2008 Woodie Awards
Knowing when to fight your battles
Brendon Schaller
Issue date: 11/8/07 Section: opinion
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Earlier this fall I went into the Italian Kitchen between my classes to get some lunch. My girlfriend and I both ordered subs and began waiting for them to be ready. We were waiting a bit longer than it takes to make a sub and watching the workers walk past the bits of paper with our orders on them while they rang up others and put out food that was ordered after ours. Losing more and more time to eat before my next class I started to get very angry. I generally have a lot of patience for people, but I decided to stop the nearest worker and inquire rather impolitely why my food had not been made yet. I made a bit of a scene and probably deeply angered the worker I had blamed. I later felt remorse for my over-reaction and was met at the Italian Kitchen with some unfriendly looks.
Last Tuesday, approximately one hour into an hour and fifteen-minute class, we had yet to do anything resembling academics. The professor led a sad attempt to celebrate Halloween (mainly because he had no lecture prepared for class) and even some of the activities, including Youtube.com videos we watched clocking in at ten minutes, had nothing to do with Halloween, or had any relevance to our class. So I decided to voice the opinions of those around me and raise my hand. I spoke in front of my 150-some fellow students and said to the professor, "We've been here for almost an hour…are we going to learn anything or can I just go home"? He politely and confusingly said I could go, so I stood up and left as much of the class 'booed' my negativity.
I have come to realize that there are some battles you must fight. My reaction to the delay of my lunch was uncalled for. I usually have a lot of patience for such a thing and have had much experience in food service when costumers blame you for things that aren't your fault. I could've asked this worker nicely, because for all I know she didn't even know about my order. As frustrating as it gets to wait sometimes I forget that they're probably really busy and have enough to worry about in their line of work. Serving college students food isn't the easier job. On the other hand, I have never missed that class and I put in the work since it is an intro class to my major and I want to learn a few things while I'm paying thousands of dollars a year. When a professor whose salary I'm paying is wasting my time that could be better spent I feel the need to voice my opinion. When the majority of the curriculum is learned through reading a book and the three hours I spend in class every week are to hear a man whose job is protected by tenure stand in front of us boasting his own opinions while we stare in silence at a bad comedian waiting for laughter. Why blame the hard working server who is only trying to make a living or support themselves through school? However, when an academic figure is depraving you of the knowledge you seek then you should stand up for what you believe despite what your classmates might think of your actions. If you know you were right then that's all that's important. Just because they're paid to teach us, doesn't mean they know what they're talking about. You need to question authority when necessary and also know when to walk away and eat your damn sub. When you're angry and in the mood to raise hell, think about what's important and what needs to be said that others won't say. What could it hurt to rustle a few feathers? Just make sure it's the battle worth fighting.
Last Tuesday, approximately one hour into an hour and fifteen-minute class, we had yet to do anything resembling academics. The professor led a sad attempt to celebrate Halloween (mainly because he had no lecture prepared for class) and even some of the activities, including Youtube.com videos we watched clocking in at ten minutes, had nothing to do with Halloween, or had any relevance to our class. So I decided to voice the opinions of those around me and raise my hand. I spoke in front of my 150-some fellow students and said to the professor, "We've been here for almost an hour…are we going to learn anything or can I just go home"? He politely and confusingly said I could go, so I stood up and left as much of the class 'booed' my negativity.
I have come to realize that there are some battles you must fight. My reaction to the delay of my lunch was uncalled for. I usually have a lot of patience for such a thing and have had much experience in food service when costumers blame you for things that aren't your fault. I could've asked this worker nicely, because for all I know she didn't even know about my order. As frustrating as it gets to wait sometimes I forget that they're probably really busy and have enough to worry about in their line of work. Serving college students food isn't the easier job. On the other hand, I have never missed that class and I put in the work since it is an intro class to my major and I want to learn a few things while I'm paying thousands of dollars a year. When a professor whose salary I'm paying is wasting my time that could be better spent I feel the need to voice my opinion. When the majority of the curriculum is learned through reading a book and the three hours I spend in class every week are to hear a man whose job is protected by tenure stand in front of us boasting his own opinions while we stare in silence at a bad comedian waiting for laughter. Why blame the hard working server who is only trying to make a living or support themselves through school? However, when an academic figure is depraving you of the knowledge you seek then you should stand up for what you believe despite what your classmates might think of your actions. If you know you were right then that's all that's important. Just because they're paid to teach us, doesn't mean they know what they're talking about. You need to question authority when necessary and also know when to walk away and eat your damn sub. When you're angry and in the mood to raise hell, think about what's important and what needs to be said that others won't say. What could it hurt to rustle a few feathers? Just make sure it's the battle worth fighting.