An adviser for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences has been reported to have “definitely lied” about how easy a student’s classes were going to be this semester.
Jane Allard, a 20-year-old chemistry major, told Crocodile reporters that after first visiting the adviser’s office to get advice on her spring schedule she had left feeling reassured about how easy her classes would be, but is now finding that feeling to have quickly disappeared.
“The guy was like ‘Oh yeah, people take those classes together all the time,’”
Allard said.
“But now I have 9 hours of class in one day and I haven’t slept since Thursday.”
Allard said that the adviser, Harry Berks, looked at the class schedule she had haphazardly constructed for about 15 seconds before approving it. Berks has been working in the college for 12 years, according to university official records, but students and alumni alike agreed that he had yet to create a schedule with under 18 credit hours.
“I don’t know what they’re all complaining about,”
Berks said.
“What do they want me to do, actually sit in the classes they’re taking? Orgo can’t be that hard.”
Multiple students who received advice from Berks are now having to delay their graduation dates because of the confusion and mental stress caused by their heavy or chaotic course loads. One student said he believes that the adviser intentionally gives students a hard time, after Berk suggested that he take all his math requirements at the same time.
“Some people say he’s just bad at his job, but anyone who can look me in the eyes and tell me to take calc, chem and physics all at the same time needs to get help.”
UPDATE: Berk was recently overheard suggesting a student take Mandarin instead of Spanish 1.