Discrimination At Quinnipiac

I approached Professor Carolyn Nuzzi, my American Art (AR 105) adjunct-professor regarding the research paper I had gotten back four days ago. The letter grade on the paper was a B.

I told her that I felt I was unfairly graded on this paper.
Here’s why:

At the time we had to tell her our research topics, I was busy at the career fair, so I emailed her my topic of Andy Warhol. Over the course of the next few days, I received two responses to my email, both of which telling me that she expects more of me considering I’m a senior Interactive Digital Design major. And I quote, “Since you are an IDD major, I would expect an outstanding research paper on Warhol.”

I emailed her back stating that I chose Andy Warhol and not a museum trip because I’ve been to the museum’s in the area at some point across my college career. I mentioned that “as far as expecting an outstanding research paper from me, I’ll do my best.”

She had also mentioned in her first email that she hoped I would pick someone with more “edge,” to which I responded, “from what I do know about Warhol, though, he is pretty edgy. For me, pop art is something I only wish I could reproduce to the extent of Warhol. It will be fun and interesting to see where this topic will take me….that’s why I picked him.”

Her second response to me started like this: “Of course you CAN do him, but he is very broad and I've read many, many papers on him, read books and seen lots of his work so I would expect from a senior IDD major and indepth paper.”

I brought these emails to her attention, making sure to emphasize my stance that it’s unfair of her to expect more of me just because I’m a senior Interactive Digital Design student. I felt as though I wasn’t graded the same as everyone else…this, to me, is discrimination.

I went on to say that I did not ask or want to be treated differently, and that my knowledge outside of the class should not affect the grading AT ALL.

Her retort was that a lot of people did Warhol, and because she’s read a lot of papers, books, et cetera on him, people just didn’t do a good enough job describing him. If you recall, she wrote this in her second email, too.

Her response troubled me…and it sparked yet another question. I asked her: “If I had picked an artist that you knew less about, would I still have been graded the same?”

She could only reply that she “hopes” she would grade the same.

Excuse me…hopes?!?! I looked her straight in the eye and said, “wow, that’s fairly subjective, isn’t it?” Needless to say, she had no response.

I took the time out to reiterate to her my complaint that I was graded unfairly, bringing up the emails once more.

She interrupted me, stating that based on what I said in the email, she ASSUMED that I knew a lot about Warhol and pop-art.

Well, I quoted myself already, so take a look. Just because I said I wish I could reproduce pop art does not mean I know a lot about it. It also does not mean that I know ANYTHING about Warhol. The topic intrigues me, yes, but before doing this research, I knew almost nothing about him other than about his pop art.

But let me ask: Even if I did know a lot about the subject outside of class, should it matter? Her assumption was poor at best, and because she assumed, I feel that I was graded differently. Again, it seems unfair that more should be expected of me.

She tried to further her position by saying that she put a lot of thought into grading these, and I agree that she put some effort into it based on the number of comments she wrote on my paper.

However, based on what those comments were, I again feel she was asking more of me. Let us not forget that this is a 100 level class…her comments are things that I haven’t even touched on in a 300 level class. And yes, I still have the paper.

She said she could take a look at it again, but that her stance probably wouldn’t change. I said “no, that’s ok…a B is a B is a B, but I still feel I was treated differently, and that’s not fair.”

Clearly frustrated with my logic (which I think was actually pretty good, by the way), she said she “wouldn’t be widdled away on the subject.”

I told her that I was trying to make a legitimate complaint, not to widdle her away.

She responded with a very rude, “yes, that IS what you’re doing.”

I said “alright,” and walked away.

This is discrimination. That’s how I feel. This woman does not deserve to be teaching if she's going to be this subjective with her grading system.