nosy professors

I don't know if anyone else has ever experienced this double standard from a teacher or professor, but thought I'd throw it out there...

I've always been a pretty good student-not a brain, but I've generally been good about keeping my grades in the A-B+ range. Until recently, I've also been very good about attending class. I don't take joy from skipping and always feel like a failure when I do, but the past two semesters have been though as the work load (with practicums, full-time classes, and a job) has been extremely tiring and I occasionally skip class to sleep. On most every occasion that I skip I have completed any homework and am missing only the lecture portion of the class. That being said, I've never missed a MWF class more than 5-6 times in a semester. However, there are people in some of my classes that show up maybe once every 5-6 class sessions. I can think of several students in particular who so seldom show up for class that you forget they're even supposed to be there. The fact that these kids don't show up doesn't bother me...to each his own. However, I have noticed an inconsistency that really bugs me. I have several professors who ask each time I've skipped a class, "Where were you last class?" "Are you feeling alright?" "We had homework due on Friday."-the list goes on. While I appreciate their concern for my well-being, I don't feel that they have any particular need to know where I was. And the thing that really bugs me more than anything, is that these same professors don't say anything to the students who rarely show, on the occasion that they do come to class. Some may argue, "It just shows that they care about the students who actually care about the class." And yes, maybe that is the case, but I just don't see why they need to know where I was when I don't come. I don't ask them where they were the session after a canceled class, or remind them that they were supposed to lecture on Renassaince art, and I don't feel that I have any right to do so. It's none of my business. The same applies to them.

Last Thursday night, for example, I stayed up until 4 am doing homework (I had worked that night and then J. called and we talked for a while, so homework got the shaft), the next morning, I didn't hear my alarm and ended up sleeping through my 8 am. My fault, and not really any excuse, but it happened. Monday morning, I went to class and sure enough, the prof. looked up when I walked in and made the comment, "Are you doing ok? You weren't here on Friday, you know we watched that video that was mentioned in the syllabus, it's important that you're here for every class." I threw out a lame attempt at a light-hearted reply, and he said, "Well, next time just be sure to e-mail me...."

I appreciated that he cared, but seriously...this morning, half the class was gone and I guarantee he's not going to ask each of them next Monday what happened.

I have another prof. who does the same thing, only when someone isn't in class, she takes it upon herself to ask the rest of the students if they've seen Little Miss MIA, and if they know if MIA is coming to class, and if not, where she is. If another student in the class says that MIA has something going on and forgot to let this prof. know ahead of time, she usually makes a statement like, "Well, she didn't tell that to me" or "I didn't get an e-mail". Seriously, who cares.

In high school, this would all be a different story. Students are required to attend high school. They are minors. College is optional and many students (most all by junior/senior year) are adults and have adult responsibilities outside of school that are occasionally more important than attending class (not that my over-sleeping is an adult responsibility, I'm just saying).

Anyway, I could go on about this all night, but I think I've made my point. I've also made a list of things that professors should NOT try to make their business:

-What their students are wearing (as long as they're not excessively naked or wearing pjs every day-I hate seeing that too). I have had more than one prof. require students to grade their dress selections and turn in a statement at the end of the class. I also have been criticized publicly by a professor for wearing shorts to a class. My excuse: I had a sports class immediately afterward and no time to change.

-How often their students show up for class (As long as a student is not failing the class, why does it matter? Maybe the student has had a similar class and just needs this one to graduate...who knows?)

-Where students are when they don't show up for a class (And they really shouldn't ask others if they know where a student is...that's no one's business.)

-What a students thinks about the prof. or his ideas (A professor of mine gave a hwk assignment this week in which we were supposed to write a paragraph explaining why we thought "so and so poet" was his favorite.)

I know, there are a lot more pressing problems in the world than my odd professors, but an annoyance I thought I'd share just the same.

-Me.

an observation

Let me start this post off by saying that I am pro-life (and no, this has nothing to do with the woman in CA with 14 kids-a whole 'nother story)...that being said, I saw something tonight that caused me to think (lol). I was driving back to campus and at a red light, ended up behind a vehicle with five or six anti-abortion stickers on the back. Fine and dandy. I read the stickers and then noticed what kind of a car they were on...a brand-new suburban. Not really sure why I was thinking so hard about this, it's not normal for me, but it frustrated me a bit that here was a person/family advertising for no more abortions who obviously had the means to care for a large family. Yes, I realize that unwanted pregnancies are almost solely to blame on the parents and their extracuriccular activiteis (with the exception of non-consensual sex), but what about the family that's barely scraping by...a couple kids, hard times...and then they find out they're expecting another. I don't agree with abortion and there are funded alternatives for a family that finds themselves in a situation like that, but why does it always seem to be the "rich" who go about making such statements? Does anyone ever see a beat up junker car with several kids in the back with anti-abortion stickers plastered on the bumper? Maybe it's good that the wealthy are choosing to make their statements, I mean, they obviously have the means to support their views, but I guess I'm just saying that it's awful easy to make cut-and-dried judgments when you have a way to support those views and it's another story to hold to those same beliefs when you are caught in the crossfire.
-Me.

unscholarly

Once again, the lovely institution I call "college" has decided to tighten up its internet "dirt filters". Good, right? Um, no. You see, this particular filter has a tendency to be prejudiced and hypocritical...as much as a digital creation can be anyway. About three months ago, said filter decided that it didn't like Myspace and placed a FORBIDDEN "Mature Adult Content" screen where there should have been a sign-in screen. Did it do the same for Facebook? No. What about Blogger? Nope. Live Journal, Wordpress, Twitter? Negative. Just Myspace. Yesterday, I logged into my other blogger account to find that all of my pictures had been blocked and now, I have no way to see what they look like after I put them in a post. Why? Apparently they are FORBIDDEN "Pornography"...the so-called pornography is actually pictures from a trip to the park...only two of the photos contain people and all of the people in those two photos are quite modestly dressed-I guess sweaters and jeans are just too revealing. The photo host site I used to post the pics. was Photobucket, so I paid a visit to make sure the entire site wasn't being blocked. Nope. Just my account. Lovely.

So, why don't I do anything about it?

I have. When I found out that Myspace was blocked, I e-mailed computer services and reminded them that Myspace has never been blocked, and in case computer services suddenly deemed it necessary to block Myspace, other sites needed to be blocked as well. The following day, I received a reply to my message in the form of a generated e-mail assuring me that Myspace had been unblocked and my "help ticket" had been successfully handled. Not so. Myspace was and continues to be blocked, despite my attempts to convince anyone that this school's internet filter is a diabolical menace. I made sure that my Facebook status reflected my feelings about the internet situation and then moved on to the matter of my school. For one, someone has to be controling the internet filter settings, and two, this person is also controling the help tickets and what has been done to solve problems. This is the same person who gets to determine when I am "mature" and "adult". I don't like that idea very much, but there's not much that I can do. I am resigning myself to the fact that slowly, but surely, my university will find some way to destroy all web-based activities that are not scholastic in nature. And know what? I am paying for this internet with my "private-university" priced tuition. Awesome.
-Me.

an ice storm and new background

Hello again!

Well, a nice, icy mid-western storm found me this week and in a way I'm very thankful for this cold front because we have been out of school for the past two and a half days due to people not being able to commute to campus. For those of us living on campus, these days are just bonus hang-out days and greatly appreciated because it's like a second weekend. I have a feeling that classes will be back in session tomorrow.

Exciting news from the weekend-I was talking to my mom and trying to decide what to do about spring break (campus is closed and all students have to leave). I've done various things for spring break during my years in college...mostly the various activities have included spending time with lots of strangers that are related to, or are friends of a friend or roommate.This year, mom suggested that I try flying to visit an aunt and uncle up north. I thought about the idea and it sounded nice, but tickets between my college city's small airport, and my aunt and uncle's small city airport are much more expensive than even flying home (a distance about 4 times greater). So I did some research and interestingly enough, found a ticket home for over $100 less than making the trip up north. Needless to say, I will be going home for a week and a half in March. So EXCITING! This will be the first time I've ever gone home during the school year (with the exception of Christmas break), and the first time I've been at home during the month of March since I was in high school...4 years ago. Crazy stuff. :P

And of course, school is going well. We are just getting to the point in the new semester when all the first tests are coming up and presentations are starting to come due, so stress levels are rising, but I am still optimistic enought to keep trying to remain on top of things. :)

-Me

P.S. I'm not really sure why the font in this post won't stay Arial and keeps changing back to Verdana when I publish...odd.

updating-a short one

It's a new year and a new semester. I am back at school for the second day and am already swamped with homework. It's going to be a long 16 weeks, but I am keeping my fingers crossed that it won't be as bad as the last! :p I am hoping also, to be a little more dedicated to my studies this time around, as last semester I got lax about half way through and never did fully catch up to where I needed to be. I miss J. quite a lot (of course), but I am so thankful for the time we had together over break. Anyway, just a short update for now. Later.
-Me.

there's no place like home

It is so good to be home! I got back a little over a week ago, and though it's been cold (even some snow oddly enough) and rainy every day since, I've thoroughly enjoyed it. And even though I still have two weeks here, the time is passing quickly and I'm afraid those two weeks are going to go so fast...actually, I know they will, I just have to make the most of them and slow them down a bit! As far as being social, I really haven't done much at all. My family and my boyfriend are my priorities right now with so little time at home. I would like to see one or two close friends though before I leave. Can I say how wonderful it was to see my boyfriend, J., after nearly 4 months? To be able to look at his face when we talk and hold his hand...I don't think there's anything better. And seeing my family again, especially my brothers. They have grown every time I come home and while it's neat to see, sometimes it feels like I'm missing out. But I guess that's the price I pay for going to school out of state. Three more semesters and I'll be done *hopefully*-that will be the day! More later!
-Me

a truth

-I'm not as innocent or naive as I may look or seem.

This is hard for some people to understand. When people take advantage of me, I am fully aware that they are doing so. I just don't point it out, figuring that ignoring the problem and doing what someone wants, will get said person out of my hair more quickly and painlessly. Unfortunately, it keeps the door open for them to come back to take advantage again.

Maybe I should stand up for myself more.

I've been weighing the pros and cons of reacting negatively to users, and over time, I've gotten less tolerant, but I'm still what most would consider a "doormat". For a long time I enjoyed my status as the perceived "good girl"-the girl who didn't take risks, who trusted and believed everyone (at least outwardly-I've always been a cynic at heart), taking them at their word without questioning...but as I've grown up, that has changed.

Maybe I'm losing something of myself, or maybe I'm becoming myself.

Either way, the label, "that bitch" (pardon my language-not sure I can think of a better term for the idea I'm trying to convey) is sounding nicer everyday.

I'm not sure how all of this meshes with my Christian faith (Can the labels "bitchy" and "Christian" co-exist in one person?). I know that we are called to love unconditionally, in the same way we are loved unconditionally, but where is the line between loving and becoming a worn-out carpet? Jesus loved, but he didn't put with crap and called out those who would trample the helpless.

I'm not real sure where I am going with this blog, but it is something that has been on my mind for the past week. Something that my roommate and I have been discussing too because we've both spent our lives putting up with life-suckers. And to get back the the original statement, I'm not innocent-I've done my share of rabble rousing (not something I'm proud of, but something I will admit). I'm also not naive. I've traveled, I've lived, I've seen many things and not much shocks me these days. I've heard all kinds of things and I'm no stranger to problems; being the friend in the group that everyone always went to to share life's ailments, and it's given me an education in how people think and deal with things.

I guess I just don't appreciate it when people assume things about me and expect me to do things for them based on their perception of "Oh, she's the nice, sheltered girl, she won't know that I'm taking advantage of her"...I'm tired of bowing down and falling into the perceived stereotype just because I don't want to cause problems or go against the grain...I suppose the real question for me to be asking myself is:

Why don't I want to cause problems if this is such an issue?

That is a topic for nanother post. I just eeded to get this out. Oh and by the way, this is why my blog is titled "Red Boxes Open"-It's attempt at honesty-going places that are "taboo" or generally off-limits. Skirting around the ragged edges of life is not living, it's evading an inconvenience.

-Me.