27 yo College grad, 2.7 GPA, suing for $72k
Shindo posted this to his blog and Facebook yesterday morning and I saw it mentioned on some news sites. I don’t know why, but I’m still a little flabbergasted by it.
A recent college graduate is suing her alma mater for $72,000–the full cost of her tuition and then some–because she cannot find a job.
Story Highlights
- Monroe College graduate says career office didn’t help her with job placement
- She seeks $70,000 for tuition and $2,000 to compensate for stress
- Office shows preferential treatment to students with better grades, she says
- College says it is “committed to working with all its students”
Continuing another in the long line of frivolous lawsuits, except unlike Liebeck v. McDonald’s Restaurants and similar, the complainant wasn’t physically injured (I ain’t touching mental anguish) by the defendant. She just didn’t get what she wanted, which is usually the type of story that winds up on The Consumerist, not national news. In fact, it did! Her original filing is here, in which she misspells tuition, reimbursement and counselor.
It’s been ages since my college days, but I am fairly sure that my degree didn’t come with any promises of employment attached. In fact, from the number of High School and College alums* hitting me up on Facebook to support their new film project, business or political ambitions, I’m guessing no one else’s did either.
So far, neither her filing nor any news articles produce documentation from Monroe with wording that implies what Thompson expected. Their Office of Career Advancement does mention each student having a “Career Advisor who provides one-on-one assistance with career decision-making, resume and letter writing, and job search strategies.” To me that says assistance, not legwork and certainly not handing out a job, or even an interview on a silver platter.
The numerology of the situation is delightful. Ms. Thompson is 27 years old, achieved a 2.7 GPA and is suing for $72,000. Perhaps if she returns to school later in life, she’ll manage that 4.0 and be an employment shoe-in! Even so, let’s treat this as a life lesson. Much like the McDonald’s coffee case caused us to print “hot” warnings on coffee cups, we should now do the same for diplomas. “Warning: The diploma you’re about to enjoy implies intelligence but does not guarantee employment.”
I won’t say she’s stupid, but definitely misguided about how to get what you want in life. And starting out with this attitude can only lead to more “it’s not my fault, it’s their fault” situations. A very ugly side of entitlement, but one that’s all too present these days.
Alumna sues college because she hasn’t found a job [CNN]
* Most the high school alums are those that picked on me relentlessly, and most of the college alums are people I never even knew.
Let me assure you that even graduating from college Summa Cum Laude does not guarantee you a decent career or job. It sucks, but then that’s life.
.-= latest entry: FML =-.
@brian: I have to wonder how much experience did this woman pursue while she was in college? Did she even try to go get a gig in her field, even if she had to work for free? I could be wrong, but I have a feeling she didn’t have much of a resume. I like the warning you propose: “Warning: The diploma you’re about to enjoy implies intelligence but does not guarantee employment.” Thanks for the shout-out!
Let’s keep in mind she’ll be eligible to run for President in 8 years. She has a role model, the recently former occupant of the White House.
@kyle: It’s pretty much what you said and what Brian pointed out: Generation Entitled.
OK, can we stop perpetuating the urban myth that the McDonald’s lawsuit was frivolous? I’m not sure how being the 700+ person to sue McDonald’s for serving 190-degree coffee is still regarded as such.
.-= latest entry: bgluckman: Fascinating read about the affects of the death of cooking on our society: http://snurl.com/ooz47 =-.
Perhaps she should sue her parents for giving her unrealistic expectations and also the cafeteria at school for giving her food that inhibited her brain’s ability to think clearly and…
.-= latest entry: "I gotta be me!" –Sammy Davis, Jr. =-.
Now you see, you failed to mention that she’s sueing [sic] them. You also didn’t mention the following: “…the Office of Career Advancement Information Technology Couselor [sic] did not make sure their Monroe e-recruiting clients call the graduates that recently finished college for a [sic] interview to get a job placement [sic].”
She’s not su(e)ing because she can’t get a job. She’s suing because she can’t get a “job placement”, or even “a interview”.
If you’re going to tell the story, Brian, at least be fair about it.
.-= latest entry: Random Bits & Pieces =-.
@Kyle: Tru ‘dat.
@shindo: Ooooh, I would love to see her resume.
@Brian: I’m afraid that I cannot comply. I am well aware that the lawsuit was valid, but I first heard it without context and was only able to research it in full later. It’s stuck in my head the way it is. 😉
@lacochran: You are clearly onto something here. Since she can’t afford a lawyer, you should volunteer to be on her legal team.
@gilahi: Argh! Ya got me! I think people were trying to be too nice. Because su(e)ing a college because they didn’t find you a job just makes her sound… like an entitled dumbass! As she’s already jobless with a 2.7 GPA, we certainly wouldn’t want to add to her misery.
This is stupid on many levels including owing $70,000 for a degree from this “Monroe College.” She deserves the scorn and ridicule that hopefully she is getting in response to this lawsuit.
.-= latest entry: Happy Birthday Mr President, You Are the Champion of Our Hearts! =-.