James Franco has proven that he can do a whole lot – his acting has been Oscar-nominated, he’s sold invisible art, he wrote a book, he’s directed a documentary, he’s a photographer, and has something like four college degrees - but did a professor at New York University get fired for giving the illustrious star a D?
Jose Angel Santana, a professor at New York University, gave Franco a D for the class ‘Directing the Actor II.’ Apparently Franco missed 12 of the 14 scheduled classes, and most colleges dock grades for absences. A D seems fair if did miss that many classes - but then the professor got fired. Santana is suing NYU for wrongful termination and cites the grade he gave Franco as the reason.
He alleges that after Franco recieved the grade the actor began to “publicly ridicule” the professor and that the school had made itself a “Franco-friendly environment.” Another of Franco’s professors was hired by the actor to write and direct a film, and Franco gave a cameo to the head of the film department in another movie; Santana believes Franco recieved good grades in return. [via Time]
It does seem strange that Franco is able to carry on all these activities and his acting career while supposedly studying, but perhaps it’s even stranger for a professor to be fired for giving one student a D? That’s not even failing – something seems amiss with Santana’s main reason.
One of Franco’s Yale professors came to the actor’s defense in an online article. “But I’ve been James’ professor,” wrote R. John Williams. ”And it struck me as highly uncharacteristic for him to just ‘blow off class,’ as several articles are suggesting.” [via Slate]
There is a lot of talk going back and forth about how Franco conducts himself – especially after pictures like the one below are passed around the media. However, that was just one instance – who’s to say he just wasn’t incredibly tired that day? I will admit here that in my college days, I’ve definitely nodded off in a lecture.
So what do you think, Lovelies? Do you think Santana is telling the truth that he got fired because of Franco’s bad grade? Have you fallen asleep in class before?
guest
If he missed 12 of 14 classes he would have gotten an F, not a D; so if this really did happen the teacher was being nice.
rose / 791 posts
He deserved an F if he skipped that many classes. At my university, if you missed more than three a semester without some kind of doctors note, you failed – no questions asked. I think the professor was either in a lot of trouble prior to this, OR Franco is in with the university admin in some way.
sunflower / 447 posts
Oh please. I spent half the semester sleeping in my intro biology class, and the other half skipping it. I know plenty of people who sleep in class regularly, it’s not something to crucify him over. That being said, his connections with his profs probably helped his grades — I mean, he has a pitch-perfect GPA – it makes sense. As for this professor, I find it hard to believe he was let go simply because he nearly failed Franco. The Olsen Twins failed out of NYU – I didn’t hear about anyone being fired because of them.
guest
yeah I can only miss 5 classes in all my college classes if I miss more I automatically fail.
guest
missing 12 of 14 classes is an automatic F.
I don’t care how sexy you are.
magnolia / 1357 posts
What is a D worth? Is it a 70? Agh… I don’t like the letter system, it confuses me.
Anyways, missing practically the whole semester should have entitled him with a failing grade. In my university, if you take a class three times per week, you have six absences; if you take a class twice a week, you have four absences; and if you take a class once per week, you have two absences.
If you go one over, you can try negotiating with your teacher… if you go two over, you fail, no matter what.
guest
I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a hand in it. However, unless in-class activities are necessary to learn the material, it’s stupid to drop someone’s grade due to missing class. If you can learn the material on your own, then class is a waste of time. I’m in grad school and work full time and I skipped my one class about 50% of the time this past quarter – still had a 4.0 for the quarter though. Professors at my school care about if you know the material or not – not how much you stroke their ego by showing up every day.
sunflower / 437 posts
If I missed 12 classes and slept through the ones I was there for… I’d be ashamed. 12/14 is a LOT to miss! The only classes I missed this semester were because I left the house, promptly threw up in a trash can and went back home… I caught the flu off a friend. I didn’t go in because I really couldn’t.
Franco should be ashamed. You cannot miss that many classes and expect to get a good grade!!
guest
Missed 12 out of 14 classes? Yeah. My prof’s would’ve failed me with no explanation; most of them have this shit in the syllabus and it’s university procedure. I had a chem prof that failed ANYONE if they missed two classes. How can you expect to get an A if you aren’t even in attendance learning the material?? And it appears as if when he’s there, he’s sleeping? Why the fuck is he even enrolled?
Lame.
guest
Also, I would like to point out that it pisses me the hell off when people don’t take education seriously.
The “OH PLEASE I SLEEP THROUGH/DON’T GO TO MY CLASSES” people seriously just need to drop the fuck out of college. I worked as an RA so I could afford room and board and kept my GPA high so I could get the academic scholarships that were available… There are tons of kids that would love the chance to finish high school, much less attend a university, but who don’t have the money or opportunity to do so, so please take your nonchalance elsewhere. It’s incredibly repulsive.
daisy / 617 posts
@Xbeautifully_broken_downX@xanga - Your arrogance is incredibly repulsive. Just saying.
guest
@ohveryoung@xanga -Arrogance? LOL Nope. Arrogance is sleeping in class in front of an educated professor and in doing so demonstrating disrespect for them and others in the class willing and desiring to learn.
daisy / 617 posts
@Xbeautifully_broken_downX@xanga - Saying that any person who skips classes needs to drop out of school is arrogance in my book. You are saying that every single person in college should approach learning just the same way you do. Missing 12 out of 14 classes is really extreme, and definitely deserving of a bad grade. However, I missed class frequently last semester for a myriad of reasons from familial death to just plain not feeling up to going. Yet, I still pulled all As and Bs for the semester. Just because you have to attend every class in order to get an A DOES NOT make those of us who occasionally skip any less intelligent. Please, get over yourself.
guest
@ohveryoung@xanga - OBVIOUSLY (or at least it should have been) I was not even speaking about those kinds of extenuating circumstances….and if you could not draw that kind of conclusion from comment one or two, I’m just going to have to reconcile with myself that you are A. Seriously have no intention of even trying to understand where I’m coming from or B. Just looking to start an argument.
In my initial comment, the attitude that I described was “nonchalant” I’ll define that for you seeing as how you can’t seem to follow logic or read: “Seemingly unconcerned or indifferent.” I USED that word for a reason…that reason was to describe those students that are UNCONCERNED or indifferent about their education…not those who are going through a death in the family or are sick, etc.
My comment was rec’ed twice and I assume that those who rec’ed it understand the context I was speaking it, you, it seems, are the only one who deems fit to call me arrogant when it seems you didn’t concern yourself to even read my remark.
I would challenge YOU to get over yourself
, because this comment has nothing to do with you seeing as how you had very understandably personal reasons for missing your classes, which is fine, and which is why universities allow 2 or 3 absences per class a semester.
daisy / 617 posts
@Xbeautifully_broken_downX@xanga - First of all, I’d like to apologize for my comments before. I was pretty harsh, but I felt like you were too. Your comment just reminded me of a situation that happened to me during calculus in high school. It was my senior year, and like many other seniors, I caught senioritis. Condensed version, I skipped a lot of class. However, I was always caught up on my work and I ended the class with a B. During one of the last classes, our teacher handed us all of our previous tests. When I got mine, this girl who sat behind me all year muttered behind my back, “I’m surprised she even passed with all the class she missed,” to one of her friends.
I found it so insulting because how was my grade any of her business in the least? It wasn’t. My grade was between me and our teacher, not her. I just didn’t think it was fair of her to assume that her perfect attendance record somehow meant that she was more intelligent than me. I took, and passed, the same curriculum she did. I never had the opportunity to say that to her, and I’m sorry that I took it out on you.
That’s just what it reminded me of :/
guest
@ohveryoung@xanga - I usually am harsh when I speak about things I feel strongly about, and this I do. (LOL). I apologize if I did not express myself in a way that made things more clear. I just honest to God just thought you were trying to start an argument with me. But I understand, after hearing your story, why you would feel that way. You are totally right, at the end of the day, the grade is between the professor and the student. I just don’t understand or sympathize with those students that don’t care about school, make an effort to attend class, or do the work. I get that things happen and there are exceptions to the rule, but I wasn’t at all talking about those things.
daisy / 617 posts
@Xbeautifully_broken_downX@xanga - Lol, I completely get you. Yeah, I read your comment again, and I completely overreacted, ha. I’m glad there are no hard feelings
And I agree with you, I detest when anyone fails to take pride in their education or the continuing their education.
P.S. I hope you have a happy New Year!
guest
@ohveryoung@xanga - Likewise! && no hard feelings at all!
<3
guest
Why do I get the feeling this professor was looking for any excuse to sue the college?
My professors never had an attendance policy, simply put, if you didn’t show up regularly, you failed the exams. If you’re in college, you are probably an adult capable of taking responsibility for keeping your appointments.
guest
@Xbeautifully_broken_downX@xanga - Thank you. I think that James Franco has developed a wicked sense of entitlement. I’m disappointed in NYU for letting his behavior slide just because he’s a movie star.
guest
@rebeccahaze@xanga - Agreed times 1000000000000000. LOL
guest
that’s definitely fishy he gets fired after giving franco a D… but seriously, missing 12 out of 14 classes? I don’t care WHO you are, that’s just disrespect!