Professor ruined my reputation in college, can I sue?

[cmorris]

Good for you that did something about it!

Now, again, the prof only stated his opinion. You, by your own admission, did not present any evidence about a disability requiring accomodations. Working all hours of the night and being poor are NOT relevant! While needing to pay rent and eat are necessities, you CHOSE to go to school and work those hours. His opinion that you looked like a drug addict is his opinion. Everyone is entitled to their opinions. It is also irrelevant that prof's gave you accomodations or a character reference. So you can suck up. Big deal. Why didn't you appeal the decision? No one is stopping you from writing a letter to the dean, just be sure to let all of us know the results!

Really, I do understand your situation. I have been there and done that (working, school, etc). What I don't get is that you do not take the smallest bit of responsibility.

 

[Sybil226]

What do you mean I didn't take responsibility? I tried what I could. I did not appeal the decision because I was afraid after how badly he tarnished me. It may be easy for some people, but not when your whole education is at stake. I am more willing to do it now because I'm close to graduation, but not when I still had two and a half years left of college.

By the way, what exactly do you mean by "suck up"? I don't understand.

Do you honestly think it is ethical to present a student as a suspect to drug-addiction, when you know the reason they look groggy is lack of sleep and antidepressants? If you think it is right, I'm surprised.

So let's put a hypothetical situation:
You know one of your employees lost her husband and she had to take an overnight job to make ends meet. She looks really wasted in the office.
And because you don't particularly like her, you tell your superior that she appears like if she were on drugs, prompting your employer to take some form of disciplinary action. You would feel you were ethically compelled to put her under surveillance for drug abuse, when you know the real problem is that she is going through a rough situation? You know the facts, but you present a picture that presents her in the worst light possible. After all, it is "your" opinion that someone exhausted sometimes resembles someone who is on drugs, and telling your supervisors is nothing bad, even if it affects the career, reputation and image of person in question. Right? If that's your opinion, I respect it, but I don't necessarily agree with you.

 

[cmorris]

Suck up, kiss up. You don't get those terms?

Look, the prof stated an opinion. You didn't dispute it w/ the committee. You didn't provide documentation to the prof. You didn't register w/ the disability office. You didn't know when you could drop a class. NO RESPONSIBILITY.

You did bankrupt that semester, which shows something good in your judgment.

You can try writing to the dean. But, like it or not, nothing will likely happen. It is not slander unless he knew for a fact (this is where documentation comes in handy) what he said was false. Maybe he didn't like you, but it has no bearing on the situation. Can you PROVE malice? Good students are capable of lying. Some prof's are nice and write character letters for anybody. Those have no bearing on the situation either.

And taking antidepressants that cause drowsiness is only an excuse. You can take them before bedtime/after classes to reduce/eliminate this side effect. There are some that don't have this at all.

And considering that this was two years ago, any letter will likely have little effect, even if you could prove everything and had a legitimate complaint.

My posts say nothing about what I think is appropriate. I think he should have done things differently, but that doesn't change anything. All that I (and others) am saying is that nothing will come of this. It is better to let go of a grudge than hold on to it. It will eat you up. It is in your best interest to "get over it." Consider it a life experience that some people are jerks.

 

[Sybil226]

Suck up, kiss up. You don't get those terms?

Not in this context. I know 'kiss up' is like flattering an authority to get an advantage, but my native language isn't English. What does it mean in this context?

Look, the prof stated an opinion. You didn't dispute it w/ the committee. You didn't provide documentation to the prof. You didn't register w/ the disability office. You didn't know when you could drop a class. NO RESPONSIBILITY.

I think I already wrote that I was afraid of making things worse and of retaliation. My "lack of responsibility" was merely caution not to risk my future at that college. Entering a dispute was the last thing I wanted at that point, if I could avoid more trouble than what I had already.

Some prof's are nice and write character letters for anybody. Those have no bearing on the situation either.

Good point. There's no way a real professor could have written it. It must have definitely been the type who writes letters for everybody. That was a good point you just made.

And taking antidepressants that cause drowsiness is only an excuse. You can take them before bedtime/after classes to reduce/eliminate this side effect.

Yeah, you're right on that one too. It was just an excuse I made to appear like a drug-addict. I purposely took the med in the morning so that I appeared drugged during that prof's class. And I chose the anti-depressant that DOES cause drowsiness in order to further appear wasted. Are you a psychic detective, or how did you realize that the issue with the antidepressant was just an excuse I made, without even knowing me or my body chemistry? Everybody reacts to antidepressants very differently, the fact that you just KNEW my particular case was an excuse is astonishing.

And considering that this was two years ago, any letter will likely have little effect, even if you could prove everything and had a legitimate complaint.

I agree. It's better to let it go, regardless if it's legitimate. Like the Yale student, Naomi Wolf, who 20 years after graduating returned to Yale to accuse her former Professor, Harold Bloom, of sexual harassment. Had she done it early, she could have faced ridicule and lost her chance for a degree..

Consider it a life experience that some people are jerks.

Oh that's a fact. How to deal with jerks is the question at hand, and your answer seems to be "get over it" and "deal with it." Is this how you deal with a situation where you feel wronged? I honestly think that this frame of mind is what causes corruption in most places. But then again, you, like everyone else, is entitled to your opinion and your ways of handling things.
Taking action early can risk your career, taking action late is stupid and irresponsible. What do you suggest?

By the way, you never answered my hypothetical situation. I wonder why? Do you agree with the character I described?

 

[gryndor]

Are you really this incredibly dense?? The answer is NO, YOU HAVE NO CASE. The people here have been good enough to post why time and time again, with a minimal amount of bashing. Get a clue and quit pushing for something that won't happen.

If you still want to, by all means, go spend the time money and effort that it will require, only to lose. Continuing to push the matter here will not suddenly make you correct. Get over it!

By the way, your hypothetical question is a fat waste of time. That's why no one will answer it.

 

[Sybil226]

Hey moron, it's been almost 120 posts back that it was agreed I was not seeking a legal cause. Ha! Did you maybe confuse the thread you were replying to? Or do you write serial posts telling everyone that they've got no case? Either way, you're obviously a retard who can't even read. Good luck in your serial bash, you must have nothing else to do with your pathetic life.

 

[cmorris]

you're obviously a retard who can't even read. Good luck in your serial bash, you must have nothing else to do with your pathetic life.

Very mature.

 

[john123456]

Hey moron, it's been almost 120 posts back that it was agreed I was not seeking a legal cause. Ha! Did you maybe confuse the thread you were replying to? Or do you write serial posts telling everyone that they've got no case? Either way, you're obviously a retard who can't even read. Good luck in your serial bash, you must have nothing else to do with your pathetic life.

Sybil:

Which personality is this?

 

[Sybil226]

Very mature.

Hey, cmorris, I thought you were not around. But I see what happened, you just hadn't found something to slap me over! Thanks for the remark. Is there anything you may want to comment on the REAL issue? I mean, on my very last questions in that last post? I thought you may have had a meaningful opinion.. or could it be that you, like many others, only came with the usual slap in the face, the usual "you have no case" and the "suck it up" even if that wasn't my question? Still hopeful that something meaningful might come out from you...

 

[Sybil226]

Sybil:

Which personality is this?

It is the rebel one. The one that won't put up with the usual dumb lawyer-wannabe that will ruin discussions with the same old: "you have no case" even when they haven't read a word from you.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

You have no case.
You are NOT disabled and therefore not entitled to accommodations by any streach.
You have no case.
You were asking for FAVORS not accommodations.
You have no case.
You disrespect persons with valid disabilities.
You have no case.
Rx for ADD and/or depression do not make you go to sleep in class or make you look drugged if your Rx are properly magaged.
You have no case.
You are not taking responsibility for your actions.
You have no case.
I was the only one who gave you any information about ADA.
I am qualified to speak about psy/Dx&Rx, however I referred you back to your psychiatrist.
Name calling proves your lack of maturity as does eggageration.
Most likely in addition to ADD/Depression you also have a personality disorder and you still have no case.

 

[Sybil226]

Gee, what an ignorant and pitiful post. I felt embarrassed for you after reading.. so much rage over a stranger online. Is your disability coupled with anger management? Sorry you can't handle yourself, man.

 

[cbg]

Sybil, you asked a question in your initial subject heading; Can I sue?

Based on the information in your posts, the answer is, no, you can't.

Either provide some supporting information that is not in your initial post, or accept it and move on. Preferably the latter.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

You are so ignorant and self centered, obviously you missed a lot while you slept in class. Perhaps you should have signed up to be a test subject in the sleep lab, then you would have been paid to sleep?
I am an advocate for persons with disabilities, as well as a qualified forensic expert, no problem with anger management other than having to find appropriate treatment plans for persons with anger management issues.
All you want is a free ride based on sympathy or some immagined entitlement, as I said, you disrespect persons with disabilities.
Please see your psychiatrist for all your mental illnesses and personality disorders.

 

[Sybil226]

The question "can I sue" was answered long ago. I think you answered it yourself, cbg. Why do you answer it again? Just fooling around?