Just a bit of a vent –

To rehash, I’m an adjunct.
I’ve been so for longer than most of my students have been breathing.

The enshittification, grade inflation, and reduction of college standards nearly mirror the increasing failing of my infection-producing body.

It’s odd how they – my body and college education – are breaking. It’s a good mirror.

This term started a bit rough.
Okay, really rough.

I was given the class two days before it started.
It was already set up by someone else. The students were already there.

This is really a pity class.
Someone had two classes. She backed out or was persuaded to lose one so the college could string me along a little longer.

Not that they’d want to.
I wasn’t notified that it was there. Anyone else would have missed the window, and the class would filter to someone else. That means that, if I missed this, it would be very difficult to receive classes in the future.

While I don’t do videos or any of that crap — I don’t approve of using my time, resources, and paying for programs to add content that doesn’t lead to bonus pay.

I meet base requirements easily because I’m so neurotic and obsessive.

This term, outside of the pity, has a visitor.

There’s an option to email all students at once.
I do so as reminders or if something noteworthy appears that’s related to the class – like the whole AI book burning situation.

Everyone on the roster receives this message.
This term, it’s everyone plus someone who isn’t on the list. Amber G.

It’s a fluke.
It’s an error, I’m told.

B.S. Blackboard can hide users. I know it can and does so for the students’ advisors. It does so for my supervisor too. The ‘feature’ is just a backdoor way visitors can drop in without going through the hassle of IT.

If I were a new adjunct, I probably wouldn’t know. But I’m seasoned and salty. I know how this works.

Still, I’ve never had a plus one that’s visually notable.

Amber G is in Outlook.
But her entire description and organization are “uncategorized.” Not a student. Not an advisor. Not a trainer. Just non-existent.

Yes, okay.
Whatever. It isn’t like I can do anything about it, and I have nothing to hide. Amber G is the unofficial mascot.

But, as of last week, Amber has a friend. Brittany V.

Just like Amber, Outlook has zero information about Brittany. From my limited deduction skills, she’s a ghost.

Brittany V was added a few days after I was exceedingly critical with supervisors about the acceptability of AI assignments.

They are pro.
I am con, of course.

But have to bend over and take it to avoid offending neurodivergent students.

Specifically – neurodivergent students.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of future “professionals” are being released in the wild with unpayable student loans, thinking that they’re hot shite because of grade inflation — with the skill of how to copy/paste AI slop.

I’m going to guess that, because of my attempt to actually express my concern about AI use — they asked — I have double harassment.

On one level, it doesn’t bother me.
I always assume that I’m monitored and judged. Doubly so with the Ultra update. I can see my own stats every three hours. Before, those stats were only available once a month.

I guess what really irritates me is that there’s “nothing to see here.” I’m supposed to ignore the direct visual representation of being doubted, monitored, and judged.

It’s like everyone knows how the sausage is made – but no one goes into the slaughterhouse.


Amber G and Brittiany V are representative of the slaughterhouse. I know it’s there, but I don’t really need the representation.

Class ends on the 17th.
Just a couple more weeks.

I gotta wonder — will I pass the relevance test and have a class next term?

Who knows- it’s just annoying AF to be obviously spied on.

Whatever.
I’m venting.