Notes From the Toilet; Volume 2

I thought I would save this for Notes From the Toilet because really that is what I think Glendon Housing deserves. Actually, they deserve a Mumbai slum pit latrine, but I don't happen to be in India, so I'll have to save Notes From the Mumbai Slum Pit Latrine for later.

Someone at Glendon screwed up bigger than I thought even the incompetent hacks at Glendon could screw up by sending out postage-paid envelopes in which to return several forms and a deposit that for some reason don't seem to have made it back to their office. On July 28 Brynn posted that she got a call informing her that Housing hadn't received her package and was giving her room away. She sent in her paperwork almost a month before the due date. Several people had similar problems.

This last week very many students have received emails from housing requesting that they re-send their paperwork. I was one of those students. When I emailed back that it was impossible that they couldn't have gotten my paperwork if they had gotten my deposit, I got a response letting me know they hadn't gotten my deposit either. That's when I got angry.

Let's start from the beginning.

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Hello,

As of August 14th we have not yet received you're signed Glendon Medical Form, Meal plan and Residence Contract. If you haven't completed them please do so ASAP in order to keep you're room in residence.

You may return the completed documents to be by fax 416-487-6838, email or in person at the Housing Office.

If you no longer wish to keep you're room in residence; please do let me know.

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact me.

Thank you and have a great day.

Crystal Pilon

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Crystal,

It seems unlikely that you would not have received my forms if you have received my deposit as they were all together in the same envelope. I am more than willing to print off the forms and send them again, however as this is an error involves the loss of my personal information I am obviously concerned.

Anthony Pereira

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Hi Anthony,

I've checked with Finical Services and they've only received you're Tuition Deposit. No cheque or $ amount of 300$ was placed on you're Student Account.

If a cheque was sent please cancel it as it appears to be lost in the mail. You may issue a new one or bring one with you on moving day.

Please complete the papers/contracts I had send and return them to me ASAP by email or fax.

Thank you and have a great day.

Crystal Pilon

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Crystal,

I went to the post office today to cancel the money order I sent, unfortunately I have to mail an enquiry to Ottawa to check its status and request a duplicate. As this is obviously going to take quite some time, I have little choice but to bring a cheque with me on moving day as my limited budget did not allow for this unexpected failure. Had the package you sent not specifically stated that I needed to send a money order or cashiers cheque, I could have easily cancelled my personal cheque today and sent a new one. Better yet, I could have even more easily made a deposit directly into my STAC account.

I was quite looking forward to a smooth start to the year and I am not exaggerating when I call this a huge disappointment. As I sent my package approximately a month ago, and it hasn't been returned to me by the post office, I am quite sure that this is yet another example of the bureaucratic ineptitude and mishandling that happens far too often at Glendon. More letters and forms that I have sent to Glendon in the last three years have been "lost in the mail" than can be realistically blamed on Canada Post. I've never had any problems with lost mail when sending to any other individuals or institutions. I know that I am only one of several students to have serious problems with Student Housing Services this year and I personally know a student whose entire package was lost exactly like mine. I'm lucky compared to her though, at least in my case you didn't threaten to give my room away.

It is time for Glendon to get serious about its administrative services and take some responsibility for the security of the personal information and privacy of its students, not to mention the hassle and extra work this problem continues to cause me.

Continually unimpressed,

Anthony Pereira

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Hello Anthony,

I've received you're fax documents; thank you.

It's now come to our attention that many returning students contracts and cheques have not made it to the housing office. Vinesh (my manager) is looking into why they have not been received; it appears that a problem does exist with the prepaid envelopes.

I will forward you're email to my manager.

Thank you and have a great day.

Crystal Pilon

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Hi Anthony,

In view of your e-mail and your concerns, I would like to set up a meeting with you and Aaron Doupe, Manager Student Affaires as soon as you are at Glendon sometime in the first week of September.

Thanks,

Vinesh Saxena

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Vinesh,

What purpose would this meeting serve? If your plan is to educate me on how much you really do care about the importance of my security and privacy by showing off policies and stating statistics, I am completely uninterested. Your office's actions speak louder than its doublespeak. On the other hand, if you'd like to have a serious discussion about the failures that have happened this summer with not only me, but ALL of the students affected by this breakdown in the system and your office's reluctance to admit there is a problem, I'd be more than willing to attend.

Returning students are beginning to realize something is up. We all know each other, unlike first year students, through a web of personal connections and we've noticed that Crystal has sent many of us the exact same email. We find it incredibly disingenuous that you not only fail to admit when contacting us that it is likely your office's fault that this has happened, but that the wording actually implies that the student has erred. The form email also makes no effort to inform students that their deposit cheques may also be missing. Students should be advised to check their STAC accounts and cancel any cheques that have not posted. All the students you are contacting should have the benefit of knowing what has happened and why, I shouldn't get this special treatment because I rattled the cage a bit harder than the others. Students that have not been contacted are now concerned that the problem also affects their status and that they will lose their rooms. Perhaps you should contact these students to confirm whether or not you have received their packages.

Personally, my greatest concern at the moment is financial. I plan on moving in on the 27, and I sent my money order enquiry to Ottawa yesterday. That mail will be picked up today and I highly doubt it will make it to Ottawa, be processed and returned to me before move in day. I don't have the resources at my disposal to simply cut your office another cheque and temporarily absorb the loss of $300. York, however, can afford to wait until my duplicate money order is returned. I expect that I should have no problems moving in without my deposit. Can I be assured of that?

Anthony Pereira

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Hi Anthony,

Appreciate your concerns, you are not fully aware of what can happen in a work place, however I would like to take this opportunity to meet with you to exactly discuss those challenges. Your move-in on 27th is no issue, we can work out everything with you once you are here. Meanwhile enjoy rest of the holidays and I look forward to meet with you shortly.

Thanks,

Vinesh Saxena

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Vinesh,

I will meet with you, but I don't intend to be lectured. I find it rather insulting of you to tell me I am "not fully aware of what can happen in a work place". I'm not an idiot. I'm fully aware that mistakes can and do happen. At issue is not that Housing is currently experiencing a problem, at issue is that Housing, and Glendon as a whole, seem to be "currently experiencing a problem" that effects the overall quality of the educational experience on a near constant basis and has once again failed to take the responsibility to face those who are affected with frankness and honesty.

I have no personal issue with you or any of your staff, if I have come across rudely I apologize, but I am very frustrated, and I think rightfully so.

Anthony --


I haven't gotten a reply to that last email and I don't expect one.

In closing, the office staff at Glendon are the most incompetent, bumbling, useless, Clouseauesque, out of touch with reality, fools I've ever had to deal with in my life. To keep the hyperbole going: they are worse than Hitler, even Jesus doesn't love them and if I had to choose between the capture of Osama bin Laden and the subsequent end to terrorism and the beginning of world peace, and the entire administrative staff of Glendon being fired and replaced with helper monkeys and seeing eye dogs, I'd choose the latter.


Here is a picture of "The World's Largest Pyrogy" in the Village of Glendon, Alberta:


Keep on Tranglin,
Anthony