posted
No, this isn't a whining thread. I need advice, and I need it fast.
I've had to do a lot of group projects this semester. Business schools are big on teamwork. All of them except one went very well. The one that went badly went very, very badly.
I gave the girls my contact information (email and cell number) at the beginning of the semester, and I tried my best to participate as much as I could, but there was little I could do while we were conducting focus groups, as I'd just come into town and knew a grand total of four girls, none of whom were particularly interested in participating.
No worry, right? I can help with the research!
...except that they did all the research amongst the three of them and didn't even inform me of what was going on.
That's fine...I can help with the surveys!
Well, I did that. I did that here, actually. And I gave them more than a fourth of the results they received, coded nicely in SPSS for their analyzing pleasure.
They made a lot of team meetings on days and times when I specifically told them I couldn't make it. They wouldn't accept my alternative suggestions. Also, they didn't let me contribute very much at all to the questionnaire itself or the analysis. I told the professor about this problem, and he set aside classtime to make sure that I got to talk with them about the report. However, these girls are some of the most unfriendly people I've ever met, which made keeping up with the progress of the report after the in-class meeting very difficult, since I felt like I couldn't approach them about it.
So they assigned me a section of the report to write. I wrote it up and sent it to them four days before it was due, asking them if they thought I should make any changes. I didn't receive any response. Then yesterday, I get an email that was sent at 1pm informing me that they needed my section of the report by 3pm. Thing is, I had class until 4 and a doctor's appointment after that, so I didn't find out until after 4:30. Thinking that perhaps what I'd submitted wasn't enough, I rewrote the entire thing and resent both versions to them.
At this point, they emailed me and told me not to bother because they'd already written my section and couldn't believe how little I'd contributed to the project, and I lack initiative and responsibility, etc. etc.
I emailed them back and said basically, "Look. I'm sending this to you for the third time. I sent it in to you four days ago, and you never told me what changes to make, so I made a bunch myself, and I'm sending you both versions again."
They told me to forget about it, that I hadn't done my part, and anyway, what I'd contributed was such a tiny, tiny, incomplete section of the report that it didn't matter anyway.
Should I email the professor and explain the situation to him? We have to send in team evaluations this weekend, and I'm sure these girls are going to tear me a new one. The thing is, I did everything that they asked me to, and I told them when I was available. I don't think I'm totally blameless, but I really don't think the entire fiasco is my fault.
I'm more worried about my grade than anything else. Would it make a difference?
posted
Well, I can't see how it would hurt your grade to explain your side of things to your professor. May as well do so, I'd say.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
Take along the work you did on your own, too. Perhaps a copy of the emails you sent, or their responses?
Posts: 1014 | Registered: Jul 2005
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posted
The professor is probably already aware somewhat that things weren't going well from the last time you spoke with him/her. I'd say talk to the professor again and explain just as you did here that you feel you did what you could and are concerned about your grade.
Edit to say good luck.
Posts: 697 | Registered: Nov 2005
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I hate that they did this to you. Seriously, I'm sitting here fuming that there are people like this in the world who can be so cruel to nice people like you.
Maybe it's just as well that I don't know who they are or what their phone numbers are. . . .
Passive aggressive mean girls suck.
But yeah, talk to the professor.
Posts: 1903 | Registered: Sep 2003
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posted
The inner life of oysters could be anything but tranquil. For all we know, the lot of them are horribly, horribly depressed.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
They look like phlegm all their life and get eaten alive for New Year's Eve. Best reincarnation for someone you can't stand. My 2 colleagues are so ending this way.
Posts: 3526 | Registered: Oct 2001
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posted
I am so grateful I didn't have many team projects in college. I hated the few I did have. It sounds to me like you definitely did everything you could to be part of the team and they are being spiteful, so yes, cover your butt with your side of the story plus copies of emails plus the work you did for this project. Don't let them blacklist you without a fight. Good luck.
Posts: 3149 | Registered: Jul 2005
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I think it would be foolish not to take this to your professor and make your case. From what you're describing, their misdeeds go beyond what anyone would consider indifferent accidents to actual spite and malice.
It sure seems like they've got it in for you, and I'd be surprised if they haven't already gone to the prof as well. But you've done things aboveboard, you've done your work and you've sent things via email so there is documentation. Go to the prof, I think it'll go well.
Posts: 17164 | Registered: Jun 2001
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