Little Victories

So just real quick:

Jim, Dave, and I (the three sole surviving CSC Majors from our freshman class) are in Bio104. the teacher is Dr. Howard, and she was also the teacher for Bio103, which we took last semester. yesterday, we all the got an email from our adviser, Dr. Xuan, as follows:

Hi Dave, Adrew and James,

There are concerns about your BIO 104 course, "The professor, Dr. Barbara Howard called me today concerned due to the fact that these three students have already taken the course and are in it again this semester, but also that they should not be taking this kind of course." Please let us know why?

Thanks,

Jason

-----Original Message-----
From: Bruce, Peggy S.
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2005 1:24 PM
To: Xuan, Jason
Cc: Edwards, Oriel O.; Regalia, Phillip A; Nguyen, Charles C
Subject: students in BIO 104
Importance: High

Dr. Xuan:

Three of your students are in BIO 104. The professor, Dr. Barbara Howard called me today concerned due to the fact that these three students have already taken the course and are in it again this semester, but also that they should not be taking this kind of course. This is for non-science majors. Are they in this class for a program elective? This course is not an approved liberal studies for Engineering.

Please let me know what this situation is. Please also let Dr. Howard know what is going on as well. Her extension is 5270.

Thank you,

Peggy

The second part, what Dr. Xuan got from the assistant dean, is the important part. Apparently, Howard took it upon herself to inform the dean that 3 engineering students were in her class, a class which is not approved as a liberal studies elective for Science students -- which, it seems, we are. It also seems she intimated that the three of us had already taken this course. I replied thusly, adding the chair of our department, Dr. Meister, to the CC list:

From: Portner, Andrew D.
Sent: Thu 1/13/2005 7:43 PM
To: Xuan, Jason; Destefano, David; Horstmann, James I.
Cc: Bruce, Peggy S.; Meister, Robert
Subject: RE: students in BIO 104

Dr. Juan,

There is a miscommunication here, possibly more than one. Firstly, Jim, Dave, and I took Bio103 last semester, environmental biology; this semester is Bio104, human biology, and a very different subject. Secondly, we are taking it to cover a science elective for our CSC degree; I myself spoke with both you and Dr. Meister last semester, and on both accounts I was told that it would be suitable for that requirement.

I hope this can resolved, not only because it is a required science elective, but I have a sincere interest in human biology.

-Andrew Portner
Computer Science Senior

Now, it may be that Dr. Howard was sincerely concerned about us getting credit for the classes we're taking. But I'll note she didn't complain when we took 103 with her. Jim is more inclined toward the explanation that she's just a bitch and is looking to get us out of her class because she doesn't like us. Of course, if that's the case, my distrust of such a subjective grading system as the one commonly used in schools makes me wonder if I really *want* to stay in a class with a professor who doesn't like me, but... This morning we got this from Dr. Xuan:

Hi Peggy,

So, they did not take the Bio 104 before (otherwise would be funny?)

I remembered the conversation with Andrew, and both Dr. Meister and I did think this would be a good course for a sciece elective. Please advise us if this course be ok for "a science elective for our CSC degree"?


Thanks for your effort on this issue,

Jason

-smiles- After all the shit I've had to deal with at this school, a little victory like this is refreshing.