May 8, 2004: CSU CHICO
In The Beginning
After two years of Sierra College working on my GE, I was ready to move up in the world of educational institutions, or so I thought I was moving up when I went to California State University: Chico—come to find out I was moving down, at least in the major I was in, the instructors I would meet, and the administration.
It all began the first day at Chico; actually, even before that; it was a Friday, well even before that. It was when I was moving in to the University Village; I wanted to get DSL, but they said I had to have the phone service at $15 a month plus $50 a month for DSL. “But DSL is a phone line.” I told them. Anyway, I did not get it.
The next thing that bugged me was on a Friday, two days after moving in, I had to be at the school for a “Mandatory Meeting with the Department Heads.” Of course they did not mention we would have to sit through an hour of Pep Rally for Freshman: there were dancing girls (i liked that part), Martial Arts exposition, a small part of a play, a go getter type of dude that pumped the crowd up, and more childish things. I said this is for Freshmen, and a guy said, “Transfer students rate as low as Freshmen.” The whole thing was stupid and a waste of time if you ask me, but no one did.
So the first day of school, I find out that one of my Computer Science courses will not have a lab—the time will be used for office hours—this never happened, the office hours that is. Anyway, we as a class also found out that the instructor, a Benjoe A. Juliano, would not help us at all on our programming assignments. Ok no problem, but the courses we have taken thus far have not prepared us to do the things he wants us to do.
The Housing Battle
OK, we now jump to the first night I stayed in the UV, because the first week was odd—I drove back and forth forgetting things and was not used to being bored, I could not believe the noise that was going on at 10:30 at night. I remember getting the rules when I applied for University Housing. The right to quiet supercedes the right to make noise, there are quiet hours, no smoking, and many others.
I also received these rules again when my application was accepted. I received these rules when I was told to move in on a particular day. I also got these rules handed to me when I moved in. Plus there was a mandatory meeting for the University Village, which I did not attend, but was told hat they went over the rules verbally. So written four times and verbally once, but no one followed them or policed them. “I am not 18 and away from my parents for the first time. I am here for an education, not to party and waste my money.”
I went to the main office and asked them where I could go to study “because there were people playing loud music.” They said there was a study hall by the pool. I said people are playing loud music, and they looked at me with a blank, who gives a fuck, and who the fuck are you, look. I went to the main housing office and began causing trouble until I got my form to leave, and threatened to get my lawyer involved, which we did, but never had to use him. Funny I told the main people that I said people were playing loud music and they did nothing. A gal, Shannon, who likes Loud Music and Open minded People (WHAT THE FUCK?!?!) said "What did you want them to do? If you wanted them to tell the people to turn it down, you should have.” I told her "your rules state...and I should not have too, you are the one's policing it, not me. I want out anyway.”
They gave me the runaround, but I persisted, took photos and video. I got out without a hitch. Many have said I was the first one ever to get out of my contract. They did take an extra months rent, but I should have gone further and told them to take it out of the inconsiderate jerks that made me leave. University Housing at Chico is a sham, a bad business deal, and I recommend people staying away from it.
Computer Science Department
So now I move onto the Computer Science Department and the academics. Found out that the accreditation for CSU Chico’s Computer Science Major’s was under scrutiny and is now on probation. Not a really good sign for CS Majors who were looking for a great institution to get their degree at—like me.
Also found out that getting a Masters Degree at CSU Chico in CS was not a wise decision either. Seems that industry stopped hiring graduates from Chico due to the lack luster performance of the graduates, mostly due to people coming here to get the Master with no real background from Chico, but still not a good thing for graduates.
There was a discussion in one of the CS classes on “The Real World” of applying ones work ethic and study. I did not come to Chico to be forced into learning like they do in the real world, because I came to the real world, and if I had to figure it out in the real world without any instructions or education in the subject, I would not have been hired. This is what the instructors at CSU Chico are for—getting me the education, skills, and knowledge to go out INTO the REAL WORLD—besides, I just came from the real world and I do not like what I was doing, I came to LEARN something new, which is what my tuition is for, I paid to be taught. If I had to do what they do in the Real World, I would be GETTING PAID to do it—A real big difference, you morons. (this is for the ignoramus that think they understand the world—just wait till they get out into it.)
A Whole New Thought
So as one could see, I was not thrilled or happy with Chico. Plus what Chico is educating me for, is it what I really want to do? NO. I did not want to program breaks for Boeing, nor do I want to write little scripts for some gas company, and I did not want to be an IT or network janitor—even if they do make good money, I want to accomplish something with my life. I do not want a job, I already had one, in fact I have had many, and I hated them because they went nowhere. I thought school would do it, but not college. I am almost 40 and I do not want to be a well-rounded individual, I can careless for diversity, and as for education, give me something I can use in the real world—something that will actually help me get a career, keep a career, and get me there as soon as possible. If you cannot do that, I am going elsewhere.
I emailed Pixar, WETA, DISNEY ANIMATION, LUCAS ARTS, ILM, and many, many other digital media companies, as well as, game developers and asked them if they did internships: yes we do but not for regular colleges or universities, unless you are going to a specific one and you have to be really good. But a Vocational or Trade school. YES!
A Change Of Direction
I happen to read one of Aria’s GamePro magazines and noticed a school called Full Sail—they did game programming, digital media arts, and other cool majors; the trouble is they were located in Florida—too far away. So I began searching the internet for Digital Media Art Colleges in California. I found a few. Expression, Art Institute, and Art Academy—all of which are in the San Francisco Bay Area. Expression looked good from the beginning. AI was not considered after reading a few articles about it and Art Academy looked promising as well, but was more like a regular college.
So one Sunday we went to Emeryville and took Expression’s open house tour. What an Awesome place. Needless to say, this is my last semester at Chico, because I am moving on up. I have found a meaning for living and a new direction, the direction I wanted to take.
