I think one of the things that alarms me these last few years is how many students have brought in legal excuses for missing class. I've had a female student who missed class because she was getting a restraining order against a stalker, and another who had to miss several classes due to an allegation of sexual assault. I've had students bring in documentation of criminal court appearances. But today, I think, took the cake.

I had two student presentations scheduled today. Although I tried to break the groups up evenly, I ended up with one group of students who were mainly absent. This group was scheduled to present today. Now not only did I give the groups a week extension, I made it clear that there were to be no cancellations. You simply HAD to go on the day you were scheduled.

Last night at a 11, I get an email from one of the group members saying, "The rest of the group is MIA. I haven't been able to get in contact. Can I present on my own on Friday?" I didn't receive the email till this morning. I sent him an email saying that 10 hours isn't enough of a heads up for me to deal with this kind of issue esp. since I didn't actually read the email until 8:45 twenty min. before class begins. He should have contacted me sooner as a result his entire team, which failed to show up ALL OF THEM, would receive a failing grade.

Later today I get an email from this same student explaining that he understands my point of view and asking to schedule an appt to discuss his grade. All well and good. Oh and about missing today's class? He intended to show up BUT HIS ROOMMATE GOT ARRESTED ON THE WAY TO CLASS. OK, well, that's bad, but the worst is the end in which the student assures me that I'll see it on the news!

Great just what I need a celebrity inmate student.