I hate scheduling. No really, I do. And I’m sure that by the time this is printed you will hate scheduling as much as I do, if not more.

My first gripe with scheduling is that the ever-problematic Loyola Online Records Access never ever works when you try to sign on. You would think that at a school as “technologically advanced” as Loyola, the administrators could at least keep LORA up and running.

When I actually get the Student Services page, it magically loses its connection. Then it takes another 10 minutes to reload the page, only to read “Session Expired.” C’mon guys, you know scheduling is a huge deal to overachievers like me.

I missed out on the easier night class because you made me reload and reload and reload. My schedule is dotted around the day, making it impossible for me to work, because I had to go back and sign in every two minutes.

Another thing that gets me is that freshmen get to schedule before juniors or sophomores. No offense, but the frosh have four years ahead of them. The rest of us are struggling to finish our curriculum or sequence and graduate in four years. That is, of course, unless Loyola is trying to get students to stay longer.

That makes sense – if Loyola can hold onto a student for a fifth year, there’s no scholarship availability for the student that year. Louisiana Tuition Opportunity Program for Students also does not cover the victory lap, so Loyola gets the whole $20,000 or so.

Interesting concept when you think about it. Maybe the reason freshmen get to schedule before their elders is so that those who can’t get into a required class are forced to take it another semester. That slows down the sequence and adds to the number of students who are prolonging their last year of college.

For some reason, athletes at Loyola are given preference in scheduling. I was under the impression that most of Loyola’s faculty members were against the athletic department. I would assume that at a school where “Academic Excellence” is one of our key phrases, students who have a desperate need for a class would get preferential treatment.

Speaking of desperation, what happens to a senior if their loan

doesn’t come in when it is supposed to? That person generally has only one semester left. Can’t they get into the classes they need to walk in May on another sort of “loan?” I hate seeing seniors have to postpone med school or grad school for one class. C’mon Loyola.

Part of the Jesuit life is helping and educating people. By forbidding these students the right to register because of a technicality beyond their control, you are denying the students their right to education and are definitely not helping them.

I could go into the hypocrisy that dominates religious organizations here, but I’ll save that for another column. All I am asking is that Loyola revamp their scheduling procedures.

Give upperclassmen preference over freshmen. Have students register for classes when they meet with their advisor. And please, before registration begins, make sure LORA can handle the number of students who have to register.