Winter session leaves students out in the cold
Photo by Frank Cardenas. A statistics class spills into the hallway with almost thirty students hoping to add the already full class.
Students filled classes and spilled into hallways while trying to add classes Monday as the winter intercession began, some hoping enrolled students were absent, others hoping teachers had extra room, some simply praying for an opening.
David Parra, 25, psychology major, waited with nearly 30 other students to try and add a statistics class he needed to transfer.
“I’m going to pray,” he said simply, adding that he did not blame the teachers. “I understand, she can only take so many.”
Parra tried unsuccessfully adding another statistics class earlier in the day but said it was nearly impossible to get a spot. He said he only accepted the one class he was able to get after unsuccessfully attempting to enroll in logic, psychology, sociology and statistics classes that he needs to transfer. He also tried twice to add classes in person, his registration date in early December not making things easier.
Not much else could be done with so many students trying to add classes already full to capacity.
For one pair of students with near identical credentials, it came down to winning a game of tic-tac-toe to earn an add slip for a math class.
One student said sadly that there were more people trying to add a class, than students already enrolled.
Students were turned away with little or no other options for winter courses. Some moving down the list of essential classes until they were left with recreational courses like yoga.
Some students however were happy to return to school.
Nouran Hashimi, 19, psychology major, said she was able to get classes and glad to have them.
“I would have liked a little more sleep,” Hashimi said. “But I’m glad to be back.”
She said she is taking necessary math and sociology courses during the winter so she can finish her transfer requirements more quickly. She said that the option of taking classes during the winter intercession helped her finish transfer requirements on time, within the typical two years.
Some teachers were glad to be back in school as well.
Dolores Chavez, algebra instructor, said she loved the school and teaching.
“I don’t know what else I’d be doing,” she said.
Chavez said it was great to be back at school but it was unfortunate so many students had to be turned away. If she could she said she would like a bigger class so more students could get the classes they need.
Frank Cardenas
Online Editor-In-Chief
