Excerpt from WDTN
Academic advisors are working with Wright State University students affected by the faculty strike, but students have mixed feelings about the alternatives being offered for some courses.
Some students who spoke with 2 NEWS Thursday night said it has been a frustrating few weeks.
"It's stressful," said Adonis Lemke, a senior. "It's not something that I feel that any of us should have had to be in the middle of."
"The only class I've had every week is Zumba," said Jennifer Klenke, a senior.
As some classes have been canceled or remain without an instructor, the university is trying to lessen the uncertainty. According to university officials, about 3,500 students affected by canceled classes have been invited to advising hours at the Student Union building, which began Thursday.
Some students told 2 NEWS they waited more than two hours to see an advisor.
"The advisors are really helpful," said Max Lauzau, a freshman. "So it's not really their fault. It's the school and that stuff. But they were really helpful. I figured out what I need to do."
But others said they're not satisfied with some of the alternatives being offered.
Klenke said an advisor told her she may have to do an independent study if the university cannot find an instructor for one of her specialized courses.
"At least I know I can graduate, but I don't really feel great that I'm going to be teaching myself probably for one of my classes, especially since I'm paying for this," Klenke said.
Many students at the advising session told 2 NEWS they want to see the union and university reach a deal as soon as possible.
"I'm glad the school's trying to do something, but I don't know if that something is quite what we need," Brett Hull, a junior, said of the advising hours.
Lemke said he is considering taking legal action if the strike does not end soon.
"Myself and a few other people are actually in the middle of talking to lawyers in case the university tells us we can't take a class that we need," Lemke said.
"Anyone who visited the Student Union Atrium today could see that the university is doing everything it can to do right by its students," Wright State spokesperson Seth Bauguess said in a statement. "We are all Raiders and we are all pitching in.”
Advising hours run on Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Student Union Atrium, and advisors will be available in RaiderConnect next week, Bauguess said.
