The Gooner Forum

Right, so I'm a college student, nearly 18, and I missed the whole of last week due to severe illness. On that very same week, I was assigned to a group and had to do a performance, but wasn't graded due to the absence, with my desperate attempts to attend on the crunch day failing.

Now, I was reviewed on Tuesday for this, as was everyone, and given another assignment to replace the one I missed, which I have just completed and emailed to one of my tutors. The tutor that reviewed me more or less said it's over and done with now and we can move on, but her superior has now sent a letter to my mum for another review, tomorrow, and has basically said she wants to remove me from the course. This 'superior' woman is one of those snobby, official, high-up, power hungry jobsworth people who get off on having power.

After she spoke to my Mum on the phone this morning, I was then put on, to which she denied saying she wants to remove me from the course even though she said it to my mother not a minute before. Can this be treated as abuse of powe/position? And if so, should I take this up with perhaps, the Principle? My college has extremely strong rules on student protection, equality and diversity etc.

Not only here do I feel a massive feeling of injustice, but a massive worry that I could actually be faced with a real problem. The course I'm on, performing arts, I'm totally enjoying it massively, I've been on it four weeks, and this idiot wants to take me off and remove me from the new friends I've made just because I had one week off for something I couldn't help? If it was a job it'd be more logical, but colleges/schools are much more lenient with students than employers, I'm not the only one to say this. If anyone has been in a similar position, or has any advice for me to use in my defence tomorrow, it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help peeps

First year of Uni I missed a timed essay thing that accounted for 10%. I also missed a lot of these Latin modules that I had elected to take. All of this was because I had glandular fever and actually couldn't attend any of them. My senior tutor wanted to kick me off the course at the end of the first year. I said no to this. He then asked if I would intermit the year and start afresh next year which I also refused.

In the end I had a meeting with him on the last day of term, and had to get my Mum to come as well as we were talking about a lot of money! Basically, he said I couldn't catch up all the work missed as I'd have to take on 2 extra modules in the second term just to get the right amount of credits for the year.

BUT the work that I missed I couldn't catch up on and this was a sticking point as the board of examiners are strict and won't allow anyone to continue who has failed or not attended an assessment SO I had to get loads of doctor's notes etc and prove I had glandular fever and was unable to attend. I got a 0 still but I passed that module on a...something which I forget, but was basically a technicality.

We basically sternly pleaded and in the end he allowed me to take on these 2 extra modules - which I did. I graduated this year too and it didn't affect me at all.

Don't stand for this, especially if they said you could continue. If you have a review though prepare yourself for it and have all the evidence ready to present. You have to cut off all their options so that they can't kick you out.

Good luck and sorry for this dissertation length reply.

I think if I wasn't tommorrow you'd have a far stronger position. I think right now before anything else you need to know for sure whether the superior actually wants to remove form the class or not as that seems as you describe it a bit unclear. Perhaps she mis-spoke to your mother.

Again with time being every short the best thing I can recommend is offering to do some extra credit work beyond simply the make-up assignment, but extra credit work beyond the course requirements to show how serious you are about this course and youe enjoyment iof it and desire to continue in it.

Unfortunately that is all I can offer on this short a notice. Good luck, I hope this works out for you.

Sounds like this 'superior lady' is being a *word censored* to you.

Do you have a medical certificate from your doctor? Colleges usually ask for that if you miss classes on a consecutive basis.

What kind of illness is it? If it's just regular flu for example I think you should still have attended your classes to be honest. You have to realize that this is college and they're not as lenient as schools.

I think both of my course tutors are understanding that I couldn't come in at all, it was serious shit, after being told its okay though it really pisses me off some twat wants to fuck me over.

Sounds like yours was worse than mine, although its the same kind of dilemma we faced. But do you or anyone think getting the principle involved would help anything? He has more authority in the college than anyone, and could reieve her of her duties at any time he wanted. This woman obviously has it in for teenagers, otherwise she wouldn't have been so petty and took this so far. Hopefully she gets whats coming to her, even my Mum didn't like her on the phone after sticking up for me, revenge is on the cards. Thanks for the advice though man, appreciated.

Get a fucking job

US, I said this to my Mum, possibly you heard or interpreted it wrong, but she knew what she heard. And I couldn't go in at all at any point, weirdly I couldn't walk in a straight line or hold anything in my hand for more than 2 or 3 seconds (awaits pun )

I really cannot be removed from this course, this being my second year, my first year was disastrous in many ways, and I haven't been this happy in ages. Thanks for the advice.

Does your uni/college not have a student advice body kinda thing you can go to for issues like this? I know ours did...

'Performing Arts'? Get some proper education - something that will help you get a job and pay your share of taxes, you sponger and parasite!!!

Peforming Arts :awnker:

Sutch wrote:US, I said this to my Mum, possibly you heard or interpreted it wrong, but she knew what she heard. And I couldn't go in at all at any point, weirdly I couldn't walk in a straight line or hold anything in my hand for more than 2 or 3 seconds (awaits pun )

I really cannot be removed from this course, this being my second year, my first year was disastrous in many ways, and I haven't been this happy in ages. Thanks for the advice.

So it hasn't affected your love-life and you're wanking as per usual, yeah?

I knew one of you dirty old men would insert a masturbation joke, jealous of my youthful co...conut ;D

i have discussed with sammy about the woman abusing her position, and ive decided to go to student support, the people who deal with this stuff at my campus. like i said to sammy, my defence is being strengthened by the hour, if only Vermaelen was there backing me up, doubt shed have much to say then

thank you all for this, even that lovely gesture from mutley, big help

Sutch wrote:US, I said this to my Mum, possibly you heard or interpreted it wrong, but she knew what she heard. And I couldn't go in at all at any point, weirdly I couldn't walk in a straight line or hold anything in my hand for more than 2 or 3 seconds (awaits pun )

I really cannot be removed from this course, this being my second year, my first year was disastrous in many ways, and I haven't been this happy in ages. Thanks for the advice.

No wrorries - I'm glad to hear you can't actually be removed since you enjoy this class so much and that's what really matters.

My point is that maybe that won't be what she really wants done at this review anyway.

Anyway good luck and enjoy completing this course then.

Sutch wrote: I knew one of you dirty old men would insert a masturbation joke, jealous of my youthful co...conut ;D

i have discussed with sammy about the woman abusing her position, and ive decided to go to student support, the people who deal with this stuff at my campus. like i said to sammy, my defence is being strengthened by the hour, if only Vermaelen was there backing me up, doubt shed have much to say then

thank you all for this, even that lovely gesture from mutley, big help

Go break a leg, as you luvvy types say to one another and I dont mean in a Shawcross or Taylor kind of way

I would contact the National Union of Students and the Citizens Advice Bureau.