids may now be dead. But a blockbuster new study, released today, finds that, effectively, affirmative action for rich kids is alive and well. They may or may not always do it on purpose, but a group of the most prestigious private colleges in America are handing a massive admissions advantage to rich kids over less affluent kids — even when they have the same SAT scores and academic qualifications.

The study is by Raj Chetty and David J. Deming, of Harvard University, and John N. Friedman, of Brown University. We at Planet Money have already dubbed Raj Chetty the Beyoncé of Economics because of his long list of popular hits in empirical economics. And, let me tell you, this is another ***Flawless classic in his catalog. I mean, not only is the study eye-opening, but Chetty is also kind of sticking his neck out here, by shining a spotlight on the admission practices of his employer, Harvard. But they can’t fire Beyoncé! (He has tenure).

Among a number of other discoveries, the economists find that kids from the richest 1% of American families are more than twice as likely to attend the nation’s most elite private colleges as kids from middle-class families with similar SAT scores. The silver spoon these wealthy kids are born with can, apparently, be used to catapult them past other equally bright, but less privileged kids into some of America’s best colleges.

Chetty and his colleagues provide compelling evidence that fancy schools are promoting a kind of neo-aristocracy, with admission programs that help to perpetuate a family’s class privilege from one generation to the next. The advantages they grant to rich kids are about more than just legacy admissions, a practice in which elite colleges give preferential treatment to kids of alumni and donors. The economists find that other types of evaluation and recruitment play important roles in giving rich kids a leg up, as well.

Going further, the economists find evidence suggesting that reforms to the admissions policies at these prestigious schools could really make a big difference in the life trajectories of less affluent kids, and make America’s elite less of an exclusive club for people born into privilege

Silver spoon-fed schools

Chetty, Deming, and Friedman focus their study on what they call the “Ivy-Plus colleges”: the eight Ivy League schools — Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Columbia, Brown, Cornell, Dartmouth, and UPenn — as well as Stanford, MIT, Duke, and the University of Chicago.

Less than half of 1% of Americans go to these prestigious private colleges. “Yet these twelve colleges account for more than 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs, a quarter of U.S. Senators, half of all Rhodes scholars, and three-fourths of Supreme Court justices appointed in the last half-century,” the economists write. These schools, in other words, appear to be an important gateway to the American elite, which makes their admission policies relevant for all of us.

Rich kids obviously have a bunch of advantages that help them bolster their academic credentials — like great private schools, SAT tutors and so on. Indeed, Chetty and his colleagues have already amassed a ton of evidence that the environment — even the zip code — in which kids grow up has a huge impact on their chances of climbing the economic ladder.

But these childhood advantages are not what this study is about. In this study, the economists compare rich kids and their less affluent peers who have achieved roughly equal academic credentials (measured by SAT scores and GPAs). Yet, even then, the rich kids are still way more likely to get into elite colleges. It’s pretty shocking when you consider how much harder it is for a less well-off kid to measure up academically to a rich kid, who, from a young age, has benefited from tremendous resources aimed at bolstering their academic credentials.

[Editor’s note: This is an excerpt of Planet Money‘s newsletter. You can sign up here.]

The economists pull together a range of large data sources that enables them to thoroughly analyze the admission decisions of America’s most elite colleges. They got internal admissions data from a bunch of schools, allowing them to see which kids applied and which ones got in. They have SAT and ACT test scores. And, equipped with IRS data, the economists are able to see how rich these kids’ families were when they applied to college, and how much money the kids earned after they graduated. They focus primarily on students admitted between 2010 and 2015, which gives them enough of a postgraduate track record for the researchers to see how they’ve done in their careers.

With this treasure trove of data, the economists then embark on a rigorous analysis. First, they establish the overwhelming reason why rich kids are disproportionately attending these schools: admissions. Yes, they find, their less affluent peers are a bit less likely to apply and enroll, but the main reason for the disparity is colleges are systematically admitting more rich kids than less well-off ones.

As previously mentioned, the economists find that wealthy children, even when they have comparable SAT and ACT scores to less affluent kids, are much more likely to get into these elite schools. A student from the richest 1% of American families (from families earning over $611,000 per year) is twice as likely to attend an elite private college as a middle-class student (from a family earning between $83,000-$116,000 per year) with the same academic credentials. The economists find this disparity can only be found at elite private colleges: they find no such advantage for rich kids at America’s flagship public universities, like UC Berkeley or the University of Michigan.

“I think implicitly what we’re finding in the data is that — whether intentionally or not — we currently have a system that appears to have affirmative action for kids from the richest families, the top 1% in particular, which gives them a substantial leg up in admissions relative to other kids,” Chetty says.

Why rich kids are getting admitted more

The economists find three factors that give rich kids this huge admissions boost. The first is legacy admission programs. They calculate that 46% of their admissions advantage comes from programs that give them preferential admission due to their parents being alumni.

One defense for these legacy kids might be that they’re smart, hard-working, and ambitious, so they’d be able to get into another Ivy-Plus college if they wanted to. But the economists find these same legacy kids see no advantage when they apply to schools their parents did not go to. “So, in other words, that legacy impact is totally non-transferrable across colleges, which strongly suggests that it’s not that these kids are just kind of stronger applicants in general,” Chetty says. “It’s actually about literally being a legacy at this college.”

The second reason that rich kids get an admissions advantage is athletic recruitment. The economists calculate that 24% of the admission boost for students from the richest 1% of families comes from the fact that they excel at some sort of sport. That may be somewhat surprising, because if you watch pro sports, the stars usually don’t come from privileged backgrounds. The economists are unable to do a sport-by-sport analysis, but, Chetty says, it’s likely that kids are finding a recruitment advantage in expensive, elite sports, such as fencing, tennis, rowing or lacrosse. Elite private colleges, after all, are generally not known for their stellar football or basketball teams.

The last reason rich kids are more likely to be admitted is because they tend to have higher non-academic ratings that make their applications pop. Think extracurricular activities, compelling letters of recommendation, and guidance counselors who help them engineer perfect resumes and personal statements. This explains about 30% of their advantage.

Chetty says the rich-kid advantage in non-academic ratings is almost entirely driven by the fact that they are much more likely to attend elite private high schools. “If you’re coming from an elite private school, you tend to have much higher non-academic ratings,” Chetty says. “Now, of course, kids from high-income families are much more likely to attend these schools.”

Why the particular college you go to might matter, after all

So, yeah, rich kids are much more likely to get into fancy colleges than less affluent kids. But does that necessarily mean that it really matters for future outcomes? It’s possible that going to one of these elite schools doesn’t have a large effect on a person’s later career. Indeed, there have been some influential economic studies that suggest that the choice of college by similarly qualified students doesn’t have much of an effect on how much they end up making, on average.

The reason for this, economists have long figured, is that elite colleges are highly selective. The kids they admit are smart, hard-working, highly ambitious — and apparently much more likely to come from rich families — which means they have a solid shot at success, whether they go to a particular school or not. Economists call this “selection bias. ” The idea is, basically, schools are just selecting winners — not necessarily making winners. Which is why the causal effect of a particular school on a kid’s outcomes might not actually matter very much.

But that’s not what this new study finds. They find that going to these Ivy-Plus colleges makes kids a lot more likely to become tremendously rich and successful. This is especially the case for less affluent kids. “Attending an Ivy-Plus college instead of the average highly selective public flagship institution increases low-income students’ chances of reaching the top 1% of the earnings distribution by 60%, nearly doubles their chances of attending an elite graduate school, and triples their chances of working at a prestigious firm,” the economists write.

So why are these economists finding that the particular school that kids attend matters a great deal, while previous studies have suggested that it doesn’t? Chetty and his colleagues do a bunch of statistical work backing up and double-checking this finding. For example, they use one technique in which wait-listed kids serve as a kind of quasi-experiment. In some cases these kids are admitted from the waitlist for a somewhat random reason, and other times they are not let in. This enables the researchers to compare outcomes of statistically similar students, some of whom went to Ivy-Plus colleges, some of whom went to flagship public colleges. The economists are now able to see what happened to those students over time.

Chetty says that, consistent with previous findings, the data shows that the particular school these students attend doesn’t matter much when it comes to their average earnings. If a bright kid goes to UC Berkeley instead of Harvard, they’ll still make good money working in tech or law, or whatever. Compared to similar kids who did go to Harvard, their earnings, on average, usually won’t look much different.

However, Chetty says, their data is much richer than previous studies, which relied on small surveys instead of the massive administrative datasets that Chetty, Deming and Friedman use in this study. As a result, the economists are able to zero in and see “upper-tail” outcomes like the likelihood of these kids reaching the top 1% of income earners. Previous studies couldn’t see outcomes in the same detail. And that’s where Chetty and his colleagues are finding significant advantages when kids go to these elite private schools.

“These colleges have a huge causal effect on getting you access to the upper tail — to positions of influence, to becoming a leader,” Chetty says. We’re talking about elite positions like corporate executives, U.S. Senators, top professors, Supreme Court justices. “I think what these colleges do is really open doors for some folks to get to a set of positions that they really would not have had much access to had they not gone.”

As a result, Chetty says, reforming admission practices at these schools could have a meaningful impact on what America’s elite looks like. One potential reform they highlight: just use the same admissions criteria as America’s flagship public universities, where it’s more about raw academic credentials, and wealthy children don’t have the same overt admissions advantage.

Admissions in a world after race-based affirmative action

Mind you, Chetty and his colleagues studied admissions data before the recent Supreme Court decision, when most of these schools had some sort of race-conscious affirmative action program. Even in this world, as Chetty and his colleagues found in a previous study, kids from the richest 1% of American families were 77 times more likely to attend an Ivy League college than those from families in the bottom fifth of the income distribution.

Now, with race-based affirmative action dead, it’s plausible that the underrepresentation of lower and middle-class families at these schools could look even worse in coming years, because race is strongly correlated with income and wealth.

In the wake of the Supreme Court decision, we’ve begun to see a national debate about admissions policies at America’s elite schools. Just days after the ruling, a group of advocacy organizations filed a complaint against Harvard for their legacy admissions policy, arguing that it primarily benefits the kids of wealthy, white families. President Biden criticized legacy admissions and other similar policies that “expand privilege instead of opportunity.” And a wave of universities, including Wesleyan and Carnegie Mellon, have begun ending their legacy admission programs.

But many schools, including the majority of the Ivy-Plus colleges, are still clinging to their legacy admission programs. If their goal is to have their students go on and make a significant impact on society, Chetty and his colleagues find, that doesn’t make a lot of sense. They find that rich kids who are admitted because of their legacy status or their athletic background or their non-academic ratings are actually a bit less likely to see outsized success after graduating, compared to middle- or lower-class kids who don’t have those credentials. The economists find that raw SAT and ACT scores — and, more generally, academic ratings like GPA — are much more predictive of future success than anything else.

Of course, these colleges may still be reluctant to end their programs that give a leg up to the richest kids in America. The colleges assert that legacy programs help build community and school loyalty. Probably more relevant is the importance of legacies to these fancy private colleges’ business models: rich kids are more likely to pay tuition — and their parents are more likely to give donations and pad their endowments.

As for concerns that diversity at these schools is about to plummet because of the end of race-conscious affirmative action, Chetty has some ideas to promote both racial and socioeconomic diversity that may survive judicial scrutiny.

It would be an admission process that would take into account “kids who come from neighborhoods that have particularly low levels of upward mobility and use that as a measure of adversity,” Chetty says. This would not be explicitly focused on race itself, but it would pick up “the adversity in childhood environments that is correlated with race.”

Call it zip code-based affirmative action. After all, if you grow up in a poverty-stricken neighborhood and manage to score a 1500 on the SATs, you’ve jumped over a much higher hurdle than your silver-spoon-fed competition.

history of appearance and production features of

All Strings Accessories Hardware Electronics Pickups Craftsman Amplification, Effects Studio and Sound Drummers Other Guitars

In this section you can find an exhaustive list of materials about the manufacture and history of guitar strings, learn about how this or that popular brand appeared and developed, what are the features of some unique modern production technologies. So let’s go!

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The appearance of the first prototypes of the guitar

The guitar itself in its modern form (now we are talking about acoustic and classical instruments) gained massive popularity around the 15th century. However, the idea of ​​creating stringed instruments originated much earlier – one of the first instruments with prototypes of guitar strings appeared before our era during the heyday of the Egyptian civilization. Eastern prototypes of the lute (rebab, sitar, dombra) were invented around the period of the 4th-8th centuries. n. e.

In their early days, strings for guitars and lute instruments were made from hair and intestines. Over the years, the production of hair was discontinued and the craftsmen began to give preference exclusively to sheep intestines. The term “guitar” itself appeared in European literature around the 13th century as a modified from the Greek. “kifara”.

It is noteworthy that over time, the number of strings on acoustic guitars and classical instruments also changed – initially the set consisted of 4 pairs of strings, i.e. there were 8 in total. Starting from about the 15th-16th centuries. the masters began to experiment – sets appeared with 5 pairs of strings, with 4 pairs and one additional, etc. All this made it possible to expand the range and scope of the guitar, improve its sound and significantly increase its popularity among musicians.

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In the middle of the 17th century, the Luthiers started making thick acoustic guitar strings, borrowing a design from piano string manufacturers, starting to use windings and creating a separate core and separate winding. This approach made it possible to simplify the design of the instrument and finally abandon the use of paired strings, which only imitated the breadth of the tonal range.

Already in the middle of the 18th century, a standard set of strings for a classical guitar included 6 strings – three thin and three thick, wound.

The 20th century was a real breakthrough – it was then that steel and nylon were used as the main materials for the manufacture of steel. This made it possible not only to reduce the cost of production, but also to significantly expand the possibilities of the sound of guitars, create the foundation for further electrification of guitars, and increase the accuracy of production. In the 21st century, many technologies have appeared to protect the string from oxidation, the effects of grease and dirt – manufacturers have mainly focused on increasing the “life” of the sets.

Let’s talk more about different production technologies.

Gut strings for acoustic guitar and classical instruments

The idea to use the intestines of small cattle to make strings came straight from medicine – in the Middle Ages, this was the technology used to produce strong surgical sutures.

Gut strings are the earliest form of string making. Especially popular were strings for classical guitar made from sheep and bovine intestines – despite not the most elegant production, they sounded very voluminous, velvety and loud enough. Obviously, their price was not affordable for every street musician.

Thanks to the surviving annals, we can also briefly describe how such strings were produced: at the initial stage, the intestines of the animal were soaked in water for 5-6 days, after which they were cleaned with ash. At the second stage, the natural material was strongly stretched, scraped, then twisted and bound.

Good acoustic guitar strings at the very final stage were sent for bleaching with sulfur dioxide and final drying, grinding and treatment with olive oil.

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In fairness, we note that some fairly well-known acoustic musicians still use intestinal strings. For thick strings of this type, natural fibers are used only in the core – a metal wire is wound outside the intestinal core.

The main problem with this outdated technology is the extremely short string life. Literally after 1-2 weeks of playing, they not only lose their original timbre characteristics – they dry out and collapse at the slightest touch. At the same time, they leave a faint but noticeable smell on the fingers during prolonged play.

Which guitar strings are better: metal or nylon?

Obviously, there is no single answer to this question – it all depends on the specifics of your instrument, and on the features of the game, and on the required sound.

Nylon strings are a favorite choice among classical style guitarists. Most of these strings do not have a ball at the end and are tied to the bridge with special knots. They appeared during the Second World War – the fighting required a lot of resources, in particular surgical threads, which were made from the intestines.

At the same time, Dupont invented a completely new synthetic material called “nylon” – it was used in the textile industry, as well as for the production of fishing nets and fishing line. Later, nylon penetrated into the military industry – parachute lines and parachute domes were made from it.

In such difficult times, it was very difficult for musicians to buy guitar strings – string maker Albert Augustine came to the rescue, who decided to use nylon as an alternative to guts. The result so stirred up the industry that nylon strings are still one of the most popular with modern musicians.

At its core, nylon is very strong and comfortable to play, but sounds a little less bright and bulky than gut strings.

Metal strings are the most common strings for electric, bass and acoustic guitarists today. There are two types of such strings: flat and wound. The technology for making modern bass and electric guitar strings was borrowed from piano string manufacturers. However, guitar sets required thin first strings, which required a more careful approach to maintaining the flexibility and elasticity of the materials.

At the present stage, manufacturers focus their efforts on three main aspects:

• Improving the magnetic properties of materials and improving interaction with sensors;
• Increased string durability, extending the duration of the bright original sound;
• Improved resistance to corrosion, dirt and moisture.

Braided Bass and Electric Guitar Strings

Let’s talk a little about the history of the winding technology. The first mention of winding techniques is found in the annals of the late 17th century. They appeared due to the need to expand the tonal range into lower registers.

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Due to the small mass, it was very problematic to “lower” the tuning of a thin string – and if you just made it thicker, then elasticity was lost, and it was very uncomfortable for the musician to play. With the usual thickening of the string, vibration instability was also observed after each string pluck.

In the middle of the 17th century, the idea was born to use steel and the technique of winding strings. Such a string consisted of a core (usually made of guts), around which steel wire was wound. It is noteworthy that the design of the braided string has not changed much over the past centuries and today they are produced according to a very similar principle. The core is made of steel, nylon, silk and even Kevlar.

Which strings are best for acoustic and electric guitars?

It’s time to talk about the types of braids on modern strings.

Let’s start with the most classic version – the flat winding. Gives a soft and thick tone, made from a steel core and a flat tape that is wound around it. The smooth surface of such strings abrades the frets and fretboard of the guitar much less.

Round wrap is the most popular today. Structurally, it differs in that not a tape, but a wire is used as a winding. The easiest to manufacture, have the lowest price. With aggressive sound production, the braid can be damaged.

When playing, they have overtones – from plucking with a plectrum or from moving fingers along the string. Guitar frets wear out faster, lose their sonority faster due to dirt and dust getting between the winding turns. Brighter and more resonant compared to flatwound strings.

Semicircular winding – a hybrid of the first two types, has a moderately sonorous and moderately thick sound. They are made by winding a round winding, which is then ground off, making it flat on one side.

Hexagonal winding – Structurally, these are strings with a hexagonal core and, most often, round wire. Such strings have a long service life, they sound as bright as possible, although not everyone seems comfortable when playing. Frets wear out the fastest.

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So, now that we know the design features and manufacturing techniques of modern strings, we can make a brief table for the selection of strings based on their technical characteristics:

As for the choice of strings depending on your tuning, we have prepared a separate article on this on our website.

Maintenance of guitar strings

Many guitarists have a natural question: how to extend the life of the strings, what care products can help with this? In this section, we will try to briefly describe the various options for string care.

• The main way to extend the life of your strings is to keep them clean. To do this, firstly, do not forget to wash your hands before playing (especially in the hot season), and secondly, use special tools for cleaning strings. Special cloths and devices will help remove moisture, dirt and grease from the string after playing, as well as skin residues that increase the weight of the string and make it sound dull.

• 1-2 times a week we recommend using special professional string cleaners such as Dunlop or D’Andrea. They will help degrease the surface of the string, split the smallest residues of fat in the winding turns.
• In addition, string lubricants are popular – they are based on mineral oils and, when applied, create a thin film on the surface of the string that protects the winding from grease and dirt. Do not forget at the same time that the lubricant can make the sounds of the guitar a little more “dull”, and you should not allow the composition to get on the body or neck of the instrument – it is difficult to clean it.