CCNY Students Wonder Why Is Our Staff So Rude? We Look at Both Sides
Last month, Christian H, who asked that his last name not be used, a City College transfer student, almost quit before even starting school. "I got my acceptance letter in November, but I was told I couldn't register until January due to protocol," says Christian, who is now an MCA major. "I left my job to be a full-time student, and when it came time to register, the runaround was so frustrating that I almost stopped trying to register altogether."Christian isn't the only one frustrated by our disorganized system.At the height of the first few weeks of school, when everything feels chaotic and administrative support really matters, all over campus students are asking themselves "why is the CCNY staff so rude?" Things are so out of hand that, according to a source who asked not to be indentified, CCNY president Dr. Lisa Staiano-Coico marched down to straighten things out in the hectic registrar's office during the first week of school.But who is to blame? Students or staff?Students complain that it is difficult to get the classes that they need, and no one seems to care. "January rolls around, I came for my assigned day and they tell me that all the classes I want are full," says an irritated Christian.Many students believe that the staff doesn't understand the frustrations of being astudent. "My problem with administration is, it seems like they just want to get you in and out,," says Rochelle Sterling, an MCA major. "They don't care if you are confused, or don't know what you're doing; to them you're just a number."The staff counters that the problems aren't their fault. But they don't blame the students; the system they say, needs a makeover. "The main problem is that chairs try to over-ride deans, professors tell students that they can overtally classes thatare full, and by law we are not allowed to do that," says a staff member at the Registrar's office, who asked that her name not be used. "So they come to us frustrated and upset.""It often isn't the students' fault," adds the staffer. "I feel that employees should be cross trained so that they are not giving students the wrong information, misleading them and causing frustration."As a community, staff, faculty and students need to be well informed about CCNY's protocols and give each other support. "After sending me to office after office, I was finally helped by a work study student who in fact registered me for every class that I was told I could not get into. I even went as far as to go back to the same person who told me this couldn't be done and they looked un-phased," says a relieved Christian. "To think I almost didn't even register because no one would help me."
