“So, I don’t want to do all of the talking myself today. I want to give you a chance to introduce yourself and say a couple of words about why you are taking this course,” said my new professor teaching New Media Technologies and Social Change. “And don’t be afraid to say you are here because you need the credit,” she added with a smile.

My first communications classes for Spring semester began today in the University of Massachusetts (Umass), Amherst and confirmed my opinion about this school’s culture. It consists of a rich selection of Communications courses, big classes, resourceful professors, and immature students.

Answers to my professor’s requests varied from “Yeah, I am here for the credit,” and “I am taking this class because it fits into my schedule,” to “I saw the word ‘media’” and, my personal favorite, “I want to do TV and stuff.”

Naturally, every professor will want to receive a clear picture of her students’ level and ambitions but to me this experience today was absolutely disillusioning. I am certain that there are people truly interested in the topics and materials for discussion, and would love to occupy one of the seats in the classroom. Moreover, they will make the most of it. I just regret that half of my class doesn’t include such individuals but is interested in simply receiving their diplomas without applied knowledge to support these otherwise empty of meaning pieces of paper.