This is a human rights issue! (longish)

[dbblsanta]

Ahhh and I thought I left all the crazies behind when I left my summer supermarket job in Rhode Island. Now I'm a receptionist for an academic department in a New York City college that I attend.

It's 9:00 in the morning; I'm sipping on my tea; and this lady, in her late-30s/early-40s comes to the desk.

SC: Hi where is the copy machine on this floor?
Me: Our copy machine is reserved for staff and faculty only. Are you a TA?
SC: Yes.
Me: (I don't recognize her but it's possible she could be new): Ok what is your name?
SC: Bla Bla
Me: Sorry you don't appear on my list. You're a TA with our department?
SC: No, I'm a TA with the Art and Public Policy department.
Me: Well I'm sorry you'll have to use the copy machines in your department.

SC: This is ridiculous! I need to make copies to advertise a protest we're having at the UN next week on the Darfur Crisis. This is a human rights issue!

Me: Mhm (totally chillaxing on my tea...not in the least bit moved by her little speech) I'm sorry there's nothing I can do. If you don't have a copy code the machines are locked. You need to use the copy machine in your department.

SC: But I'm taking a class on this floor right now and I want to hand these copies out in class. Can't you just give me your copy code?

Me: No.

SC: Can I use my professor's copy code?

Me: Your professor can use his allotted copies as he wishes. He can't give you his copy code, but he can make the copies for you.

----

So the human rights lady goes to her professor and comes back with a note.

SC: OK, here is a note from the professor giving me permission to make copies.

Me: He needs to input his copy code into the machine himself and make the copies for you.

SC: He says he doesn't have a copy code!

Me: Well he should...what is his name?

SC: Professor So-and-So.

Me: Professor So-and-So does not work for this department. You must be taking an Art and Public Policy class. That department is borrowing space on our floor but he is not a Cinema Studies professor. Only Cinema Studies staff and faculty can use our machine.

SC: But this is for a protest for Darfur (bla bla bla...repeats rant).

Me: [thinking: I don't care if you're organizing a benefit concert to save deaf orphans from burning buildings]. Ma'am ...Ma'am...you cannot use our copy machines I'm sorry you need a passcode to unlock them, which are only given out to our faculty.

SC: But the Art and Public Policy lets anyone use their machines!

Me: Well this isn't the Art and Public Policy department.

SC: Ugh! I can't believe this bureaucracy! *stomps off*

[sirwired]

"Art and Public Policy Dept"? That seems like an odd combination. Does the dept. refer to a combination of an Art dept. and a Public Policy dept., or is it a dept. that studies public polices for art?

SirWired

[dbblsanta]

I don't exactly know what they're about. All I know is that the professor who teaches the class that nutty lady is in is the one who walks around wearing a thick helmet all the time.

[telecom_goddess]

I don't exactly know what they're about. All I know is that the professor who teaches the class that nutty lady is in is the one who walks around wearing a thick helmet all the time.

The hell?

[bainsidhe]

Is anyone else thinking that if the Arts & Public Policy Dept really does let just anyone make copies, then they're no doubt out of funds and that's why they're trying to bum copies from other departments.

[South Texan]

Ah, to be an idealistic college student again with no concept of reality regarding the way the world works except what I thought it should be.

You mean everyone won't drop what they are doing and support my cause because I think it is worthy??????

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

I don't exactly know what they're about. All I know is that the professor who teaches the class that nutty lady is in is the one who walks around wearing a thick helmet all the time.

Knowing the types who teach those kinds of classes, the helmet is probably to block the government from reading his/her thoughts and block the government's brain-washing ray. Or something.

In short, their elevators don't go all the way to the top floor.

[flutes_and_fabric]

We have a music resource room, but it's staffed by non music majors who are irresponsible and don't realize there're programs on those computers which we need to use. 4 days out of 5 they don't show up on time, or take hour long lunch breaks when they're only supposed to be taking 15 minute breaks (there's a cafe right downstairs). We found the art resource room. They're so nice. They let us print color pages no charge. Our resource room charges 20 cents a page. We're thinking of asking the art department to put some music applications on one of their machines. They're nice enough, I know they would do it. Best part is the room's open 24/7.

[Hobbs]

Ah, to be an idealistic college student again with no concept of reality regarding the way the world works except what I thought it should be.

You mean everyone won't drop what they are doing and support my cause because I think it is worthy??????

Huuua.

[dalesys]

...
In short, their elevators don't go all the way to the top floor.

More likely, there isn't a car in the shaft.

[tropicsgoddess]

In short, their elevators don't go all the way to the top floor.

Or the wheel's spinning, but the hamster is dead.

[elsporko]

Art and Public Policy makes me think of something out of 1984 where they make statues of Big Brother to motivate the masses.

[sirwired]

Okay, I finally got the better of my laziness and looked this place up on the web.

Wow. Apparently you can get a masters in this. "Masters of Art in Art Politics." I could see this topic being the foundation for a couple of courses as part of an Art degree, but a whole program in and of itself? Blech... The professors in this department have produced many books which appear to have a target market consisting solely of university libraries, where the book will be checked out only by grad students looking to write more papers and books that will only be read by students and professors of Art Politics.

This program has got to be the poster child for producing graduates with gigabucks in debt and a fulfilling career consisting of a succession of McJobs. Kind of makes me glad you can't write off student debt in BK court, as debt for a pile of no-monetary-value like this is the student's own damn fault.

I'm the first to recognize that college is not supposed to be an expensive trade school, but this program just seems waaayyyy too specialized to have any use whatsoever. At least a philosophy grad can go on to become a philosophy teacher. What does a grad of this program do for a living, or is it restricted to trust fund babies?

SirWired

[Geek King]

At least a philosophy grad can go on to become a philosophy teacher.

Heh. I knew a philosophy major once upon a when. Turns out, the (almost) only way to make a living out of that degree is to either publish books or get a doctorate and teach university level. Last I heard of the poor fellow, he was leaving his job delivering mixed drinks to golfers out on the course for a position as a park ranger.

PS--not bad work, mind you, but not really using that degree he paid buck$ for either...

[DaDairyDruid]

Old joke....

What question does a Economics major ask about a new product?

A: how much does it cost to make?

Q: Engineering Major?

A: How is it made?

Q: Marketing Major?

A: how can we sell this thing?

Q:Philosiphy Major?

A: Would you like fries with that?