Live data from Hacker News

Update on grade strike

news.ucsc.edu

11–20 of 56 posts

Re: Update on grade strike

#11
post #7

One of the better ways that occurred to me when we Cal grad students were protesting a couple of decades ago was, rather than withhold the grades, simply to give everyone an 'A'. That form of protest most directly targeted the institution since it simply affected its reputation. The students were not hurt, the grad students could comply with their obligations and move on. I am surprised that such an approach never to…

How is a student not hurt when given an incorrect assessment of their academic abilities?

Re: Update on grade strike

#12
post #11
post #7

One of the better ways that occurred to me when we Cal grad students were protesting a couple of decades ago was, rather than withhold the grades, simply to give everyone an 'A'. That form of protest most directly targeted the institution since it simply affected its reputation. The students were not hurt, the grad students could comply with their obligations and move on. I am surprised that such an approach never to…

How is a student not hurt when given an incorrect assessment of their academic abilities?

Undergrad students? If it’s a CS class and not one of the intro to programming/algorithms ones you’re probably mostly checking if they read the book they were forced to buy (thanks ACM) so I would say it doesn’t really hurt them.

Re: Update on grade strike

#13
post #7

One of the better ways that occurred to me when we Cal grad students were protesting a couple of decades ago was, rather than withhold the grades, simply to give everyone an 'A'. That form of protest most directly targeted the institution since it simply affected its reputation. The students were not hurt, the grad students could comply with their obligations and move on. I am surprised that such an approach never to…

How are the students not hurt if the reputation of their university is damaged? Especially if you are a good student. Graduate admissions are aware of this kind of stuff, and it will screw over real A students royally.

Re: Update on grade strike

#16

Why did these people accept their positions (with full up front knowledge of their salary) if the money is not enough?

Not starving or being homeless are great motivators. But yeah, why didn't they just get $250k FAANG jobs like the other 300 million Americans?

Re: Update on grade strike

#17
post #16

Why did these people accept their positions (with full up front knowledge of their salary) if the money is not enough?

Not starving or being homeless are great motivators. But yeah, why didn't they just get $250k FAANG jobs like the other 300 million Americans?

I don’t think those people had a binary choice between starving and a Ph.D. program.

Re: Update on grade strike

#18
post #12
post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How is a student not hurt when given an incorrect assessment of their academic abilities?

Undergrad students? If it’s a CS class and not one of the intro to programming/algorithms ones you’re probably mostly checking if they read the book they were forced to buy (thanks ACM) so I would say it doesn’t really hurt them.

If that’s all your undergrad CS courses did, you should’ve gone to a better school.

Re: Update on grade strike

#20
post #5

Students pay through the nose, grads can barely make ends meet. Where does the tuition money go?

Look at what they've been doing, especially around construction. Part of it goes towards interest payments on bonds they issued to pay for new buildings. Part of it goes towards the staff and maintenance of those buildings. Part of it goes towards administration. Whatever is left is used to the benefit of students. Now, when I see a campus with construction projects, or planned construction, I don't think that's great I see it as another expensive boondoggle university administrators are engaging in.
Post reply on HN