I have always, since the start of my college career, registered online whenever possible. I don’t have the time to wait in line to speak to an adviser, nor do I particularly care to go to campus when I can accomplish the exact same thing from my home computer.
So a month ago, I start looking into classes for the upcoming semester. I’m a history major, so there are 2 required classes I must take in my senior year- Theory of History and a Pro-Seminar, whose topics change each semester. I see that there is a Pro-Seminar on the Holocaust. Well, call me crazy, but that’s interesting. Much more so than Environmental History. Now, the seminars are limited to history majors and you need the instructor’s permission to register. I email the teacher, who informs me that a student has registered improperly, so the class appears to be open, but is in fact full.
I register for 2 other classes instead. Fast forward to a few days ago. I had registered for 2 classes at my home campus a few blocks away, and 2 others on a different campus which requires a 45 minute commute, because I had made plans to carpool. Those plans fell through, and I can’t justify the gas to drive to the other campus. So I have to register for 2 different classes a week before the semester starts. So, I see that there is another seminar on a topic that isn’t as horribly boring to me as Environmental History- 19th Century U.S. Social Movements. OK, same drill- email instructor requesting permission. This shouldn’t be hard, the online class search shows 4 open seats in this class.
No, the professor informs me, the class is in fact full to capacity, even though it shows several open seats; perhaps I should contact an adviser to see which seminars have open seats.
Fuck no I won’t! I’m not waiting for an hour to speak to someone only to be told, yes, there are 2 dozen seats in Environmental History available. You know why that class is still open? Because only dirty tree-huggers* want to take that class. I’m a medieval European history major, I like death, destruction, plagues and crusades. Not joining hands around a fire and singing Kumbaya.
And what about these improperly registered students who are still going to be taking these classes? Why should they get to take seats from other students who have, in fact, mastered the use of the keyboard and mouse and don’t need their hands held through the registration process?
So I get to take American History I. Let’s see if the incoming freshman are any smarter than the seniors and grad students too stupid to register properly for their classes.
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I have myself been accused of being a dirty tree-hugger, because I recycle and like to conserve gas.