CAA: Christian Anime Alliance

Dear all,

I am among the group of graduate students who are suffering in the midst of our thesis-writing. I cannot stand to see the situation they are in; I myself wonder how long I can take it myself.

Friend 1:
- only had 2 months to complete her statistics and thesis writeup
- forced to do her defense when her major professor didn't even bother to read through her first draft
- committee members were appalled by her presentation and gave her a conditional pass: "Redo all your statistics" - (0_0)
- today, she called me and was so miserable: Her professor once again conveniently forgot to read through her thesis today and she cannot give the draft to her committee -
- her committee member nonchalantly said "Oh too bad, guess you can't graduate" - So MEAN!
- her deadline for thesis submission is next Wed
- by right she needs to graduate coz she has already applied for a work permit from INS (U.S. Department of Immigration). Technically, it's illegal for us to start working with that permit unless we have graduated

Friend 2:
- has had her graduation delayed for almost A YEAR
- the professor keeps delaying her thesis and keeps blaming her student for the bad results she's getting
- If there is one little mistake (i.e spelling error) in the thesis, she closes the papers and tells her to take back the whole paper without looking at the rest of it
- the professor doesn't even say "Hi" to her and totally ignores her. During meetings, she tries to intimidate her student by pulling off all sorts of stunts (deliberately asking questions that she knows her student won't be able to answer)
- keeps trying to find fault with her (i.e. checked the lab supplies expenses to see whether my friend lied or wanted to check medical records to see whether her students lie about their sick leave)
- no more funding next semester

I have never met/heard of such wicked people in my life. It takes A LOT to make me respond with a "WTF?"

PLEASE pls pray for these professors to stop being unreasonable and heartless. I wish my friend's professors would stop treating their graduate students like trash. They did the hard work and sacrificed their sleep, energy, resources etc but no credit is given.

As for yours truly, let's just say that my research advisor isn't helping me either and I have too many assignments to accomplish within the given time. I also have the same problem as Friend 1 regarding the immigration status. However, I'm doing relatively better because my committee members are more merciful and sympathetic (THANK GOD).

Please pray that my friends would have the strength and support to continue in life. As it is right now, all of us are very stressed and are most probably not emotionally healthy.

Friend 1 is losing weight rapidly and she's not a believer. I worry for her the most. Friend 2 is a believer but just like me, we're starting to ask, "God, pls don't do this to us. Pls!" I used to be a pretty friendly and easy-going person. But eversince I entered grad school, I lose my cool too quickly and sometimes violently. I worry too much and cry too easily. So I also need prayers to help control my emotions and actions especially when dealing with difficult people in my life.

Thanks for your prayers in advance. May this all be over within the next few months.

GAAARRRR!!!
Give me their addresses Mave!
That's not right!!! The students are the ones that pay their stinking salaries.
And that's rediculous about the teachers seeing just one mistake and handing it back to them! BAH!

*sigh*
Things like this make me so mad. Anyway, you can rest assured that I'll pray for both the students, and the professors that they wake up to themselves and start doing what they are meant to be doing... i.e. helping students!!!

I'll also pray that friend 1 finds Jesus through all of this.

I'm with Talame: give me their addresses. I'll... I'll..

I'll go toilet-paper their houses! Okay, so that's not extreme, but it's pretty big for me, since I'm an easy-going guy. That is really terrible, and I've heard horror stories like this about grad school professors who put students through this (kinda scaring me, too, y'know).

Anyway, I'll pray for your two friends and for you, Mave. Keep looking to God. Oh, and read Psalms 92:4 and 108:12; perhaps they can offer some encouragement and a means of getting closer and more dependent upon God during these trials. He's waiting to help you! I'm praying, and keep us updated on your friends' status and yours, too, Mave.

that's so awful...you can't like, switch schools or something? *knows nothing about these things...*

it sounds to me like they're discriminating against you all for whatever reason maybe talk to some higher authority in the school about this? it's not right. >__<

I've never understood a great deal of the logic behind the American education system, and stuff like this irritates me as well. I have yet to write a "true" thesis or whatnot, but I'm certainly not looking forward to it. At any rate, Mave, you're a good friend, and you can count on my prayers. ^^

*hugs Mave* ><; I'll have you and your friends in my prayers. >/ You pay them money to have them snub you? Something's definitely wrong with that.

Yow, I've heard a few horror stories before, but those ones are pretty bad. I was lucky to have some really nice people on my committee as well as a great supervisor. I'll keep all of you in my prayers.

PS. Some advice if you want it. I found when I was working on my own that reading through other people's theses (at least the really good ones) and seeing how they structured things was a great help.

Oh, Mave, I'm sorry! This is really making me rethink wanting to go to grad school. You guys are having such tough time!

Remain faithful to God. When all of this is done, you guys can be SO proud of yourselves, so proud that you went through so much, and you'll know that you deserve it.

He will bring you through. I believe in you, Mave. I'll keep you in my prayers.

Ah Mave *hug* I'm praying for you.

What evil professors... >.< They sound like publishers.

Let me just say this, you will run into this type of stuff your whole life. For some reason, the power has gone to their heads and they know that they can basically do anything to you visiting students and get away with it.

Also, there is some truth to what they are doing. They SHOULD be more helpful, now that is just so wrong. But, as Techno said, make sure you look over the theses from those who have excelled. You need to make sure you are doing the most PERFECT piece of work you have ever done in your life.

If I send out a manuscript, cover letter, or query with even ONE mistake, I am at fault. That is just the way it is. They can easily toss my mss. into the "slosh" pile without a second look. Is it kind? No. Is it their prerogative? Yes.

I will pray, my friend. ^_______^

*hugs everyone back* You guys are awesome!

First some responses:

Kokoro and Talame, if we have assistantships, our tuition is covered and we have a monthly pay called a stipend. We are technically employees, hired by the university to do the research. However, the funding can run out and we do not get full benefits as a typical employee would. Talame, I heard one of the professors is Muslim so prayers will be great.

Rogie-san, haha you really made me laugh out with your proposal to toiletpaper their houses! It was great since it took part of the sorrow out of my system. Thanks for the verses as well.

Shiroi, we're almost done with our graduate terms so there's really no point in moving schools. Nice suggestion though!

Kae, thank you for being a friend and for your prayers ~

Techno, yup I'm using other ppl's theses as references. Good to hear you have a good committee and good luck to you too in your research!

Dragonshimmer, oh no...don't let our situations discourage you. Some grad students have a great time in grad school. Some of them just don't. We just happen to fall under the second category. XD;;; Your words are a great encouragement though ~

Chloe, evil professors. Yeah no kidding but good prevails over evil so we shall remain hopeful even when I face this type of stuff at a real job. I always try to write my best but it's hard when I'm exhausted from all the other work apart from my thesis. I know my manuscript is not 'perfect' and my energy and time doesn't allow me to do my best.


**********************************
Some updates:

Friend 1: While her post defense experience was near-traumatic, the good news is she doesn't have to enroll during summer (doesn't have to pay for summer school) and recently, her prof has FINALLY started to pay attention to her. We both guessed that the other professors gave her major professor a pretty hard time (which I personally think he deserves).

Friend 2: Strangely, her professor has started to review her thesis. 0_o While the feelings between them remain somewhat uncertain, at least my friend is working hard on her corrections/editings. She still gets worried and paranoid about her professor but hey, it's a good step towards getting out from her hellish position.

Myself: Well, it's been decided. I have to graduate in summer since I cannot make the Spring deadline. While it messes up all my summer plans and I have no choice but to pay for summer school (T__T bye bye $$$) , I'm at least glad to have my deadline extended legally and some pressure is taken off. Today, I completed the first edition of my thesis so that's something worth celebrating. (^_^)

If it's not too much hassle for anyone, pls continue to pray for our thesis-writings until we all graduate in the next few months. We're forever grateful!

No prob, Mave! And I'm glad that things are improving for your friends and you. I can even tell that things are better, just by the way you're typing stuff there. God works wonders, especially in reponse to prayer! I'll keep praying for y'all, and good luck!