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Show page 14 , Spring 2005 ADDRESSING THE HORROR STORIES: BUILDING A BRIDGE ACROSS THE lit PROFESSOR/STUDENT GAP BY EMILY HAUSMAN PHOTOS BY EMILY HAUSMAN The student advocate office provides avenues of faculty support to help alleviate and prevent horror stories. H.B. Harpending and Robert Serpico are student advocates associated with ASUU. Each student advocate works one three-hour shift per week volunteering to help other students, making this office a valuable tool to students and teachers. Although most of the complaints the advocates receive are concerning grade changes; they also receive complaints about professors. They receive complaints about religious disputes, issues of power and politeness and teachers being out of line. If a student has a problem with a faculty member the advocate office can be a useful resource for both the student and the professor. They can help dissolve the situation before it gets out of hand and goes any further. The following questions and answers are based on an interview with these two student advocates. Question: How many students come into your office each week? Serpico: "We deal with about 5-10 students a week on average." Question: What is the nature of the complaints? Harpending: "We deal with issues ranging from grade changes to renter's issues and landlord disputes." Serpico: "We deal with academic and psychological problems of students and direct them to other agencies. There are horror stories that can be easily dissolved through this office. A lot of the complaints are illegitimate, and students come into the office just to vent. The student might even have a legitimate complaint that they don't follow up on. They could have complaints on this office too; we are here to listen to them all." Question: Where do you direct students first when they have a complaint? Harpending: "Go to the teacher, then to the department head, then the dean's office and finally the president's office. If you still cannot get a problem worked out, students can then go to the student advocate office. Most students are unaware of this procedure and come to us first." Question: What are some suggestions you can give students and teachers? Serpico: "Proactively exercise and know your rights. Appropriately handle the situation, don't confront the teacher in front of everyone." Harpending: "Go to the head of the department before you go to the teacher if you are having a personality conflict; sometimes talking to the department head first can be effective. Most importantly, introduce yourself to the professor. It is hard for them to change your grade when they have no idea who you are." The advocate's office suggests that students read the online reviews of professors before taking their class. They also suggest asking other students who have completed the course about how effective the professor was. These are two easy ways to prevent conflicts from happening in the first place. Some advice the advocate office gives to faculty to help things run more smoothly is to remind students to read the syllabus and emphasize the importance of it. Encourage students to introduce themselves to you, so if a conflict arises, you are already acquainted with the student. Reiterate to your students to read the student handbook. Last year a bill was passed giving students a 10-day window to make grade changes; let them be aware of that. Most cases that go through the advocate office don't go to legal action and are dealt with internally before lawyers get involved. However, most tenant disputes go to legal action. In the past three years, there have been no sexual harassment complaints that have come through the office. Question: Have you had any real student horror stories? Serpico: "There are not that many horror stories. We want to ease the minds of the professors. We are a liaison to help people understand that there are some harsh realities that come to pass. Professors can move the exam, and if you weren't there to hear that, you are bumming. |