Wilcox's comments on classes disrespectful to students

Kylie, I can see you are only a sophomore. You have no idea the amount of fellow students that choose classes on the basis of their schedule and not of their interests. And by “on the basis of their schedule” I mean that they choose those classes that are more comfortable for them to have one or various days a week free to hit the social scene. As immature as it is, that’s the reality.

first of all “student” above me you are just wrong. some people choose it for a longer weekend, yes. but what is wrong with that!? are you trying to tell me that taking 17 credits means you dont have a social life or dont need to de-stress? most people perform better on tests and academic material when not stressed. plus, you think its just students? what about the professors who do it? its ok because they are not young and so must not have a social life? your reality is skewed.

secondly. you are missing the point completely. it doesnt matter if you are the student who works 2 jobs, takes more than a full course load every semester, volunteers, does research with a professor,and needs to study for the GRE, or if you are the student who has everything paid for and only needs to graduate what the provost said is disrespectful.

in general stereotypes are a good heuristic to use in a jam but are inexcusable and cause assumptions that are usually wrong for just about every single person involved. judging the seriousness of a student based on what days they have class is unacceptable for someone who makes their living working within a university. since, in order to work a position near the top of the employment ladder, a college degree is needed one would think that someone in such a position would not be so bullheaded.

oh, and btw, the person who just wrote the above statement is a graduating senior

I realize that some students do try to take Fridays off because of what “student” calls the “social scene,” but as a Junior Journalism major I can say that there are also some students who use that time for A. jobs that pay bills B. homework C. internships
D. Studying for Exams, LSATS, MCATS, MRE’s, etc.

and E. Anything Else I forgot.

student,
I definitely agree with what you’re saying but I think you’re missing my main point here. I was more concerned with the way Wilcox said his comment than whether or not we have Friday class. I thought his comment was rude and ignored the fact that just because my classes are offered Monday through Thursday, I am somehow less of a serious student than students who do have Friday class. I am confident that there are many students who have Friday class that are not that serious of students. Being a serious sudent to me means what you’re work ethic is outside of the classroom as well as in it. I agree that not having Friday class allows for more of a social life Thursday night but this does not mean those students are any less serious than others.

I agree that this is disrespectful, but there are a number of other reasons this is a big deal. First of all, let me preface this that I am a PhD. student here and this is my 7th year at MSU (many of which I did not have Friday classes).

Students don’t want to take Friday classes, correct. It’s not because of laziness, it’s because of flexibility. If you are taking 17 credit hours Mon-Thurs or Mon-Fri, you are still taking 17 credit hours. Longer, less frequent classes require less travel time and give a student flexibility in planning. Days off are essential to me in order to get work done uninterrupted, both for research and coursework. I don’t even use weekends for socializing because of workload and every extra class session is just more of an inconvenience.

Along those same lines, professors don’t seem to want to teach Friday classes either. They have families, conferences, etc. to attend to and they require this flexibility as well. This creates a ridiculous burden on those responsible for schedules as every Mon/Wed professor will now attempt to cram into a Tues/Thurs slot. I feel sorry for those who must now deal with that.

Finally, the way this was communicated to faculty was in the form of a brief, unsubstantiated memo. Little explanation was provided as to why this is happening so the pushback is not surprising at all. With a little insight from those most affected by this change (i.e. students and faculty) maybe the administration would’ve seen a few of these issues for what they are and realized that MSU is a serious institution. It’s ridiculous to put more of a burden on those that take their education seriously to punish those that don’t. If anyone thinks that the undergrad party-crowd is going to suddenly become any more serious about school because of Friday classes, they are just not seeing the big picture. This is a step backward, much like the new welcome week policy.

Sorry for the rambling comment… this is just frustrating.

I think Kylie is absolutely correct. Although the administration may have had some decent points as to why Friday classes may be useful, Wilcox’s comment is just plain rude. As tuition steadily rises we are students still here instead of any university, still trying to get by without loans crushing us, and certainly still trying to get our diploma in this very difficult time. No matter what day we have our classes or what we’re doing with our free time, we’re still Spartans and last time I checked the administration is being paid very well to support us. Who is to say that I, a Junior with no Friday classes, is any less serious than students who choose to have classes on Friday? Many choose not to attend those classes regardless. I need to work, organize my homework, and have time to to figure out internships and extracurricular options so I can get a job someday. A three day weekend is irrelevant to me, I’m lucky if half of one day is not dedicated to excelling at MSU.

Dear disrespected students,

I find a lot of pleasure in telling you that I have taken 15-18 credits and I will graduate next year. I’ve had internships/jobs during every summer of my high school and college career. I have taken classes that I find interesting besides the requirements. I will go to grad school in two years. Finally, even though tuition increases, I will pay less because you will keep prolonging your education to find space for a job.

OK. I don’t want to be mean or make fun of anyone but you just have to focus. If you take your necessary workload and take advantage of each semester to graduate in 4 years or less, it will be hard, but you will find it more rewarding since you won’t have to pay future tuition increases. Still, you will be able to attend football, basketball, hockey, etc. games, go out a couple of times a month, find time for yourself, and things every person enjoys.

But students have to decide whether to study during the academic year, work during the summer and, eventually, pay less for college OR reduce credits per semester to find time to work, delaying the graduation date and, eventually, paying more. Obviously, I am talking about our current situation were tuition goes up every year o every semester.

Honestly, I sympathized with students that work while in school but eventually they will have to choose or modify their work schedule because a you prolong your academic career it becomes more expensive to the point that working while going to school is not even worth it.

Also, I kind of understand why some people might see Wilcox’s statement as disrespectful, but the administration is really trying hard to reduce costs and people, mostly students, don’t approve of them (Olin, schedules…). If you are one of those haters, look at it this way, the administration wants to save money so they can maintain operations. If you are an intelligent student you know that the purpose of this is to lower or keep tuition from increasing.

Finally, budget cuts from the state are huge and will be there for years to come so the U is trying to search for ways to save money. From laying off staff to reevaluating students services, the administration is looking everywhere so they don’t have to layoff professors and reduce valuable services. But if students do not approve of them and prefer another tuition hikes, then we will be the ones to be held accountable for higher tuition.

student-
Your lecture, that’s what it sounded like, to disrespected students appears misplaced since he/she stated they are a graduating senior. Your views also appear rather narrow.
For instance the recommendation that people not work because it will be cheaper to graduate earlier ignores the fact that many students have no choice but to work. Whether it is to pay rent, car payment etc. or support a family, the choice may very well be work and go to school or don’t go to school. Or at the very least they would possibly have to choose a school that isn’t as respected as MSU.
Advice like, focus, imply that taking 5 years to graduate or choosing classes based on convenience evidences a lack of focus. That is overly simplistic not to mention condescending.

Lastly, your entire lecture misses the point which is that what Wilcox said is disrespectful and ignores all the things which you also ignore. Certainly the school should explore ways to save money and more Firday classes may be one way to do that. Nobody is saying otherwise. However, that doesn’t mean the present students who oppose the change are not serious.

Kylie, you’re misunderstanding what Wilcox was saying. The article talked about students who might take offense about having to schedule a class on a Friday. Wilcox is responding that he hopes that MSU students are the calibre that put studies first and won’t piss and moan about a class being on a Friday. He isn’t insulting those who don’t, but rather voicing his hope that MSU students are mature enough to accept more Friday classes without whining.

Judging from some of the responses, I think he was wrong.

Student,

You are oversimplifying things. It is by no means a foregone conclusion that because you do not have class on Fridays you will not graduate on time or even early. In undergrad I worked a job where I made the most money on weekends, including working Fridays in the morning, afternoon and night time. I simply had to schedule more classes during the week to graduate in 4 years. But, I needed the money and deliberately did not schedule classes on Fridays for at least half of my 4 years at State. considering I recently graduated law school, I don’t think taking Fridays off made me any less of a student.

Students,
If you’re getting your panties in a bunch over some administrator suggesting that students are lazy for not taking Friday classes, you are going to have a rude awakening upon entering the workforce.

All right class, stop throwing paper airplanes. If you’re all good and finish your homework tonight, I’ll let you have class off on Fridays so you can attend to the more pressing business of jello shots and contracting sexually transmitted diseases form sorority girls.

I think Zeke hits the nail on head. He isn’t calling those who don’t take Friday classes lazy and not serious students. You kiddies are way too sensitive.

And obviously NONE of the ones on here bitching are Nat Sci, or Engineering majors. Go talk to your friends in those colleges, they’re pretty much stuck with MWF classes every semester of their college career! And then in a lot of the upper level classes, they get a 3 hour lab on Tue. or Thurs. to boot!

to student:

please refer to Jason and alum.

I. you still are completely missing the point.
II. I am actually graduating a semester early and have taken nothing less than 15 credits each semester. I have also taken summer classes while working full time. and I have no choice but to work because my daddy and/or the government doesnt pay for my college.

to zeke and msualum2001:

i think you need to read what M wrote down above stacie. his example is fairly narrow and may not apply to many people but everyone has their own reasons and what wilcox said was disrespectful to the student body in general whether they are people with or without friday classes.

disrespected students:
“it doesnt matter if you are the student who works 2 jobs, takes more than a full course load every semester, volunteers, does research with a professor,and needs to study for the GRE, or if you are the student who has everything paid for and only needs to graduate what the provost said is disrespectful. “

I agree with this. I don’t care if most students who don’t take friday classes, do so to spend another night at the bar drinking. I expect the officials working at my university to consider the effect their decisions have on ALL students, not to make decisions based on stereotypes, and not speak down to students when they announce those decisions.

Student:
“But students have to decide whether to study during the academic year, work during the summer and, eventually, pay less for college OR reduce credits per semester to find time to work, delaying the graduation date and, eventually, paying more.”

Actually, no. Your entire comment is incredibly ignorant and offensive in assuming that all students have the same options and privileges you have. For many of us there is no choice about whether to work during the academic year, it is a necessity in order to support ourselves. It’s great for you that you can work during the summer and make enough money for everything you need during the school year, but that is a privilege every student at this university is not lucky enough to have.

Alum2:
I’m already in the workforce, but thanks anyways.