Ugh finals. Had a total breakdown...

[Taboo]

Stressssssssssss.

I have 32 pages of drawings to redo because apparently 13 weeks into a 15 week class is the perfect time to tell your student that you want them to redo their entire book. And I still have 4 books to hardback bind, a big oil painting that I haven't even started yet, a test, a couple of papers, three giant popup/paper engineering projects that need to be functional and done in full color illustrations, a hiking backpack with frame that I need to build from scratch, and then I have to get all of that photographed and the images mounted on boards for a show. All due at various points in the next two weeks.

And yesterday some of the staff thought it would be funny to prank us by lying about when stuff was due and capturing our reactions on camera. I thought they were serious, and broke down crying because they were telling me they were moving up the finals and my first reaction was "I just failed everything this semester, there's no way I can get that done on time." And apparently my reaction was so hilarious to them that it's now being shown in part of a video loop playing on a bunch of TVs all over campus. So everyone at school gets to watch me having a meltdown over and over and over. Because apparently me crying is funny, guys!

TLDR; I fucking hate people.

*...curls into a ball in the corner and cries*

Boyfriend is coming over tonight to try to cheer me up. Not sure if it's just a futile effort right now.

[MaggieTheCat]

Um. Lying to you to make you cry, then playing it publicly? Yeah, there's got to be a dean or someone you can go to about that. That's completely uncalled for and unprofessional. Hope the boyfriend can make things better for you!

[Plaidman]

Yeah, that could be considered harrassment, especally since you did NOT consent to it at all. Talk to dean, and threaten lawyer. They won't call the bluff if you don't have one, as you would win.

Sorry about stress, that's got to be horrid. My term so easily this term in hindsight. Hope the boyfriend helps, make him give lots of massuages and kisses and snuggles. (Not that ya shouldn't, cause well, your you ).

Try not to stress over it, despite how hard it looks. If you keep calm and just pow through it, you be surprised how much ya can do.

[teh_blumchenkinder]

See, I've already ditched out on the classes I've failed this semester. And no, I think 382 points out of 800 aren't coming back, so none of this "Oh try anyway" pep-crap please and thank you.
BUT-- by ditching out on the failed ones, I can concentrate on the ones I have a chance at passing.
Much less stress, but at the cost of money and time. But that too is okay. Mostly.
Also, that's class AA Dickery right there. Go to the Dean anyway. They (usually) don't bite.

[Mikkel]

That's cruel. Not funny at all.
Those people would probably think it funny to tell you one of your loved ones was dead and filming your reaction to that. Kick some ass.

[Taboo]

Um. Lying to you to make you cry, then playing it publicly? Yeah, there's got to be a dean or someone you can go to about that. That's completely uncalled for and unprofessional. Hope the boyfriend can make things better for you!

I will complain, but.. blah. My school lets staff get away with A LOT. There's multiple drawing teachers who have gotten away with destroying student art work during critiques because it "builds character" and so I think the best I can hope for is to force them to pull me out of the video. I doubt that they'll do much else and am hesitant to come on too strong with threats since my large scholarship is 'at-will' and reconsidered between every semester. Yes, they're jerks, but I am stuck playing the game to some extent.

I like to hang around when open house tours are going around though and answer prospective students' questions more honestly than said staff might appreciate. Makes me feel a little less powerless.

Thanks for the good thoughts, everyone. It does help.

Boyfriend has been super supportive and will be over soon for cuddles. And my roommate and I have decided to say to hell with being healthy and just eat a pie for dinner. YES - the whole pie.

[csquared]

That is not a joke, it is harassment. Right now, I am thinking "bully." You don't need to hire a lawyer. You need to contact the District Attorney. We are not talking civil charges. We are talking criminal.

[terakhan]

I'm sorry, but I would not THREATEN a lawsuit. My visit to the dean's office would be to deliver the subpoena. School faculty using school property to humiliate a student of that school. Mentioning it as an anecdote later would be one thing, but that is so far across the line I could never call it funny, even at my most sadistic and malicious.

[Megg]

I would also contact the DA's office. That is not funny, and it may be criminal depending on where you live. Abuse of power is no laughing matter. I would be so angry, and sad, and frustrated ... I am sorry they did that to you, that is horrible.

[shankyknitter]

Having read your post to my pet lawyer his unofficial, off the record, I'm not getting paid so my firm says I can't help, comment was:

Go to the DA. Bring charges against the school for harassment. Mention your fear of retaliation (ie the removal of scholarships) to said DA. Take his/her advice from then on. That is not only harassment it is public humiliation and defamation of character, and if you didn't sign a release to be in the video that tape is illegal to use for anything public.

This is again unofficial because he's got a standard consultation fee his firm demands he charge, if they find out he gave advice without charging said fee he'll lose his job. But take his advice.

[42_42_42]

What they did to you is WRONG WRONG WRONG WRONG!!!!

Follow ShankyKnitter's friend's "advice". Seriously.

[XCashier]

And yesterday some of the staff thought it would be funny to prank us by lying about when stuff was due and capturing our reactions on camera. I thought they were serious, and broke down crying because they were telling me they were moving up the finals and my first reaction was "I just failed everything this semester, there's no way I can get that done on time." And apparently my reaction was so hilarious to them that it's now being shown in part of a video loop playing on a bunch of TVs all over campus. So everyone at school gets to watch me having a meltdown over and over and over. Because apparently me crying is funny, guys!

That is not a "prank". That is cruelty and abuse of power. I agree with what shankyknitter and others have said, go to the DA. I wish you all the luck in the world with this.

[DeltaSierra]

Mean people suck.

[Mikkel]

Follow ShankyKnitter's friend's "advice". Seriously.

If a lawyer say that's the right thing to do, I would do it.
Those bullies need to be stopped now. If not for your own sake, then for the next one.

[Boozy]

Taboo knows the situation better than anyone, and has decided to put it behind her. Yes, she could sue or complain to the dean, but she's obviously decided not to do that.

At this point, I think she could use some support without the advice.

I'm sorry things have been so rough for you, Taboo. I remember feeling a little unraveled during finals too. Take care of yourself.