Ends of term bring a variety of complaints, probably more to other offices than to mine. But we’ve had a few, and they trigger several thoughts.
First, I hope we all take complaints seriously. Students can be annoying, and they are often wrong and/or manipulative, but it is important not to prejudge, for a given complaint (even from a difficult student) might be valid.
Second, it is amazing, though happily rare, about the packages complaints come in. We recurrently get stuff from parents, that really should come from students themselves. I doubt that extreme helicopter parents read this blog (and the category is small), but we really need to encourage more students to carry their own flags, for legal reasons among other things. There are sometimes some other issues here, about parents misunderstanding what the problems are or even outright misrepresentation by students themselves, so some real caution is warranted. The old days when institutions were assumed to have been probably correct, students probably wrong, had their own flaws, but we need some balance.
Then, whether from parents or not: please do not immediately threaten to disclose the issue to the governor, state legislators, and the United Nations. This actually risks making us shut down in response, rather than take a careful look. Now, if a problem has been run through the system and either not addressed or stalled, I grant some heavier artillery may be needed, but the initial impulse here, the fruit of extreme helicoptering combined with facile technologies, is not helpful to anyone. (A variant of this: I will never contribute another dime to the University. Often this comes from people who have yet to show us a nickel, but whatever.)
The point is: mistakes happen. As officialdom I hope we don’t too quickly get defensive, and I know that sometimes we really need to admit not just that a mistake happened but that a defective policy is uncovered for remediation. But complainers can help too, by giving us a chance and not throwing up smokescreens that actually make constructive response more difficult.
And if all this improves the situation one iota, I will be amazed. But blogs are therapeutic, so forgive me.
When the Ringling Brothers Circus comes to town it takes over the parking lots that surround this commuter school, which displaces many students from their normal routine and causes stress. As you know, as well as circus trainers, when animals are under stress they tend to perform poorly. I can believe that your only concern is making money, much like Ringling Brothers Circus, and do not care about how this effects the animals (students) under your guidance, but I would hope that there is a way to correct this problem before the next visit by the circus.
Today, March 31, most of the sidewalks and some of the roads were blocked forcing students to transverse through unknown pathways to their classes. This may not seem like such a problem during the daytime, but with the fall of night there may be poorly lit sidewalks and otherwise unfamiliar scary trips to the parking lots. It is in your best interest to make these items a non-issue.
Wait, did I just read that right . . . that the official Provost’s Office said that “Students can be annoying, and they are often wrong and/or manipulative, but it is important not to prejudge, for a given complaint (even from a difficult student) might be valid.”?
And the previous comment is correct in saying that when the circus is at Mason, it is, well, a circus. Something does need to be done about that.
Is this real? Seriously?
Students can be annoying, and they are often wrong and/or manipulative, but it is important not to prejudge, for a given complaint (even from a difficult student) might be valid.”
Wow, I’m glad you are not prejudging us. We are a diverse student body with members even more experienced then even you. Thank you for giving us a break.
(A variant of this: I will never contribute another dime to the University. Often this comes from people who have yet to show us a nickel, but whatever.)
How many sons and daughters will I send here knowing of the poor attitude of the Provost? How much money will be given as an alumni knowing that you set the precedent for all faculty and staff? I wonder how George Mason University can be the only business in the world that can treat its clients with such distain and remain profitable.
How can we forgive you from being so blunt? Blogs are therapeutic and they don’t really say what you really mean…. that you are mean. Oh, maybe they do?
Whatever
I dont give any money, as I am an alumni. I have had poor encounters with the staff in different programs at this school and it is pathetic to see how they allow their stressful lives to affect others.
Certain people in certain departments are extremely rude in their emails. Unfortunately I am unable to describe who it is or what department they are in because it will cause me problems in the program I am in, possibly screwing me over in my career, but GMU really needs to ensure their staff send out polite emails without the bitchy attitudes for which they present themselves with. It really reflects poorly on GMU and I am sad to see this. I am working on a Graduate degree and have invesed TENS OF THOUSANDS of dollars in this school. I would like no more than to send a formal complaint on this person but, again, it will cause my probelms. It’s all politics. This is what GMU is about. Be careful in your complaints because your name will be remembered and what you do will also follow your name, depending.
As for the initial statement above, really? What kind of incompetant moron wrote this? Yet another reason why I dont dare file a formal complaint. I would just be deemed as “annoying”.
Unless it deals either directly or indeirectly with money, GMU will not care to honor a complaint. Yet if it effectes them, they are on you, as they say, like a “fly on shit”.
As Benjamin Franklin once said, “He that is of the opinion money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money.”
Screw Mason. It really has been a disappointment being here. Unfortunately I am stuck now in the middle of a program. Never will I return for a third time.
I was searching how to file a complaint. Wow after reading this I see they are against students, just want money. The COMPASS says to be positive but obviously they do not want to use complaints to make any positive changes. Now i am weary (not fearful) but wise to not complain to a hitler-like mentality who wants to inhibit your future if you offer constructive criticism. In my case I did not like the negativity of a professor in the lecture in regards to having children as a demographic impact, and the very slanderous comments towards men and male gender in according that women make most of the decisions today, seeming like a puritanistic judge of others not like her. All the while the slide show had nothing to do with the lecture comments which highly offended me. Now I see there is not a good way to supervise the cadre’ and they seem to be aloof and not under command of senior staff at all.
TO GMU Provost Complaint Department
Cc. GMU
Pamela L. Patterson, M.S.
Dean of Students
From Anonymous (to protect the Student)
Lecture in Tourism on February 28th, 2011
Initially a recent classroom experience was highly offensive to me. I am just a white man so I wonder if anybody cares how I feel about things. I think any comments by me must be carefully watched by females and by minority. But what about how I feel about things? For example, making negative comments like this started off the Chapter 6 presentation such as “the type of tourist who is married with children has rug rats draining your money” so they are less likely to travel. It’s all very negative. Or when reference to Chuckie-Cheeses as being utterly tiring and a burden when the kids want to return again and again, to spill water and make noise, are the comments I heard. These are horrible comments. My own personal Friends enjoy taking kids to Chuckies and even text me with joyful messages! And, what if you had no children and I wanted some like me and had to listen to this garbage? What does this have to do with learning Tourism? And, what about the problem in USA which we are shrinking as a nation if it were not for asian and latino immigrants? And, then I have to sit in a classroom and feeling berated by such slanderous and negative views by a Professor? This is like preaching to students against having children. And, our nation will suffer again. They preach against a normal life of marriage, children, working, and try to tell me that the “pink money” or gay people are more wealthy because they did not spend on making babies and children? This is another stereotype. Greed and selfishness have nothing to do with begin gay or straight. You can not classify gays as a more rich tourist. And, in the same breathe there was negative preaching that hedonism is not ok to advertise in USA. Sounds like some Nazi or Commi rules to me. Controlling people inconsistently with a value against heterosexuality but in favor of gay and lesbian? Hatred which is focused on a single type of person? That is not true good Preaching either.
And, a true Preacher will talk about loving the world, all types of people and styles.
If asked I will annonymously provide a recording of the entire lecture by responding here on this blog. Then some supervisory leadership at GMU can determine if the words and opinions were healthy for it’s GMU audience or not. I personally feel it was highly negative, detrimental for our country and seriously offensive to me a normal white heterosexual male wishing to have children and a wife most of my lifetime. I am a US disabled Veterans. Our Professor even mentioned that disabled people are not thought of much as tourists. I personally travel often even when i must use a wheelchair due to heart limitations.
There isn’t one area of the slides or the speech which did not offend me highly.
Written in her “I AM POSSIBLE” article on the COMPASS GMU website by Pamela L. Patterson, M.S., Dean of Students the roadmap clearly states that we are supposed to keep negativity out at bay and not in our lives. And, yet, the entire presentation by my Professor was totally negative towards having children, towards men in general and full of negative stereotypes of older people and of men. In addition trips or travel to certain places like Thailand were mentioned in the same breathe with hedonism and sex trips. I sat in the classroom feeling highly offended and judged. I personally have been to Thailand for an upright and descent wedding and to purchase land for my retirement beach house and hotel plans. There are many wonderful people and things to see and do in Thailand for descent people and for children. But negativity comes from a society quick to judge full of negativity. I don’t see the grandioso words of COMPASS being applied by Faculty.
That was just one example of the offensive comments in the presentation of Chapter 6 and those I captured on recording. I record all my classes for content later so I don’t miss notes. In this class about marketing there was nothing to be learned, just offensive generalizations about each group and how is thought to have more money to travel. But it’s the personal comments made by the Professor which were so offensive, such as “a 40 year old man living at home with his parents” (you don’t know if he is a millionaire not a moocher and takes care of sick parents), or a comment like “we don’t care if you went to Thailand” in the same breathe with her “sex trips” written on one of her slides when she said there will be no advertising for those types of tourism. Moreover, I am Christian. But there is freedom in USA to be whatever religion you wish. And, Hedonism is like a type of religion and life-style. We have to respect atheists and pagans alike. They have a right to live freely among us here, as do the Buddhists and the Muslims who do not even like Christians in general. We must co-exist and not lash out at different more sexual or less sexual lifestyles. In fact, I think violence is a worse sin than sex is. However, the issue here is verbal behavior and showing respect to a white male who values family and values equality. Why can’t Professors keep themselves objective in nature and not bring to class personal opinions and feelings? Professionalism and respect for others includes to be objective. Trained for it?
On the issue of equality, during this presentation I was also highly offended by verbal comments, not necessary for the teaching process. Nowhere on the slides does it mention that “women make most of the decisions today” but those words ring in my ears from the Professor. It’s not necessary to harass me during class to make any point at all. And, then I must sit and keep my mouth shut. It’s not true. Men make many decisions today also. And, I do not like innuendo’s that male or female is smarter than the other. It’s bad for students to hear this. It’s bad to say to your spouse in a marriage. And, it’s just bad policy to allow this comment to go out without some form of counseling or at least a smack on the hand. If there is laughter by this complaint you will see how bad our problem is in USA. Women are not smarter in general. They are equal. Women is equal to man and not greater. And, it’s not proven by any statistic anywhere that women make either buying decisions or tourism decisions or decisions for their family without regard to man. We fought here in in USA for equal rights and freedom. We can not tolerate the “reverse prejudice” going on today, especially when it comes out as preaching to students. The words used in the classroom were far from respect to a white man, a man who has earned respect works hard to support others and society.
I feel depression as a result of the negative and offensive comments. But I will go on because I am resilient and a survivor. The question is will other students learn something in this classroom? Is this the value system you want to encourage at GMU to set wheels turning for the future of America? You will see that most students will just do what they must to pass class and get a grade. They will not realize the impact of those negative attitudes in their life until it is too late and something has gone dreadfully wrong for them in their own lives, as a result. Think wisely before you make any more public mockery of a descent white human and of the values which formed USA to begin with. What is has to do with being white or black or asain? I see more bad comments going towards the white man because they all think its ok to get away with those! We are riding on the coat-tails of decisions and of the past here. USA was not all that bad or we would not have been so great for 235 years so far. Why is everyone in such a hurry to change it when it’s already a finished product? Why would anybody want to be so negative? The answer lies in a deep rooted resentment and a wish to harm others, not to prosper or to make a greater nation as a result. Think wisely about how to enforce your COMPASS and your policy of the attitude of Professors in our classrooms.
In conclusion, if there is desire to know more details and wish to take action to correct the situation at GMU and with a Professor in general, please contact me directly for a meeting. I will provide to you the written evidence and recording of this lecture. Then corrective action can be taken by supervisory cadre. At a minimum I wish this Professor to be warned to not use personal resentment and negativity while in a classroom. The job entails teaching Tourism and not sassy viewpoints.
COMPASS mental health also seems to be reactionary or maintenance as well. There is so much addiction to internet and alcohol? I think getting a hobby and making social groups and clubs, is a more positive approach. The internet should be viewed simply as another communication device just like a phone call or a letter in snail mail. Are you addicted to calling your family often? Those who drink often are they driving or are they responsible? Dealing with depression or stress by finding an escape is most people’s approach. I recommend finding resolution, finding solutions instead. Abusing your body is not an answer to depression. In Tourism they teach that people run to a place using push factors to get away from life, and pull factors are more normal. Perhaps human nature is negative in this way, but tourism should have a new pull category just called adventure or inquisition. There is a mentally healthy tourist who has their act together, is not greedy, contributes to society, makes self sacrifices, and goes other simply for adventure and to find things which are not easily accessible in their own test tube environment at home. There comes a time for some good clean fun and adventure, discovery, magic for kids, peace for adults. Thus students must not be subjected to such forceful and disrespectful comments during any future lectures at GMU. I am eager for your feedback on what will be done about this open issue.
Addendum.
How to speak positively and not offensively, to encourage a better future for our nation. Examples for positive feedback.
To tell you the truth what will make a positive and prosperous America would be good comments like these coming out of the mouths of Professors:
I personally can tell you the joys of having children far outweighed the expenses and now they can even help me at home, given the right direction and teaching. And, my husband even employs one son using his private company now which is legal under tax laws. Once more, we take our children on vacations with us to enjoy them and they are very well behaved because they know we love them and the rewards are greater than to be punished. So we are great tourists even if we had kids! And, I can not make excuses and blame my kids if I had no fun in my life.
Perhaps Hedonism is not a good motivation for people to travel but regardless many people will do it for this reason. Perhaps it was a mistake but if we call ourself a “healthy society” to hide this and make others feel ashamed of mistakes then we are seriously judgmental and doomed to be liars, having double lives. One must be allowed the freedom to explore and to find out what they want from life. And, those who prevent this excursion will just delay a larger rebellion by the one who wishes for that hedonistic agenda. The peer pressure at home did not allow them freedom to date normally or to drink alcohol legally due to shamefulness. They were not allowed here in USA to be the person who they really are. Is that mental health? It looks like a push factor for tourism. And, the same Professor speaks negatively about having kids prevent tourism and against hedonism. These activities both result in more births and more families in our nation which is good for America as long as they do not engage in abortion instead, to avoid more shame. When having a baby is a good and positive thing then society curses the girl?
A man age 40 living at home to take care of his Mother is a wonderful man and he sacrifices his own personal gains to care for his family. His bank account grows faster than a man who has to pay out for rent and also he helps to pay for his family. Thus when he needs a break from working at home and in the office he is a tourist. Then our society will insult this man even in churches and in public with words and scorn. Fat people also take much abuse by our society and by many others. Most times it’s a health issue and not usually from some laziness or self imposed.
A gay couple maybe has more money saved than one who made children but on the other hand there are many good Mothers like my own who took us on several vacations per year to expand our mind and experiences as young boys! So tourism was a part of the budget. Therefore, sexuality has nothing to do with tourism. It might or it might not. And, this generality should not be a part of the classroom.
A trip to Thailand in Asia or China or even Russia can expand your mind in such as way that it will result in more world peace and less misunderstandings. It can even reduce the paranoia and hatred in the world based on old ways, based on past wars. And, in this way tourism can benefit a good attitude and encourage respect for others. Do you think a trip to Russia is also just a “sex trip”? And, this is the problem with heterosexual who goes to find a wife and make a family? You see this is a type of slander going on in USA now of normal heterosexuals who want to make families faster than possible in their own circles? So he is a Loser to find an alternative? He has a mental health problem when he will make a good Father of children? Also, insulting Thailand in the same breathe with sex trips is just scandalous. I hope no head of state makes such a slanderous remark when the press listens. Fact is many cultures are indeed more free than we are and they do not inhibit normal prosperous interaction between the sexes. In places like London and many cities in USA people are up tight and paranoid who is watching them so they work, work and work and do not have normal relationships. Things like what this Professor said just add fuel to the health problems in USA. And, the result is that young females in the schools will seek foreign men to avoid criticsm which results in divorce and single mothers when those men go home to traditional wives in their own cultures. Meanwhile if slander was cut down on normal white males in USA we will not have the high divorce rate either. This Professor needs some serious mental counceling as many at GMU that obviously need to learn how to public speak much better, project their voice, not mumble and not slander others outside of their own beliefs. Or do you think a heterosexual male seeking woman for child-bearing is sick? Do you think all the Professors have perfect public speaking skills necessary to Teach? And, what about objectivity? It’s supposed to be a core value of professional respect of others, keeping your personal feelings out of teaching. This complaint is manipulative?