Many years ago when I was going to Marquette University, the college presented itself as the ultimate Catholic experience. You weren’t just a “number”.
When I graduated with a Mechanical Engineering Degree, work was in my future. Work and supporting a family with two young kids. When I landed a job at Allis-Chalmers in Milwaukee, I figured I could get the Masters degree in business at night. It turns out I had to take 20 more credits (6-7 courses) in business to qualify for business school (engineering courses didn’t qualify). I did that through Marquette. My employer paid for the tuition.
Here is the anger part. I finally applied officially for the graduate program to get a Masters Degree in Business Administration. Even though I had received an engineering degree and successfully completed preliminary courses, I had a blemish on my grades. The semester I took accounting I was traveling a lot for Allis-Chalmers and missed enough classes to irritate the professor. He gave me a “D”. That “D” got me rejected. No Graduate School. I appealed to the Dean of Admissions (he was a compassioate priest). He patted me on the head and said there would be no exceptions and he would not intervene and grant me an exception.
Fast forward to Sheboygan. I entered the business program through the UW system going to class at night. I finished in 3 years with straight “A’s”. I got my MBA degree.
Marquette keeps calling to solicit money. They figure because I got my first degree there I have a warm, fuzzy feeling for the school. Quite the opposite. I actually have contempt for them. They screwed me over during the last admission process.
When Marquette calls, a sweet young voice (probably a student) asks me how I am and makes a lot of small talk. I always reply, “I do not want to do anything at this time”. I try to be the nice guy that everyone knows I am. I got a call last week. A young girl kept pushing for a commitment and I finally (at 71 years of age) decided enough was enough. I said, “years ago you people denied me admission to graduate school. It turns out I had to get a Masters degree somewhere else. No, I am not interested in contributing to the university”. I hung up!
I feel better. I was never going to tell the University why they never got any money from me, but they badgered me into it. I got to release all my pent up anger. The truth is I was being solicited by a “phone bank”. The caller will just write off my response as a cranky old man and probably went on to another thousand calls. Just like before, nobody heard me.
The University really never cared about me personally. They still won’t hear. I will get more calls. I do feel better. They still won’t get a donation.
Love,
Dad