%title Problem Professors
%date 2008-09-12 15:29:45
:diary:livejournal:fossils:

Dr. Thiem -

Dr. Thiem agreed to allow me to take String Techniques by working with one of her graduate students in cello pedagogy since there was a time-conflict with one of my other classes.  A time-conflict override requires her action, I have no control over the situation, a fact confirmed by the university Registrar's office.  I get an email from her telling me what time the cello pedagogy will be, so I email her back asking her kindly again to help me with the override.  She emails me back within the hour to say that she is very unhappy with the fact that I haven't registered for the class yet, and that she expects me to talk to the student secretary of the music building and get her to override me into the class(!!).  I explain to her that time-conflict overrides are intended to be done by the teacher, and she replies that she doesn't have access to that part yet.  I ask the secretary, who throws a fit about Dr. Thiem, saying that she most certainly does have access, and that if she sends any more students to her (the secretary) for registration, blah blah blah.  Basically, I get in trouble for a teacher's incompetence.

Dr. Asbill -

Dr. Asbill teaches one of two sections of beginning conducting.  I signed up for one section (with the other professor), but we started the first three class periods with the entire class combined.  Then, Dr. Asbill, who had barely let the other professor speak more than two or three words per period, simply had us count of 1, 2, 1, 2, and made all the twos go with the other professor and all the ones stay with him.  I didn't really think anything of it until Tuesday, when he informed half our class that they weren't registered for his section and that we should do that within the next few days.  I tried to register on Wednesday, only to find out that registration had closed, and I found out today that I can still get Dr. Asbil to file a late-registration class change.  For $50.  Basically, I have to pay for a teacher's incompetence, on top of my $4,000 semester.

Nice, guys.  Real nice.