Letter: Communication barrier

It has come to my attention that this university is not doing all it can to give us, the students, the education we are here to get and are paying for. This is not right.

My example is concerning the math department here at the good old U of I. My friend is in a math class and her professor is not U.S.-born. No problem so far. However, this is an advanced mathematics course and the concepts are difficult for many to understand. Add to that the fact that the professor, while doing his best, is not able to express himself in English, written or verbal, to the degree necessary to be effective at teaching these concepts. Now there's the potential for academic disaster.

So, after experiencing this difficulty, my friend contacted personnel in the math department to address the situation. In the first response she received, another professor offered to sit in on the class and see first hand how bad the situation was. But, the kicker is that he admitted that "they" (the math department) suspected there would be problems in terms of communication.

Then, after much wasted time and run-around answers, the math department decided that they would offer help in the form of about an extra hour per week, from another professor who also seems to have trouble speaking the language. Oh, they also recommended hiring a tutor.

Seems to me like the math department doesn't have the integrity to admit that they made a very poor judgment. They also don't seem to really care whether or not the students of this class get the best education, the one they're paying tuition for.

So, because of their mistake, not only is my friend's grade in jeopardy, but in order to receive the help she needs, she has to pay out of her pocket for it. Isn't she already paying tuition to get the proper education in the first place?

Math department, though I doubt you're the only ones, do the right thing and fix your mistake. Take responsibility. This university needs to do a much better job watching out for its students. We're paying you for the education, not just the little piece of paper at the end. Give us our money's worth.

Greg Basta
junior in aviation