August 25
James is overjoyed by how much work the bootcamp produces allowing him to be rather antisocial...
So the hectic life of bootcamp came to a close this week. I am grateful for the time spent getting a glimpse into the next year, but it is still a lot to process. So with the getting to campus by 8 to the being on campus until 8 to the eventual laundry list of things that were really important for the next day, I chugged along.
On Wednesday, the first year students, who stuck it around, got what would be their TAing assignments. I had a good clue to what I was to be doing, because I have been around and was kind of told what I was to be doing...
So when there was a change of that assignment, I asked a question. I didnt realize that I was causing 'tension' to occur as I was latter told. Some basic thoughts there is that even though there are ten first year students, not everyone is on the same boat. 5 of the 10 are part of an integrated program where they are finishing a undergrad degree in addition to being a master's program over the next 2 years. The goal is that they are going to complete in 5 years what it takes other people to do in 6. Of the remaining 5 new students, 3 come from universities other than BYU and have no former relationship with the faculty, and besides myself the other person graduated a couple years back with a minor in stats and so not really sure what that means.
So, having Dr. Scott tell me after the fact that I had caused 'tension' when I asked Dr. Grimshaw if I was going to continue doing the research I had started months ago or if I really was going to be TAing 20 hours a week. The feeling was that all the first years should be treated equally [which is odd given historical data] and that it would be unfair for me to be assigned 10 hours TAing and 10 hours research.
But there is an inherent difference between all the groups. Take the integrated people, they are given less of an assignment because they are working on finishing up other requirements, and they aren't expected to be as far along as someone with a degree. The people walking in with degrees sort of just showed up at the beginning of bootcamp, and therefore there is no knowledge of what they can and cant do, but someone who was walked in already working on something should have it recognized.
Now I am not trying to be treated as a 'favored child' as people have put it, but as it was pointed out, might as well allow someone to work on a Master's Project early instead of delaying it an entire year.
History has shown that last year they were more than willing to show favoritism to parties, either because they were well liked or that they had something going for them, it should be no different now, especially as not a lot has changed, if anything, to how you approach the situation.
oh well...
~u