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Trina Thompson (Grad Student)
Trina Thompson (Grad Student) VS. Monroe College
Charge: A Bad Career Service
Trina Thompson, 27, of the Bronx, graduated from New York's Monroe College in April with a bachelor of business administration degree in information technology.On July 24, she filed suit against the college in Bronx Supreme Court, alleging that Monroe's "Office of Career Advancement did not help me with a full-time job placement. I am also suing them because of the stress I have been going through."(Via CNN http://edi...ref=rss_us)"
Monroe College
Case Status: CLOSED
Case Opened By: Yaguar on August 04, 2009
Category: Education
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Closed Case
Time Left For Court Rulling Ruled on
August 11 2009
Guilty: 16 Not Guilty: 129
Monroe College was found
Not Guilty

CASE SUMMARY
Votings:
Guilty: 16
Not Guilty: 129
Arguments:
Prosecution Arguments: 11
Defense Arguments: 14
Total Arguments Strength:
Prosecution: 7
Defense: 10

CASE HIGHLIGHTS

PROSECUTION
Most Active Member of the Prosecution:
Freak
5 Arguments
Stronget Prosecution Argument: (Strength: 3)
Gorilla Ed
 It's a shame, but the world was a different place 4 yrs ago when she first enrolled. No accredited school guarantees employment by any means, and regionally accredited schools like monroe even less responsibility to place a student than career schools do. HOWEVER, the efforts 'career services' departments provide at most schools are so below-par it's embarrassing. I went to Stockton College in NJ and no joke, TGIFridays was at my career fair accepting waiter applications. Career Services is often understaffed with limited resources. Colleges should be doing a much better job a) setting student expectations b) providing mandatory interview training and c) helping all students at least meet with relevant employers in the community.
Posted by Gorilla Ed 
Most Opposed Prosecution Argument: (2 Opposing Arguments)
Gorilla Ed
 I think that's the point, FW. Monroe College and regionally accredited colleges don't HAVE to take care of their students. At a tuition of around $70k over years, the school SHOULD make reasonable efforts to assist and place their graduates. This is where nationally accredited school regulation gets it right. They HAVE to place a large majority of their students in relevant fields or they simply can't offer the program. Based on Trina's degree, she probably should have gone to a career school. But that's just another knock against traditional 4yrs.
Posted by Gorilla Ed 
 

DEFENSE
Most Active Member of the Defense:
Bfrank
5 Arguments
Stronget Defense Argument: (Strength: 2)
Feminist Woman
 I disagree with you Gorila! The school (in this case - Monroe College) doesn't has to take care of each student of it (on his/her personal life). If there are some exceptions the issue is diferent. In this case I think that the college behavior was more than OK!
Posted by Feminist Woman 
Most Opposed Defense Argument: (1 Opposing Arguments)
Dave Lori
 what next sue them for not making sure ur studying hard enough???
Posted by Dave Lori 

CASE ARGUMENTS

PROSECUTION
Sort By:   Newest |  Strongest |  Most Opposed To
Freak
 You are using very nice words in regards this case. BUT, what is the bottom line? Why are you defending the college in this case. I think that at least they could help her (because of her special issue) to work during the studying period.
Posted by Freak 7 Months ago.  as a reply to this argument 
This Argument is: 
Strength:
0
Opposing Arguments:
View (1)
Gorilla Ed
 Absolutely - That's a great point. She should not be suing whatsoever. It's a silly and wasteful thing to do, no doubt. But what does the college mean when they say "we assist alumni, employers, faculty, and staff"? What does that exactly mean? I said earlier, I went to a good NJ state school and TGIFridays accepting waiter applications at my career fair. Good Humor Ice Cream was looking for people to drive the truck for the summer. Not kidding. Does that count as assisting? I bet the college thinks it did.
Posted by Gorilla Ed 7 Months ago.  as a reply to this argument 
This Argument is: 
Strength:
1
Opposing Arguments:
View (1)
Gorilla Ed
 What SHOULD schools do for their graduates? Let's say you majored in Business Admin at a local 4yr college. You paid $70k+ in tuition and spent the last four years buying thousands of dollars in textbooks you never really needed and commuting to class between jobs only to find your teacher 'canceled' the class at the last minute. Your the first person in your family to go to college.. You graduate w/ a 2.7 GPA... Tell me, what is your expectation of the college's involvement with your career success?
Posted by Gorilla Ed 7 Months ago.  as a reply to this argument 
This Argument is: 
Strength:
0
Opposing Arguments:
View (1)
Gorilla Ed
 Admittedly, I think it's a slippery slope and I do think Trina doesn't stand a chance in this case. However, I do think this raises an interesting discussion about college involvement with career prep and services. Colleges are thought of as placed to pursue a passion for education and enlightenment. I get it. She majored in Business Admin, though. For a CAREER. (She went to the wrong school, if you ask me.) With skyrocketing tuition rates, schools should be preparing students throughout their programs for the workplace. Internships, relationships, networking, etc. Even calling and organizing events with local employers and titans of industry. IDK if Monroe did that, but I know my alma mater was woefully understaffed and did little to 'prepare' me to find work. What is the school's responsibility here? Again, career colleges do it best - if they can't place their students in a field, they must terminate the program for lack of need.
Posted by Gorilla Ed 7 Months ago.  as a reply to this argument 
This Argument is: 
Strength:
0
Opposing Arguments:
View (1)
Freak
 This is not the point right now. I am sure they'll try to help here these days, but the point here is that they didn't help her during her studying period and I think that tine time was more important for her. Lets hope both of sides will manage, I am looking forward to see the case verdict, here in allrise it seems she's going to loose... :)
Posted by Freak 7 Months ago.  as a reply to this argument 
This Argument is: 
Strength:
0
Opposing Arguments:
View (1)
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DEFENSE
Sort By:   Newest |  Strongest |  Most Opposed To
Aris
 The bottom line is that schools should go the extra mile in assisting its students out of its own volition, not out of coercion by the courts.The law marks out the minimum threshold that conducts and behaviors must meet to be acceptable. It attempts to define "civility" and guard the very core of our "civilized society" against moral erosion. By corollary, it is not a goal of the law to create an utopia. Aspirational conducts are routinely recommended by the courts, but never required as a matter of law.The college in this case appears to have satisfactorily performed its end of the bargain as a matter of law. Whether it should have done more or not is a question reaching the morality and decency of the conduct. It is an entirely different question, and should not be within the purviews of the law and the courts.At least for the foregoing reasons, I defend the position of the defendant in this case as a matter of law.
Posted by Aris 7 Months ago.  as a reply to this argument 
This Argument is: 
Strength:
1
Opposing Arguments:
 (0)
Aris
 Without a doubt, a contract was formed which the "assist" clause was part of. The "primary purpose" of a university has no moment. The only question is whether the university has failed to satisfy the reasonable expectations of an ordinary person under similar circumstances - a objective standard.In reaching its conclusions, the court should visit the plain text of the clause, as well as interpretations customary to similar circumstances. The court should also be mindful of traditional words of "fluffery."Here, the terms do not appear to speak to any warranties or guarantees of specific actions on part of the school. It merely conveys an intent. Schools around the country offer varying degrees of support, from little to none to individualize services. It stands to reason that an expectation of either extreme is unreasonable and not customary.As such, Ms. Thompson, as the plaintiff, has failed to satisfy her burden of proof. The court should find in favor of the defendant.
Posted by Aris 7 Months ago.
This Argument is: 
Strength:
1
Opposing Arguments:
View (1)
Patricia
 The schools SHOULD try to set them a job related to their profession... That means that they could arrange an open day with open job positions in some companies, maybe to contact some companies that they are involved with in order to help the green graduates!
Posted by Patricia 7 Months ago.  as a reply to this argument 
This Argument is: 
Strength:
1
Opposing Arguments:
 (0)
Bfrank
 Do you expect every company that someone from that school may be employed at to show up? The main reason that a lot of those places like TGIFridays and such constantly come to career fairs is because they are local businesses. Not to mention, places like TGIFridays are more than likely independently owned franchises. Maybe you don't think that being a waiter is the kind of job a college graduate wants, and you are probably right, but you are fooling yourself if you think that that is the only position available ever in the company. Entry level positions are entry level positions, and they are different at all companies. It isn't the colleges fault if someone like Pepsico or Microsoft or some other big name corporation doesn't want to spend the money to send someone out to a career fair. The college does its best to get opportunities to the students, whether the students like them or take advantage of them is up to them.
Posted by Bfrank 7 Months ago.  as a reply to this argument 
This Argument is: 
Strength:
0
Opposing Arguments:
 (0)
Bfrank
 Take this piece of info into consideration..."2. Who is eligible to utilize the services of the Office of Career Advancement?We work with all currently enrolled students. We also assist alumni (lifetime free service), employers, faculty, and staff. " Taken from the college's office of career advancement site FAQ, it appears that she is able to go to the office to get assistance for free, for her entire life. Maybe she needs to go back and get some more free guidance instead of suing them for something as stupid as giving her a degree that will help her at some point.
Posted by Bfrank 7 Months ago.  as a reply to this argument 
This Argument is: 
Strength:
0
Opposing Arguments:
View (1)
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1/1/2010 12:23:18 PM
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