What Did Students Say about Geoffrey Gresk?

by The Third Eye

Photo Courtesy of Google

Mr. Geoffrey Gresk, a teacher and Assistant Dean of Academic Integrity, was under The Third Eye Evaluation Page for about two weeks. His fellow students and friends at The American University of Iraq, Sulaimani said different things, mostly anonymously, about Mr. Gresk.

In addition, many students inboxed The Third Eye and expressed their feelings about Mr. Gresk. Surprisingly, when the Third Eye asked them to put their feelings on the post in the blog article, all of them said they were afraid of doing that as the university might know about them and they would face troubles by the university and particularly Mr. Gresk’s office. However, they asked The Third Eye to anonymously publish some of their words.

It is worth mentioning that The Third Eye would like to publish some of those inboxes and comments again not because it has personal issues with Mr. Gresk, but to have everyone understand how students feel about the way they are treated at AUIS. Moreover, as The Third Eye is established to deliver the different voices of the students, we want to keep our promise and do whatever we can to help the students feel good at AUIS.

Several students stated that Mr. Gresk is mean and disrespectful toward them and said, “He is always tired of every student. You can always see a question mark on his face saying, who are these people?”

“Oh Mr.[…], I did not know that you are special and I should treat you differently. Come back with the same GPA and I will sign this form for you” said Mr. Gresk to a student sarcastically and trying to make fun of him, in a response of a very simple request the student had, adding him to his class, as the student claimed. 

“I went to his office once to claim about a professor who had personal issues with me,” said a student. “Mr. Geoff almost kicked my ass and very offensively asked me to leave his office.”

Another student said that Mr. Gresk’s sarcasm drove her crazy anytime she visited his office.

“I went to Mr. Geoff’s office several times,” she said. “He was always trying to be sarcastic and funny even I was trying to talk to him about a serious issue. He didn’t mean to be friendly with me, but he wanted to make fun of me and tell me that I was a lazy student and I should never go back to his office again.”

Some other students accused Mr. Gresk for always taking professors sides and being helpless toward students even if students were right about what they were claiming about.

“[Mr. Gresk] is there to side with faculty members and accuse students for any issue that comes up.” A student commented.  

At the same time, some professors and a student positively commented about Mr. Gresk.

“Geoff is a fine fellow,” said Dr. Fernald an ex-professor at AUIS. “He was among my favorite people when I was briefly on the faculty at AUIS. Despite the reputation that he had among some students when I was there, he is principled, generous, and even kind in a position that would tempt a lesser man to act beyond proper measure. AUIS is very lucky indeed to have him.”

Another student, who claimed to even have strikes by Mr. Gresk, described Mr. Gresk as a fine and fair person at AUIS.

“To be honest, Geoff is a very fine teacher and man,” said a student. “He is fair and intelligent. Yes, people, he is fair. For every student who complains about him, he is doing his job. Put yourself in his shoes. Plus, he is very polite and respectful; he is always there to help students.”

The Third Eye, based on the comments and inbox messages it received, would like to tell Mr. Gresk that he truly needs to change the way he has acted toward the students so far. Yes, his position might have effects on the students to not love him so much as he deals with academic integrity and policies that might not satisfy some students. However, those students who have been affected by such policies can be counted with the fingers of one hand. Most AUIS students welcome those policies and encourage the university to make them even harder. So, the question is not about the policies but about the way Mr. Gresk behaves toward the students. He can easily implement those policies and rules, but he also can be friendly and respectful toward the students.

Together toward a better and more comfortable environment inside AUIS!

Evaluate Christopher Edwards, APP Instructor, is coming soon…

Christopher Edwards
Photo courtesy of AUIS Facebook Page