Instead of providing counseling services to students, the counseling office is pushing students away with no where to turn.

In light of the growing number of obstacles students must face in order to acquire quality education these days, one would hope that a school’s administration, specifically counseling, would be more willing to assist students rather than make their academic journeys more perilous. Here at San Diego Mesa College, that is not the case.

If you’ve found yourself entering the counseling office anytime after Nov. 14 you’ve likely seen a sign informing students that no appointments can be made with counselors until Jan. 27 of 2012. I for one happen to have a Spring enrollment date of Dec. 6 of 2011, thus making the planning and preparation for what I hope to be my last semester quite difficult.

If that wasn’t upsetting enough, the sign goes on to inform students that despite the absence of appointments, there are some students who are exempt from this restriction such as veteran students, students on financial aid and last but certainly not least student athletes.

Now, I understand that veterans and those on financial aid require educational plans to receive their benefits but why does that make them any more important than the rest of the student population. We invest just as much time and certainly more money than those on financial aid, so why are we not all being treated equally?

Through a barrage of class cuts and unit price hikes, Mesa students are barely coming out head above water. I pay hard earned money for my classes. Through tax dollars I pay for student veterans and students on financial aid to take classes as well. Despite all this, I don’t receive the same benefits and student services that they receive, which is unacceptable and flat out discriminatory.

I also would like to add that I have no idea why student athletes are grouped with veterans and financial aid recipients. However I can’t imagine the reasoning behind this to be any better than the rest of the school’s lackluster planning so I’ll just leave it alone for the time being.

Many like myself work time consuming jobs and are full time students as well. I don’t have the time for some secretary to tell me I have to wait a couple of hours to see a counselor let alone actually wait those couple of hours.

Despite the odds, I took the time to attempt to receive an appointment with a counselor. I spoke to the secretary who then referred me to her equally unhelpful supervisor, who then referred me to the dean’s office. Upon arrival to the dean’s office, I spoke to a lady who told me the dean was not in. I then asked for the dean’s office hours and contact information and the lady proceeded to tell me that she had no idea because the secretary was not in today as well; however I could try and look it up on the internet.

Mesa College’s student services are proving to be quite the amateur operation, and one must wonder what we’re paying ten extra dollars a unit for, aside from being discriminated against that is. The school needs to either allow everyone to make appointments or no one, and if it’s the latter then I highly recommend they get their act together because if student services can’t efficiently serve students than what other purpose does it serve.

I can only hope that Spring 2012 is my last semester here at Mesa College and to those of you who remain in the battle to stay afloat I recommend you either abandon ship or mutiny, good luck and have a prosperous new year.

To make formal complaints about the counseling office contact Ailene Crakes in the counseling office or by e-mail acrakes@sdccd.edu.