SIPA’s Caste System
This post is republished, by permission, from the November 27, 2007 edition of Communiqué. The author is Jacqueline Carpenter, MIA 2008.
There are realities to graduate life here at SIPA that everybody knows, but nobody acknowledges formally. One of these realities is that grades don’t matter much past your first semester, unless you are going to do a Ph.D. (God help you).
Another unacknowledged but widely held belief at SIPA is that there is a caste system when it comes to the functional concentrations. For instance, those of us not concentrating in energy or finance carry around this suspicion that, when it comes to resources and administration priorities, we are second-class citizens. If you are in the International Media and Communications concentration, you know this feeling well.
It started for me last fall when I learned that a beloved IMC professor was leaving us for the journalism school. He had not received a raise on his adjunct salary of $6000 per semester for several years. He had demonstrated his teaching ability and received rave reviews from students time and again, but could not be acknowledged with a raise. So we lost him.
The administration may counter that adjunct pay at SIPA has been frozen for years for all concentrations, not just IMC. But this affects IMC disproportionately because it is a practitioner concentration. The overwhelming majority of our instructors are adjuncts. As I see it, the freeze in adjunct pay means that IMCers are paying the same tuition as finance and energy concentrators, but our instructors are receiving less of it.
Now, you could say that there is enough financial guesswork in this reasoning to drive a truck through. But how do we find out how SIPA’s resources are allocated across concentrations?
I asked the administration and learned that students do not have access to that information (surprise), and that even concentration directors do not receive full disclosure about SIPA’s general budget. They know their own operating budget, of course, but are not given a sense of how it is determined or how it compares to other concentrations.
This does little to alleviate my, and others’, suspicions of the existence of SIPA’s concentration caste system.
And our suspicions don’t rest entirely on fuzzy math, either. I have it on good authority that our former dean, Lisa Anderson, was no great fan of IMC. She’s welcome to contradict me here, but I understand that she holds the opinion, as do several others in the administration, that you should go to the Journalism School if you want to work in the media, not SIPA.
This is my response to that line of thinking: I’m here as opposed to the J-School because, surprise surprise, I want an international context to my work.
Here I have been able to do a second concentration with the Harriman Institute and gain some regional expertise on the former Soviet Union, which I want to specialize in as a journalist. I have been able to take energy classes in order to gain some technical knowledge of a crucial industry in that part of the world. And here, I have been inspired in writing classes that remind me why I have chosen to enter such a difficult and competitive profession.
Now, I would not have had this comprehensive experience had I enrolled in the J-School’s nine-month baby journalist assembly line. I would have gained a lot of tools, but less knowledge.
At the tuition rate I’m paying, I expect SIPA to provide me with the opportunity to gain both.
Which brings me to my final point. We in IMC are lobbying for a radio class for next semester with a renowned NPR journalist. We have been told “off the record” that this will be an uphill battle, because the Committee on Instruction doesn’t take a liking to tool-based, non-PhD. taught classes. Also, the addition of a radio class means we have to cancel another class from the IMC schedule, even though we know many people outside IMC who have expressed interest in this class. [Editor's Update: Since this article was written, the radio class has been approved by the administration without the cancellation of another class from the IMC schedule.]
I think I’m getting a whiff of the caste system again. No matter. Screw the caste system. We IMCers like a good fight. It’s about as much preparation for the real world as any class.
“At the tuition rate I’m paying, I expect SIPA to provide me with the opportunity to gain both.”
Capitalism 101: Either suck it up or transfer to another school that meets your criteria.
You’ve stated your expectations. Fine. Unfortunately for you, my guess is that the University’s expectations are that you’re gonna keep on sending in those checks. Period.
(*SHRUG*)
Not trying to be mean… not trying to be a wiseass… simply laying it on the line for you.
You wanna work internationally…? How many languages do you speak fluently? Are you attending grad school primarily to learn… to pursue knowledge and further your intellectual development… or… do you view grad school as simply another hoop to jump through – a “t” to cross, an “i” to dot – on the way towards an upper class professional lifestyle?
Why grad school? Why SIPA? You wrote, “One of these realities is that grades don’t matter much past your first semester…” What do you think about that? What would you expect the average American who hasn’t attended grad school to think after reading such a statement?
Not trying to be nosy or belittling, Jacqueline, simply curious.
BILL
Bill,
By highlighting Jackie’s comments about tuition dollars and grades, you clearly don’t understand the politics of SIPA, or the reason students like us come here.
No, grades don’t matter. We’re here to learn. And actually, Jackie speaks several foreign languages fluently. Like many of us, she is here to work on specific issues in her intellectual vocabulary.
And by addressing the SIPA administration, she is trying to help the program change. A school, like a government or a business, must change to stay competitive. If it is not for students like Jackie, SIPA – and Columbia – would rot away into ineptitude and oblivion.
I applaud Jackie for challenging SIPA to give her what she wants and expects. It’s too bad this world doesn’t have more feisty Jackies and instead is full of so many complacent Bills.
Trilling
So enlighten me, Trilling. (*SMILE*) Explain to me why “students like you” attend. Tell me where I’m got it wrong. (*SHRUG*)
“Grades don’t matter.” O.K. So why give them? Correct me if I’m wrong, but my reading of the original post gave me the impression grades ARE given… just that they “don’t matter.”
“Jackie speaks several foreign languages fluently.” GOOD!!! Actually… GREAT!!! I asked a question – you’ve now answered it on behalf of Jackie. So I assume we’re in agreement… actually understanding and speaking the language of those you plan to work with and interact with is a POSITIVE, perhaps even a more important attribute than CERTAIN aspects of higher education.
Kid… and I can only assume you’re a kid by the obnoxious way you personally insult me with the sophmoric “complacent Bills” line… ya might wanna take it easy on the caffein and mellow out. (*SMILE*) If Ms. Carpenter has a problem with my comments/questions I’m betting she’s quite capable of addressing me herself. This ain’t “High School Musical” and there’s no need to rush to the damsel’s aid – no one was attacking her. (*SIGH*)
BILL
Bill,
The damsel is here finally to enlighten you. My apologies, it took me about a day to undo the ropes tying me to the railroad. Trilling is always off blogging when I need him. As a modern woman, I’ve had to learn how to undo the knots on my own. (*sigh*)
Like Trilling, I find it interesting that you have latched onto the tuition/grades aspect of the article when it goes into depth on how SIPA prioritizes its programs and distributes its funds. The specific complaint really being about how there is a kind of discrimination against media studies. But that is getting a little too SIPA-specific for people outside the program to care about, perhaps. Ok, fair enough.
As for the grades comment — this was said in the SIPA context — which is the context of the Communique paper and this blog — meaning that our fellowships etc. are decided based on our first semester grades. What it does NOT mean is that we somehow don’t care about our classes or blow off our studies after that time. Quite the opposite. What it does mean is that if I want to turn a paper in two days late and take the dock on the grade because I know it will be a much better paper with another 48 hours of work, then I can. I don’t have to worry about my GPA reaching a certain threshold so I can get access to fellowship money. That is over after the first semester. I actually have been getting a lot more out of my classes this year just because a lot of stress is off me.
This is something that I wrote in the context of SIPA readership. If the “average American” like yourself does not know that, it’s not my fault. Sorry, but you’re not my audience. I’m not writing for you. That’s like getting uptight that Variety uses all those annoying “industry” phrases in its copy — it’s a paper specifically FOR industry folks. Why should they write for you?
Moving on, it’s clear that you DON’T know SIPA folks. There are quite a few assumptions about us implied in your questions (and yes, in their tone as well, your disclaimers notwithstanding). Specifically, you wrote,
do you view grad school as simply another hoop to jump through – a “t” to cross, an “i” to dot – on the way towards an upper class professional lifestyle?
This question, your question about languages, etc. etc. and your focus on the grades comment and the assumption that it means we just blow off our classes — I get the sense — and it is definitely in your tone — that you think we are all a bunch of rich brats going to an ivy league school so we can get a fancy title and salary. That we don’t have a genuine passion for what we’re doing, and that we haven’t — and don’t — sacrifice in order to do it. Not so.
Take Trilling for example. How many “average Americans” who sit around and blog sites that have nothing to do with them would do what he did — go live in Afghanistan for TWO YEARS working for dogshit pay in order to help build media infrastructure there? (no, he was not with the military) There are many people like him at SIPA. People who have done some pretty impressive and self-sacrificing things — and, like Trilling — don’t go around bragging about it either or expecting some goddamn halo.
So, what I’d like to say to you, Bill, is this. Give us a little credit. We aren’t loaded with money and we do care about what we’re doing and yes, we expect the school uphold a certain standard and we will challenge them when they do not. I don’t, for one, subscribe to what you say about Capitalism 101. If the University expects me to just shut up and send in my checks they are in for a big surprise.
It would be nice if folks out there like you — who (and this is only a guess) endorse fairly liberal agendas regarding the world at large — actually supported those of us trying to implement those agendas and didn’t leap down our throats every chance you got.
It would be nice. But thanks for your comments nonetheless.
Happy to “meet” you, Jac.
“I find it interesting that you have latched onto the tuition/grades aspect of the article when it goes into depth on how SIPA prioritizes its programs and distributes its funds.”
Perhaps this will clear things up a bit. I’m neither a student, past student, graduate, nor facilty member – past or present – at SIPA. Hell… I don’t even have a Masters in IR or PS or a related discipline. My BS is in PS with a cocentration in IR – Northeastern ‘87. What graduate training I have is in Library Science. (*SHRUG*)
I wasn’t seeking to “latch on” to any perceived “weakness” in your point. I was simply making a general comment on graduate school and graduate studies – a comment that comes out of my personal experience. Actually, it wasn’t even meant to be negative in the sense of pooh-poohing your ideas, but rather just an off the cuff comment on *my* perception of the real world. (*SHRUG*)
As to grades… well… I doubt you’d disgree with my contention that grade inflation is just the norm in grad school – as it is in undergrad and high school and middle school and elementary school… (*GRIN*) Again, while I truly do appreciate the clarification given in your response, I was more painting with a broad brush – making a general comment on American education – than focusing purely on SIPA.
I’m certainly not offended that you don’t consider me your intended audience, Jac. (*SMILE*) That said… you might want to consider that those outside your intended audience might have points worthy of your consideration. Either way… no offense taken. Nor was any offense intended in my remarks.
As to what you BELIEVE I “implied”… well… that’s on you. What’s that old saying… “sometimes a cigar is only a cigar?” My questions were just that – questions. My assumptions have more to do with my views on human nature in general than SIPA students in particular. That said, they are what they are. If they’re wrong… enlighten me. I’ll accept your reading of yourself… as to your fellow students… well, you’re confident, I’ll give you that. (*GRIN*)
Seriously, Jac… put the defensiveness aside… do you REALLY think the question about language proficiency was off-topic??? Really? I mean… lack of true foreign language proficiency is a well known problem in the State Department and DoD, not to mention the rest of government and even the private sector – do you REALLY think my question trite or insulting???
Are you a rich girl? (YOU brought it up – not me.) If so… do you feel guilty about coming from money? If it makes you feel any better you shouldn’t. Rich, poor, or middle class background, as long as you got where you are through merit you should feel nothing but pride in yourself and your accomplishments.
“Give us a little credit.”
Why? By that I mean why should I assume any more “nobility” of motive out of you and your peers than I would assume out of anyone else? It’s not that I assume you DON’T deserve credit… it’s just that I don’t assume you do – other than the normal credit I give to anyone who seems to be on the right track. (*SHRUG*)
Anyway… o.k… you don’t subscribe to “Bill’s Capitalism 101.” In that case then I suppose you expect to get what you “expect” out of your school’s administration. Good luck with that! And if by chance you think back on this exchange after you graduate… well… at that point you’ll know whether YOU were right or *I* was right. (*SHRUG*)
“…folks out there like you — who (and this is only a guess) endorse fairly liberal agendas regarding the world at large…”
“Fairly liberal agendas?” Moi? (*LAUGHING OUT LOUD*) Oh… I gotta tell the boys down at the John Birch society that one…
KIDDING!!! JUST KIDDING!!!
Anyway, Jac, sincerely… nice chatting with ya.
BILL
Jackie:
Thanks for writing this interesting piece which raises some important points. I think we all feel it would be a good thing if IMC were to have more money and could offer more courses and pay adjuncts better.
When looking at funding it is important to remember that the energy concentration has an endowment and others may as well. Also apart from actual concenttration funding there are things that need to be measured such as money spent per student which, I think, is a fairly standard way of looking at these things.
One also needs to take into account how many non IMC courses the IMCers are taking and how many non IMCers enroll in IMC courses.
So there are a few things to consider when trying to work out the amounts spent.
Also, as many of you know by now, the Deans did agree to fund the radio course so that will be offered in Spring of 2008.
In general, it’s hard to add courses at the last minute so it would be great if you could give us more notice in the future.
Finally, I look forward to working with all of you (students, faculty and administration) in finding ways we can make IMC a program that we are all very happy with. We have great faculty and great students but there is certainly room to strengthen IMC.
Please contact me anytime.
Thanks,
Anya Schiffrin