When we all made the decision to attend Rensselaer for at least some of our collegiate career, we had to leave home and adjust to living on our own. Although some may still be within an hour of where they call home, the majority of us require more than a day trip to see our families. In order to bring together the separation of family and school, RPI holds an annual weekend-long celebration. Family Weekend, or FallFest, showcases the best the school has to offer—student groups perform, campus is clean and decorated, and there are activities for every type of person.
It is obvious that the Institute knows how important family is to a struggling college student, so why are there professors who spread an opposite message through their teachings? Imagine you were shown through their actions that your professors wanted you to value learning their material more than seeing your family. Take it one step further, and now you are not only being forced to miss Family Weekend, but you also are required to be in a specific city at a certain time. What would you do if you would fail a class if you didn’t find your own travel and lodging accommodations to Boston or New York City?
Can these people not see that they are encroaching on important aspects of their students’ lives? It should never be acceptable for a professor to make decisions for a student on what is more important. They should strive to make sure the student understands the material and is dedicated to the class, but there is a difference between that and almost being forced to expend all time and energy on that one class alone. It doesn’t seem to me like these academic professionals are upholding the very principles that the Institute as a whole supports. The professor should not present a black and white choice between academics and family—and if they do, it is well within the student’s rights to choose family.
What would you do if there was a decision to be made between one class or the other? Is it acceptable for a professor to require students to miss a different professor’s course in order to fulfill a field trip that is vital to understanding and passing the material? Of course not, but it happens all too often. So the professor accidentally scheduled a trip during a holiday weekend—again with the choosing between school and family—so instead of changing the weekend, he moved the trip to Friday. You have other classes on Friday, you say? Well, that’s too bad. You have to go on this trip or you will fail, and it is up to you to make up the materials you will be missing in other classes. Does that seem like a fair scenario to you? This is no different than choosing academics over family; it is wrong for a professor to make priorities for his students.
Though most of you may not have encountered a similar situation in your academic careers, there are still some of us that have been wronged in the past and will continually have to deal with our decision-making freedom being stripped away. Rensselaer values the family of its students and it stresses how important time management is, so shouldn’t all of those employed at the Institute have to adhere to these standards?
