Life in SMU
I really do hope someone pass this to the Dean (of any school).
I was in the library buying my course pack when i heard library staff bitching to a prof about SMU students.
1. This is SUPER unprofessional to be bitching about your clients, in front of your clients. I brought it up to the staff and they mentioned that they would take notice of it.
Could i just mention that my course pack cost me $58.80? Not everyone could afford it. and yes. if given a choice to get $20 course pack from my friends, i would have gone for it. Not that I want to take part in piracy, but the fact that $38.80 can buy me a few days’ lunch + dinner at Koufu.
Students, i mean “students - a percentage of people who are not earning a single cent”, have to manage the price of expensive course books. Chinese New Year is around the corner and we have to get our new clothes too. It’s a tradition. Not everyone is that cheapskate. Why don’t you guys think of it as “students will purchase the course books after CNY, when the Ang Pow money comes in”?
2. SMU staff bring utterly unprofessional once again. My friends in SIS are having trouble with BOSS bidding on their final semester. as mentioned, it was their final sem and they needed to GRADUATE. Instead of getting a reply stating that “we would do our best to help with your classes”, my friends received a note “please bid responsibly” and “I’m surprised a year 4 student do not know how to read his progress report”.
I do understand that students do bid irresponsibly. But would anyone, on the verge of not being able to graduate on time, bid irresponsibly?
I used to face the same problem but a friendly staff from SIS (who’d left), assisted me with the situation and got me a class. With this, I managed to get my modules for my final semester. I started to understand why she left the organization. It’ll have pissed me out completely to work with such colleagues.
3. SMU OCS criticizing students in front of employers. I was in a networking session with poor attendance, ended up chit chatting with the staff about life and experiences. I had a good time (maybe the group was smaller).
However, another conversation at another corner caught my attention. An OCS staff mentioning to the employer that “students nowadays have changed”. What’s the meaning of this? shouldn’t SMU help SMU? I do see why rumors like “SMU students are fluffs” or “I’d prefer NTU, NUS students” are going around. Is it totally SMU Student’s fault? I still have friends who are responsible, hardworking and passionate people. (If you’d asked, i’ve done many group projects with strangers). I do see some “bad” SMU students. i see some good ones too. Shouldn’t OCS mention the “good” students too? Why did the focus turn to the ones who didn’t come to the networking session?
As a soon-to-graduate student, I do hope that what you, employees, hear is just that. There are still good, hardworking, passionate SMU students around and they’re just out there for you to discover their capabilities.
I came to SMU not expecting these. When I was Year 1, SMU was vibrant and fun. Sadly, things changed after 3 years. I enrolled into SMU knowing I had NTU, NUS as a choice. As years go by, i regret my decision. Passionate Professors are struggling their best to give us the best education, yet, they had to deal with SMU Offices’ red tapes. Things change. Yes, things change.
Wish/Hope all graduates graduate on time.
