Letter
to the editor: Students should prevent mishaps
In
response to a letter regarding an ordeal
suffered in the math department written
by Martha Lopez, I would like to present
a point of view from the other side of the
office window. Having worked in the
history department for more than two years,
I am quite familiar with students like Ms.
Lopez who seek help in adding a class. For
the most part, we deal with students earnestly
attempting to add a class after the electronic
registration period has ended. We elucidate
the uncomplicated process which requires
a mere signature or two and send them merrily
on their way.
Sometimes
we are approached by students who insist
that they were "dropped" from
their class and demand to be re-enrolled.
It is a mystery as to why students believe
this, because the theory is completely false.
The registration system does not randomly
pull names from class rosters; a more likely
explanation is that the student never enrolled.
This is not to say that students are liars
-- they probably just made an error while
trying to register. Again, for the most
part, we can quickly help the students enroll
properly and the issue is resolved.
However,
problems arise when students wait until
the last minute to add a class. If a student
comes to us on the day of the deadline and
a professor is not on campus and cannot
be reached, there is nothing we can do to
help. It is a matter of university policies
beyond our control, not of us having disdain
for students or refusing to do our jobs.
When student after student expects the impossible
and sulks when demands are not met, it becomes
very frustrating to staff members -- not
that I believe there is any excuse for the
behavior of the people Ms. Lopez encountered.
What
makes it even more frustrating to staff
is that these last-minute crises which cause
so much anger and exhaustion can very easily
be averted. By simply checking their class
schedules after they register, students
will see precisely which classes they have
entered. If you have followed the procedures
detailed in the schedule of classes and
on "My CSULB" but still cannot
add the class, visit your department to
rectify this situation as soon as possible,
not hours before the deadline. This simple
act will eliminate tremendous amounts of
stress and anger.
--
Elisa Herrera,
graduate student of history
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