Pin Drop
You know those times when a situation becomes so awkward or so unforseen that all of a sudden, everyone is speechless? No one knows what to say except WTF? Did that just happen? And everyone is thinking, "Poor thing, glad that didn't happen to me!" You could hear a pin drop. Such was the case today in class.
We were discussing ethics and the role ethics play in our professional field and several of my classmates made comments to the effect that if their ethics were ever called into question in a professional setting, they would begin questioning their position at that particular institution. I decided to play devil's advocate and said that ethics are great but that the politics of a university can at times call you to make a move that goes against your basic ethical principles. And that you can't always be running around questioning your position at a university. That sometimes, politics are politics and whether you agree with a decision or not, it's been handed down to you from a superior. Contextually, I was looking at it from an admissions perspective. I've witnessed several instances where Johnny or Susie, who didn't academically meet admissions standards, were admitted because Susie was the daughter of a faculty member or Johnny's dad was a donor to the institution. Love it or hate it, that's the nature of the game.
My professor followed up my comment with, "I couldn't disagree with you more." That was all she wrote, or said, rather. You could see people's faces around the room go, "Uh-oh." She didn't give me an opportunity to explain my context or engage in a dialogue with me to find out my point of view on the subject. She just didn't like my comment. Plain and simple.
I felt foolish and stupid and made to look like I was unethical--of which my friends, I am not. I keep saying I'm over it but I'm not and I'm annoyed and flustered that the situation happened. I am definitely going to be more cautious about speaking up in that class because I'd rather not experience the professor laying the smack down on me again.
No thanks. I'll keep my pins close to me.
We were discussing ethics and the role ethics play in our professional field and several of my classmates made comments to the effect that if their ethics were ever called into question in a professional setting, they would begin questioning their position at that particular institution. I decided to play devil's advocate and said that ethics are great but that the politics of a university can at times call you to make a move that goes against your basic ethical principles. And that you can't always be running around questioning your position at a university. That sometimes, politics are politics and whether you agree with a decision or not, it's been handed down to you from a superior. Contextually, I was looking at it from an admissions perspective. I've witnessed several instances where Johnny or Susie, who didn't academically meet admissions standards, were admitted because Susie was the daughter of a faculty member or Johnny's dad was a donor to the institution. Love it or hate it, that's the nature of the game.
My professor followed up my comment with, "I couldn't disagree with you more." That was all she wrote, or said, rather. You could see people's faces around the room go, "Uh-oh." She didn't give me an opportunity to explain my context or engage in a dialogue with me to find out my point of view on the subject. She just didn't like my comment. Plain and simple.
I felt foolish and stupid and made to look like I was unethical--of which my friends, I am not. I keep saying I'm over it but I'm not and I'm annoyed and flustered that the situation happened. I am definitely going to be more cautious about speaking up in that class because I'd rather not experience the professor laying the smack down on me again.
No thanks. I'll keep my pins close to me.
Comments
xoxo.