BYU administration does it again!

So, I’m taking Physics 281. Despite having a cheap $25 book (written by the professor) we have to buy a $35 iClicker. Still, for a physics class, $60 seems reasonable, right ?

Starting tomorrow (2nd day of class) we’ll have daily quizzes during the first 5 mins of class. Still doesn’t sound too unreasonable, right ? I’m not finished. If you forget the iClicker, or are late, you don’t get to take the quiz. Still seems normal. There’s just one problem. The BYU Bookstore is sold out of iClickers. Their ever so elegant solution ? Pay for it now, and they’ll get them in stock soon.

The result ? I get a **** on every quiz until that happens.

There’s a very easy way for this problem not to happen.

Classes requiring an iClicker tell the bookstore how many students are registered in their classes. The bookstore then buys that many iClickers (either used, or from the factory). Is that a difficult concept ?

Obviously I don’t know who’s to blame. Either the classes aren’t reporting the numbers correctly, or the bookstore is just incapable of adding (or there’s a supply shortage, which I’ll get to in Q2).

It doesn’t really matter whose fault it is. Students are still screwed, and get the added unnecessary stress during the first week of school. Now, I’ve had a few comments from people claiming that someone not studying business couldn’t possibly judge a company’s business practices. That kind of a statement is ridiculous. It’s like saying that unless you’re a Maths major, you can’t do addition.

Despite being clear in my last post, many comments seemed as though they hadn’t even read my arguments (asking questions I’d already answered).

This time, I’ve decided to give a answers to the questions those people would use in an attempt to refute my arguments

Refute: It’s your fault. If you’d bought your iClicker earlier, you wouldn’t have run in to trouble.

Answer: True, but that’s a stupid question, and it doesn’t solve the very basic problem of the bookstore not ordering enough. Granted, if I’d bought earlier, I’d have mine, but the bookstore would have still run out, and instead of me being without one, it would have been someone else.

Refute 2: It’s a supply problem. We (the bookstore) wanted to order more, but they were out of stock.

Answer 2: Nope, it’s still the fault of someone at BYU. When you decided what overpriced quiz-taking gadget to use in your classes, that company’s ability to produce and supply enough for your needs should have been taken into account.

Refute 3: We ordered enough, but they still sold out!

Answer 3: Are you trying to tell me that people not needing them for class bought them ?

seriously?

Unfortunately this is one of those situations where those to blame, and those who suffer are completely different people. Shame. It’s hard to learn from your mistakes when you’re not affected by them.