University Etiquette

[Gabrielle]

That's really interesting that you have locked computer labs. We have one in each dorm, computers all over the library and the student union, as well as kiosks so people can check email and such without having to leave a building they have a class in.

The dorms and libraries all have lots of computers too (although I live off campus). But the entire university locks after 5pm - you have to push buttons on every door to get out and swipe your ID on all the main doors to get in. In my case I was in the same building - I was on the floor below. But access is restricted especially in the engineering departments, because each engineering discipline has their own specialised computer lab and using another discipline's lab is frowned upon.

[Miriam]

Our labs are locked because we live right next to residential areas, and many people just walk into our school and apparantly walk out with more (school property). I think there's a TSA system in our library now 

[hollandoates]

how about "please do not put your feet up on the chair in front of you in a lecture hall. especially if your feet are bare."

a girl in one of my classes did this to a seat that was two seats down from me. it was unbearably gross, even at that distance.

[Thyisa]

I am no longer in university, but here is one that bugged me: If you MUST come to class under the influence of some substance, please do not reek, and please make certain you will not disrupt the other students or the professor. Someone in a class spent five minutes asking if there was a connection between A and B...Which was the subject of the past two lectures, the titles of which were on the syllabus.

[TeamBhakta]

Don't skip your part of a group project and repeatedly whine "It's too hard...I can't do this tiny, simpler task...I'm just too busy, do it for me", then randomly rewrite the whole project the night before it's due "because it was just terrible." Your "helpful" new version won't be used, thanks

[Daffodil]

The library is a quiet place - respect that.

The library at my university was expected to be fully quiet, but there was a designated quiet area. The lower level was where people could work on group projects and talk at a respectful volume to each other but upstairs was understood to be dead quiet - not a peep.

Of course, you would have these SS ones who thought it was okay to just whip out their cell phone and have this nice long and loud discussion. There was also a guy who played a film on his laptop - through the speakers ! And don't get me started on the texters who can't be bothered to turn their phone to silent .. Really - were these people raised in a barn ?

[camlan]

If you get a low grade on a paper, the way to improve your grade is not to do the following:

Go to your TA's office hours, arriving 5 minutes before they end. Close the door (must be kept open to avoid sexual harassment issues), move the guest chair at the TA's desk to a position of your choosing which makes it extremely difficult for the TA it make eye contact with you or go over your paper with you, move the fan so that it blows only on you as you sit in the guest chair, turn on the radio on another TA's desk and fiddle with the stations, take a pencil off the TA's desk and put it in your backpack, move various items on the TA's desk to positions of your choosing, lean on the desk with both elbows, smile up at the TA and say, "So, what extra credit can I do to get me an A?"

Trust me.

[Daffodil]

There's contributing to the conversation, and then there's trying to dominate it.

I'm not sure if this guy was socially awkward and wasn't aware he was doing this, or if it was on purpose but the entire class and the prof. were incredibly annoyed. Every time the prof. would ask a question or even just pause for air, this guy would always speak up. When someone else was answering a question, he would try and cut them off and he *always* had to throw in his own viewpoints whether someone else was speaking or not. It doesn't sound bad written out - but it was excessive.

It was at the point that when ever the prof. would see him open his mouth, he'd hold up his hand in a "one minute" gesture, at him *every time* he'd go to speak, because it was just that bad. 

*edited to fix typo

[Miriam]

There's contributing to the conversation, and then there's trying to dominate it.

I'm not sure if this guy was socially awkward and wasn't aware he was doing this, or if it was on purpose but the entire class and the prof. were incredibly annoyed. Every time the prof. would ask a question or even just pause for air, this guy would always speak up. When someone else was answering a question, he would try and cut them off and he *always* had to throw in his own viewpoints whether someone else was speaking or not. It doesn't sound band written out - but it was excessive.

It was at the point that when ever the prof. would see him open his mouth, he'd hold up his hand in a "one minute" gesture, at him *every time* he'd go to speak, because it was just that bad.

This. You can't have a class without the residential interrupter/debater/speaker.

Everytime I walk by this one class in the mornings some girl in the back row is yelling over the class. I highly doubt she's a TA or anything, just "the talker". I'll walk around for a bit, go to the bathroom, have a snack, then walk by this class again and still she's obnoxiously loud over everyone. Glad I'm not in there, but they should shut the door.

[hollandoates]

I wish, sometimes, that the "Wrap It Up" sign from Chapelle's Show existed for classrooms.

It drives me a little batty when I'm in this one tutorial for one of my classes. The same two people like to play professor and dominate the conversation with long-winded, quasi-sensical diatribes. Discussions work so much better when people make concise points.

[Army Mom]

I'm staff at a large Midwestern US university and some of the faculty are so rude that we hate to deal with them.  One in particular was apparently offended that I actually do receive a lunch break.  I was not at my desk when he arrived, without an appointment mind you!, so he abused my office mates, left me a cryptic note and some obscure paperwork and stormed out.

I promptly took the tale, the note and the paperwork to my boss (VP).  Who called the professor and explained exactly why I was not going to take care of it for him! 

I realize that many of our faculty are recognized experts in their fields but that doesn't mean that I'm required to curtsey!

[cabbagegirl28]

how about "please do not put your feet up on the chair in front of you in a lecture hall. especially if your feet are bare."

a girl in one of my classes did this to a seat that was two seats down from me. it was unbearably gross, even at that distance.

Or putting your feet in the seat someone is sitting in. The person behind me in a class put her feet where my tush was. I don't even know.

[Nikko-chan]

I second (third? fourth?) the whole no children in class rule. I might have mentioned this, but a classmate of mine in my math class brought her kid to class with her, TWICE. The second time she did so, Baby was shrieking and carrying on and I couldn't concentrate, so I up and left when I realized the Professor was not going to do anything.

Second story:

I too have had the class with a disorganized Professor. He would come to class late often, one time he didn't show up at all (apparently he sent out an email or something that some of us didn't get). I made a friend out of that class actually. *snicker* We bonded over how bad the class was.

[Gabrielle]

I second (third? fourth?) the whole no children in class rule. I might have mentioned this, but a classmate of mine in my math class brought her kid to class with her, TWICE. The second time she did so, Baby was shrieking and carrying on and I couldn't concentrate, so I up and left when I realized the Professor was not going to do anything.

Second story:

I too have had the class with a disorganized Professor. He would come to class late often, one time he didn't show up at all (apparently he sent out an email or something that some of us didn't get). I made a friend out of that class actually. *snicker* We bonded over how bad the class was.

I once had a class at 12. The lecturer emailed us about the change in location for that class.... at 12.45pm. Then he wondered why nobody showed up *facepalm*

[Miriam]

If you are taking an online class, please know what groups you are assigned to (if any) and be aware of who's post you are writing under or quoting.

Found this gem today under a group project from my group (there are four of us, and we are grouped together because the professor did it alphabetically).
"Good Evening, Ladies!   
I am just now getting back to the discussion board to learn that you all have decided to submit OUR story, without including MY story too.  Unless there is a communication that I missed (which may be possible since I have had the flu for a week), it was my understanding that the due date for this project was Sunday, November 13th.  While I realize it is close, I don't recall the group agreeing to a set deadline for submission, nor do I recall any communication about automatic exclusion from the group at any time.  I know we all have different schedules, interests, ways of learning and studying, I know we bring different life experiences, belief systems, baggage, wit, drama, nonsense, values, morals, thoughts and opinions.  That said, the common thread that should have held OUR story  together is that we are women striving to complete a goal and had to depend on one another to see it come to fruition. I am disheartened to say the least.  I wouldn't want anyone's grade to suffer from anything that I did or did not do, but I don't want mine to suffer because you all did not want to wait. I guess no hard feelings, just disappointed.  Sometimes part of  being in a "group project" environment is learning how to jump out and take a lead when required, learning how to meet a specific deadline and sometimes learning how to wait on those that may not have the same studying styles and habits that are the same as those that you possess.    MY story is attached."

I'm sorry it's so long. I read this under our posting which we turned in early and was absolutely shocked. This person is not in our group. We are all in the beginning of the alphabet when she nearly touches Z and our professor has the lists in a special folder. I e-mailed her and cc'd the professor asking her to to delete the post because she is mistaken and it is rude and to please contact the group she belongs to.