UOP Students need to “grow a pair”

At the end of my class last night, the students were giving quick individual presentations over their Past, Present, and Future papers. Now, I talked to several members of the class before it started, and I got the impression that several of them had taken a decidedly negative tone with their paper in reference to the learning experience at UOP. However, when each of those individuals got up to talk about UOP during their presentation, when they had to verbalize their issues with both the isntructor and students listening, all of them chickened out of saying that their papers said.

They danced around the issue like there were on “Dancing with the Stars” and tried to make sure and put a nice polite bow on the topic. As a result, when I got up there and was decidedly more negative, the isntructor was sufficiently suprised. I made the statememt “I do not think my degree will really help me in my career.” After picking his jaw up off of the desk, the instructor asked around the room if anyone else felt that way? After some muffled agreements, the louder voices (with brown noses) started speaking about how much it will help them. I was literally watching the UOP bandwagon groan under the load as the rest of the class jumped right on board.

If we, the students of UOP, do not like what is happening at the school, we are obligated to say something about it. It’s not a recommendation to voice our concerns, it is our duty. And sometimes that means saying things that people do not normally want to hear. That’s why the majority of UOP students I have encountered need to “Grow a Pair”. If you aren’t willing to stand up in front of any member of the UOP staff and tell them what you honestly believe about the experience at UOP, then you have no right to complain. None. You should be forced to sit there and shut-up, and be happy with your worthless degree. I however, have made a habit of standing up and telling them. That’s why my name is on the desk of the campus chair. Becuase I voice my opinion, and don’t stop untis they hear me.

Now, I am feeling a little hypocritical on this topic, becuase I have not divulged my full info either. This is more becuase of the grey area involving my statements about my team members. I am not impressed with their work, but unlike my instructors, I need my team members cooperation in order to complete these classes. So with them, I have to be more tactful. But I do not need to the instructors to like me in order to pass the class. They are paid to be objective and teach the material. If they don’t personally like me or my opinions of the school, that should not affect my standing in the class. (That does not imply that all teachers are ethical in this area, but they should be.)

So, for all of those people who logon to the UOPSucks website and write their opinions, but aren’t relating the same issues to their instructor, academic counselor, team members, campus chairs, and anyone else who will listen, then they need to “Grow a Pair” as well.