Snyopsis:
Her: Just making sure
Me: ..you’re an idiot
Her: no i’m not
Me: Yes you are, I have proof
Her: you’re an idiot
Me: you’re right, I’m an idiot.

From: lori wiebold
Subject make up exam
Date: September 18, 2007 1:18:32 PM CDT
To: Allyn Bauer
CC: lori wiebold-lippisch

Hello Allyn,
I hope you have reviewed your notes for tomorrow’s make-up exam at 2 PM in 305 Baker Hall.

I ask for you to excuse yourself when I pass out the exams at the end of tomorrow’s class (but come for the lecture part). I will meet you in 305 Baker immediately after class.

Your make-up exam will consist of some multiple choice but more writing than the exam given in class.
See you tomorrow, email if you have any questions (although this is not an invite for you to ask me what questions will be on the exam, re-hashing of the lectures, etc etc)
take care,
lori

PS
Here’s the exam policy in the syllabus (for clarification):
(What you really wanted to know about…) You will take four exams that include material covered in the assigned readings, lecture/discussion, and videos. The exams are composed of terms, essays, and multiple-choice questions. Failure to take the exams at the scheduled times will result in a two grade deduction on the exam. Only in extreme cases (such as a hospitalized illness or a death in the family which you MUST proper documentation) are you allowed to make-up the exam without penalty. You must take the final exam at the scheduled time or receive a zero for that exam.
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My Response:
From: Allyn Bauer
Subject Re: make up exam
Date: September 18, 2007 3:33:25 PM
To: lori wiebold

I will be there tomorrow at 2PM in 305 Baker.
Just let me know when you wish for me to leave class tomorrow and I will go, but what did you mean by “I will meet you in 305 Baker immediately after class”? I have classes back to back on MWF from 9-1, so I won’t be able to meet with you until 2.

I’m curious, for what reason is there a two letter grade drop for an absence on an exam day? I understand it’s a pain to reschedule and is meant to discourage students missing an exam for questionable reasons, but I was sick and vomiting. What alternative course of action could I have taken? I’m not trying to be rude, but it feels as though that policy is somewhat missing the point of college. The student handbook states that “The student shall be evaluated on the basis of stated course objectives for purposes of granting academic credit.”; I fail to see how your exam policy is properly evaluating me based on the course objectives.
I’m not trying to be offensive or difficult, just curious (and, admittedly, a little worried).

In any event, see you tomorrow at 9 and then at 2.

-Allyn Bauer
tubaal@uni.edu
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Her response

From: lori wiebold
Subject: Re: make up exam
Date: September 18, 2007 4:14:13 PM CDT
To: Allyn Bauer

Allyn,
I am most sorry for the confusion. I forgot that you are in my 9 AM class. I will see you at 2 PM at 305 Baker Hall.
You will have 50 minutes to take the exam.

Re: the make-up exam policy, you are correct, it is meant to discourage students from missing the exam. While it may seem harsh to you, I have conferred with other professors in the department and some do not allow students to even take a make-up exam. If you have continued concerns about my policy, I would advise you to talk with the department head, Dr. Kent Sandstrom.

Furthermore, if you must miss an exam in the future (for any course), it is *highly* recommended that you contact the instructor/professor BEFORE the exam.

I will see you tomorrow.
lori

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This will probably get me kicked out of UNI:

From: Allyn Bauer
Subject: Re: make up exam
Date: September 18, 2007 5:28:39 PM CDT
To: lori wiebold

Giving a zero for a missed test is more lenient then allowing a student to take it and docking two letters. In this situation, with the number of tests your syllabus says you’ll be giving and the weight this test will have overall, I will lose more points with your system then a ‘zero and that’s it’ system. The math is below if you’re curious (I’m a computer science major, it’s hard to say no to math)

You will be giving 3 tests and a final, worth 65%.
65% / 4 tests = 16.25% of the final grade per test. Your syllabus mentions that the first test will be weighted less then the others. I don’t know by how much, but I’ll assume a minimum 1.25%, so the first test is worth 15% of the grade.

I’m loosing more points then the test is worth before I even take it. The highest grade I can get is a C. With a “zero and that’s it” policy,
I could still get a B. Also, with that system, I already know how many points I’m going to lose. With your system, I don’t know where I’m at or what I’ll get until the end, since I don’t know what final grade I’ll have until the end.

Sorry, that was longer then I meant it to be.
-Allyn Bauer
tubaal@uni.edu

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her prompt shut down..

From: lori wiebold
Subject: Re: make up exam
Date: September 18, 2007 5:37:25 PM CDT
To: Allyn Bauer

Allyn,
I see that I need to clarify something.
The two-grade deduction is off of the make-up exam, not the final grade.
Therefore, scoring SOME points for the first exam is better than a zero for that exam.

We can talk about this more in person if you still have questions.
see you tomorrow,
lori

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And my (final? response):

From: Allyn Bauer
Subject: Re: make up exam
Date: September 18, 2007 5:41:01 PM CDT
To: lori wiebold

Oh. Well, as I told my Africa professor a few weeks ago, “I never said I was smart.”

Thank you very much for the clarification. That makes a lot more sense.

I’m an idiot.
-Allyn Bauer