Need a cooler head to prevail here.......?

Question

Need some advice from older students who have been in school awhile. Our school has a student day each term offering workshops, speakers and such. The coord (one I know--he is a Honor soc advisor) frequently sends out bulk emails about the day and what is scheduled. Along with this is a note stating that all classes are cancelled, which has been confusing for many new students because some teachers won't cancel their class for that day. Here's the issue: I sent the coord a note (thru the suggestion box) on how to make the event less confusing for NEXT term. I offered my class, which the prof made very clear that we will meet, as just an example of the fact that some classes still meet regardless of the notices telling us they won't. (Personally, I would prefer to meet since Monday is a holiday and I think we would miss too much!) The coord brought it up during an administrative meeting and now the s*it has hit the fan big time. My prof is livid and completely out of control.

Out of space! Anway, she sent a group email to all about the kind of person that would do such a thing and gave several threats of group punishment. It was not my intent to have this viewed as a complaint or start WWIII--only a student to coord SUGGESTION for the next term! I'm an honor student and am not looking to "get out of class".

How would you handle this mess? Of course I did not respond to the email. I'm too emotional now to do that rationally!

Old lady, thanks for the support! I will bring this up to someone, probably my trusted advisor. It's an admins idea, the profs do all the work for it. It is a very good day, with lots of info and networking available. Your idea of holding it on teacher workshop day is a great one. Don't think I'll offer up any more suggestions though!

This, I think you missed my point. The coord is THRILLED I brought it up, the prof for my class is the one pissed. Really her problem--admin forbade her to hold the class, so I guess she'll just have to deal with that.

Answer 1

You have good instincts. Responding to that e-mail would only exacerbate matters. At this point you need a third party intervention - and that should be someone who pulls rank on the teacher.
I'm confused about the whole student day issue. Is it supported by the administration? In that case, the profs don't have a choice whether they will go along with it or not. It is a done deal. If your prof is worried about losing a day, why not have the student day on one of the teachers' professional days? Those are non teaching days anyway, so it won't disrupt their schedule.
But do take this up with a VP or counselor or someone in the hierarchy who can give some definite answers to what sounds like a very tangled web.

Answer 2

Teresa, you sound as though you are a thoughtful young person. The prof sounds as though he/she has too much on his/hir plate!

So, you will see sparks coming. Let the fire die down and wait until after this weekend, or even after wait till next Friday. Attend the workshops. Encourage your friends to go and make sure that you see the coord with or without speaking. Make sure he sees YOU.

Then at week's end or before, make an apology via email or to his face explaining that you did not intend to be over-aggresive or something similar.

I am sure he is edgy since this conference is his "baby" and there are many, many things he has had to do outside of his other duties. He is stressed and overly sensitive. Why? He is having a baby - the 'Student Day'. Maybe his mother is ill too - you never know what is 'eating' another person to make them act irrationally.

Stay focussed on YOUR job and other people will see that and follow suit. Bon chance