forsberg_us wrote:

Ok Mags, you’re my best resource for a question like this. Bob just forwarded to me an email one of his teammates received. Thank goodness it wasn’t Bob or I might be spending a night in a Memphis jail.

Rhodes requires all incoming students to take a 3 semester class: Search or Life. Life is a religious studies class. Search is similar, but it’s more philosophy (Homer, Socrates, Vergil, etc). Once you choose, you have to complete 3 semesters of that class.

One of Bob’s teammates is taking Life. They just did their schedule requests for next semester. The kid chose a section offered at a time that didn’t conflict with his other classes or his football obligations. Tonight, he received an email from the professor “thanking him for his interest,” but suggesting he take a different class (he can’t) or a different section because “in my experience, athletes, particularly football players, don’t do well in my class because their time obligation to their sport makes it difficult to succeed in the class.”

That’s horseshit. The kid has to take the class. I have no idea if another section works with his schedule, but it seems the kid is in a much better position to understand his time obligations. This guy just seems to have a hard on for athletes and doesn’t want them in his class. But if the kid stands his ground, it seems the professor has a built in excuse by saying “I told him he might not do well.”  I’d be pissed if I was that kid’s dad.

Sorry for being slow to reply.  I wanted to think about what I might say that could be relevant and then couldn’t find the post.

Since I don’t know the prof, I am shooting in the dark and should be taken with a grain of salt.

First, I would strongly recommend that kid not involve the coach or the athletic department at this time.  Let me get on my desktop tomorrow and give you my thoughts.  I actually do have some.
 

Last edited by Mags (4/16/2019 10:05 pm)

forsberg_us wrote:

He’s not going to rock the boat. He’s just going to find another section. I just think it’s horseshit he has to do so.

Sloppy reading on my part.  I initially thought you were talking about Bob and seeking an opinion on how he should cope with the situation..  I also thought it was his only option.  When I read it more carefully the first time, I realized it wasn't Bob you were talking about.  Then, on another reading, I realized there were other options.

On rereading, it was obvious that what you had written was very clear and the misreading was entirely on my end for jumping to the conclusion you were seeking my advice and making the message fit.

As far as having an opinion on the matter, I really don't know enough about the teacher, his history with dealing with the athletic department, or the nature of the course to have one.