Civics and Attendance

ATTENDANCE AND PRESENCE

It has been said: 80% of success is just showing up. Your physical presence and civic participation in the class are extremely important. This is especially so since, as a Friday class, we have comparatively few meeting sessions. It is also important because certain of the projects are collaborative. For this reason, every two unexcused absences will lower your final grade by an additional letter. If you're ill, or if you know you will have a planned absence, please let me know before the beginning of that class session: I can be very understanding and accommodating about planned and necessary absences, family circumstances and/or medical issues when you inform me in a timely and professional manner. Text messages (Nine one seven, five two zero, seven four five six) or Twitter (@golan) are also excellent ways to reach me in a hurry.

Physical presence means nothing if you're "checked out"; your mental presence is paramount. During the professor's lectures or guest presentations, open laptops and social media are prohibited. Likewise, sleeping in class happens to be a personal pet peeve of the Professor. If you sleep during a lecture, you will be poked, and asked to leave. If it happens more than once, you will be asked to leave, and also given an "absent" mark. You will incur holy wrath if you sleep in class during a guest lecture.

A WORD ABOUT UNEXCUSED ABSENCES IN CRITIQUES

Sometimes, students who haven't completed their projects skip class during critique sessions, because they are too embarrassed to come to class empty-handed. This type of absence is particularly self-destructive, and is one of the most objectionable and cowardly things you can do in this class. Have courage. Your participation on critique days is essential, even if your project is incomplete, because these sessions and conversations help you understand our class standards, expectations, and criteria for good work. Even if your own project is unfinished, you are still expected to contribute productively to the class discussion.

If you are absent from class during a critique, it would really be best if I do not accidentally encounter you later that day in the hallway, chatting away with your friends. I take your attendance seriously, and your attendance during critiques most seriously of all.

LATENESS ON THE DAY OF THE FINAL EXHIBITION

Our class's end-of-semester exhibition is a special event in which we present our work to the public. It usually takes place in the STUDIO facility. With all of the competing requirements for space, tables, computers, and special adapters, it requires several hours of preparation. For this reason I require everyone to arrive to install their project at least 90 minutes before the final exhibition -- even if it only takes 5 minutes to set up. There is a special circle of hell for students who arrive five minutes before opening time, and then have the nerve to ask for space/equipment/cables/anything. Showing up late to set up on the final exhibition day, without a prior arrangement confirmed by email, will cost you one letter grade. "Late" means: less than 90 minutes before the official exhibition opening time.