Thank God This Isn't Your Professor
Have you ever spent shopping period class hopping (i.e. sitting in on multiple classes that occur simultaneously)? One student at NYU's Stern Business School employed such a strategy during their add/drop period to devastating ends. As he attempted to walk into the middle of Professor Scott Galloway’s course, he was kicked out and informed that late students were not permitted to enter. The student later emailed the professor, insisting that this policy was unfair. Here’s an excerpt from Professor Galloway’s response:
“Thanks for the feedback. I, too, would like to offer some feedback.Just so I've got this straight...you started in one class, left 15-20 minutes into it (stood up, walked out mid-lecture), went to another class (walked in 20 minutes late), left that class (again, presumably, in the middle of the lecture), and then came to my class. At that point (walking in an hour late) I asked you to come to the next class which "bothered" you.Correct?You state that, having not taken my class, it would be impossible to know our policy of not allowing people to walk in an hour late. Most risk analysis offers that in the face of substantial uncertainty, you opt for the more conservative path or hedge your bet (e.g., do not show up an hour late until you know the professor has an explicit policy for tolerating disrespectful behavior, check with the TA before class, etc.). I hope the lottery winner that is your recently crowned Monday evening Professor is teaching Judgement and Decision Making or Critical Thinking.xxxx, let me be more serious for a moment. I do not know you, will not know you and have no real affinity or animosity for you. You are an anonymous student who is now regretting the send button on his laptop. It's with this context I hope you register pause...REAL pause xxxx and take to heart what I am about to tell you:xxxx, get your shit together.”
Ouch. It's a good thing Princeton is lacking in our stock of stern business school profs.(image source: http://www.portfolio.com/executives/features/2008/01/31/Scott-Galloway-Profile/)