(no subject)

[felicula]

The other day, I'd spoken to Tracy, the Oswego Art Department secretary. She'd been out a day and thought I'd already heard from the Chair, Dr. Helen Zakin and was just clarifying where to send it. So, she let me know that I ought to send the check, payable to SUNY Oswego, directly to the Oswego Art Department. She said that they would then take off the hold immediately after receiving it. Then I got the email from Dr. Helen Zakin which went like this:

Maureen Delaney,

In order to receive transcripts from SUNY Oswego you must pay a $50 fee.
On the check write: "lab fee for Art 230: Ceramics I, fall semester,
1998, account # [xxxxxx]." Send the check to:
C[xxxx] T[xxxxxx]
[xxx] Culkin Hall
State University of New York
Oswego, New York 13126

Helen Zakin, Professor and Chair
Art Department

Thing is, the student records I have here show me taking Ceramics I, Art 230 in Fall 1996! The only thing that comes close was an independent study I did my last semester there: Art 397, Advanced 3D Design, which was my "Death teaching on the shores of Lake Ontario" body of work. I didn't use much clay for that, though, since the largest of my work that semester was a human-sized mask that burst in the wood firing. Most were small vessels similar to my "Whispersing" series except for their more organic, more deathlike motifs. I didn't use the student glazes either, other than a small amount of oxides. I liked letting the wood firing determine the final outcome more organically.

Anyhow, my response was more professional than that, but still designed to raise the questions that I had in my own mind:

Dr. Helen Zakin:


Previously, I'd received a phone call from Tracy in the Art Department office stating that I could send a check payable to SUNY Oswego directly to the art department, which contrasts with the directions I received from you. Another thing that concerns me is that I didn't take Ceramics I, Art 230 in the Fall 1998. I took it in Fall 1996. The art classes I took in Fall 1998 were Art 350, Italian Renaissance Art, Art 312, Illustration I, and Art 397, Advanced 3D Design. I believe my work in Art 397 focused on ceramics. Until a week and a half ago, however, I had been certain that all fees and tuition regarding my attendance of SUNY Oswego had been up to date.

I'm not trying to get out of paying the fee. I intend to pay it, regardless. I am somewhat confused, though, that the fee is listed for a class I didn't take. I am also confused as to what is the most appropriate and swiftest way to pay so that the hold may be removed in due haste. I had erroneously assumed that if my fees weren't up to date I would have found out by not receiving my Fall 1998 grades. Yet, my report card from that semester wasn't withheld. It was upsetting to learn that there was no other way I would have found out in a more timely fashion, especially since I was typically very conscientious of keeping things paid.

I'd like to clarify matters before proceeding. Thank you very much for your time and assistance.


Respectfully,

Maureen J. DeLaney

This morning, I received another call from Tracy in the Art Department. She explained that the confusion between where to send a check came because Dr. Zakin didn't know it needed to be forwarded to bursars with a specific account slip. OK, that makes sense.

The kicker is that because of the confusion and uncertainty over things, they've decided just to drop the hold now. I asked if they still wanted me to pay the $50. She said no.

She even transferred me over to registrars so I could make sure the rest of the hold info (the absense of an unnecessary meningitis form and something linked to the art hold) was taken care of.

This means I can send back my transcript request TODAY!!! No back-and-forth trying to clarify, no leftover resentment on my part as to whether the hold was just or not, the matter is simply DONE!

Wow... My intent in my reply to Dr. Zakin wasn't to shirk payment. I was just trying to figure out where I fit into things if the account it said I owed had nothing to do with the classes I took. I was under the opinion that my insatiable curiosity was going to be my downfall. And here it just turned into a case of the squeaky wheel getting the grease. Just... Wow!

Anyhow, I'm going to hurry up and get offline. I want to walk my transcript request over to the post office to make sure it gets into the mail today. No more delays on that damned official transcript.

EDIT: I walked my transcript requests over to the post office on Lexington and Dewey. Now I can be guaranteed that they'll be in transit before the end of the day. It's all between the postal service and the Oswego Registrar's office now. ***breathes a sigh of relief***

Comments

[phoenixsong]

Yay!!!! *hugtight*