Spring 2022

Fall 2021

Spring 2021

Fall 2020

Spring 2020

Email of the semester:

      I regret to inform you that after hours of struggle, I have resorted to
      factory resetting my laptop. I'm still recovering from losing 7 years worth
      of data and work, but regardless I would like to ask if there are any
      alternatives to testing json without ubuntu. Although it'll take me
      sometime before I have actual code to test again.

      On Tue, Apr 14, 2020 at 12:04 AM [...SNIP...] wrote:
    
          I was trying to test the json part of the code but after downloading
          ubuntu onto a usb drive and installing it from there, my laptop crashed
          and how it's repeatedly giving me "Critical_porcess_failed" and won't
          start. I have attempted to reset my laptop as well, but even factory
          resetting failed. I have no idea where to go on from here, Please help

Fall 2019

Spring 2019

Fall 2018

Email of the semester:

      ...
      To be upfront, I will go ahead and admit that I did not make use of a git
      repository while working on the project.
      ...

Spring 2018

Fall 2017

Spring 2017

Email of the semester:

Dear professor:

My name is [...SNIP...], I am currently attending your CS402 course.
At the midnight of November 30th, I got carjacked when I was driving home from school.
My computer, notebook and phone, everything, just go with it.
They hit the back of my car firstly. When the collision happened, my head was thrown
to the wheel. I was so dizzy and frustrated. Then I got out and checked it, the minivan
that hit me before driving to my left side, and one male got out, point me at the neck
with a gun. I have to let it go.

I have lost my notebook for the whole semester. I was wondering if there is an easier
way to make a compensate for my notebook. Sorry to bother you.

and here is a follow-up: 

Btw, if you are driving car to the school, please avoid driving to the area of
Bridgeport.
My roommate was together with at that time. When I got out of the car and was
pointed by a gun, he didn’t realize it. When the carjacker got into the car,
he finally begin to get out, but for too nervous, he forgot to loose his hand
from car door. He was drugged for about 5meters.

I had to let my everything go with the car. I am sorry.

Fall 2016

Spring 2016

Email of the semester:

Professor Bistriceanu,

I am so sorry that I missed the deadline, but I have been on fever for the last two weeks and I was
lieing on my bed all day without being able to do anything. I hoped that I get better before the
final week but I didn't.
I am still in line in Mercy Hospital waiting for an appointment. I have asked for Incomplete for
cs536 also.  I understand that it's very inconvenient and troublesome for you, and I'm very sorry
about that. I may not be able to continue staying in the US if I get an E. Can you please consider
about assigning me I for this course. This is really important for me. Please Professor.

Regards
[...SNIP...]

Fall 2015

Email of the semester:

Professor,

 I think the 'static' rule took me at least 15% percent of  total score, and it is really
 infrequently used in programming, you see, I know interface, abstract class etc. because
 we always use interface to programming. (In SSH, we always use reflection and XML configuration,
 and we use abstract class in anonymous classes).
 Moreover, the UML diagram in the last page is unlike something we used in real programming, too.
 So I think that is why I got a bad score.
 So, Is it possible to see my test paper? (I don't know why, I always can't get a stable score
 in exam, some times I got a very high score and some times very low, I got 95.5 in CS425
 but I got only 56 in CS401, although I studied data structure 4 years ago, I know all knowledge
 in CS401 but still can't get a high score).

[...SNIP...]

Spring 2015

Email of the semester:

Dear Professor,

I tried to send you my project in the past two weeks, but failed for times. VPN is not helpful, too.
I guess that's because Google is banned in China. So emails to Gmail are all intercepted.
So I put it on the internet.

[...SNIP...]

Fall 2014

Email of the semester:

Dear Prof. Virgil:

I am so sorry to write a long Email to disturb u.
But  I really get quite a shock ,When I saw my grades is E!

dear prof,  could u please give me some help? I have no chance to retake it, I terrified
I can not graduate if it is E.

1, For the final project.
I'm really pour too much time on this project. From the beginning of understand nothing,
to completed it by myself. I promised I have tried my best! Prof. you can check my other
materials, such as source code, my diagrams, my memo, etc. I am very regret that it can not
run correctly. But I believe it must be the bug about commands management. Because I can run
the test files without commands.

2, For the final exam.
To my surprise, I only got the lowest points(maybe Prof. have given me some bonus to 60)
and big difference from my midterm exam points. I really do know why I get the point. Because
I finished every questions, and try my best to write down my right answers. I think I have
understood some  characteristics of Java, such as encapsulation, inheritance,polymorphism.
Dear Prof Virgil, could u please help me to recheck my final exam? Thanks very much.

3, For the class.
I admit that I attended few classes. That because after experience a robber, I really
do want to go out after the night is dark. I know this is not a pretext. However I promised have
listened all the classes carefully online.

Dear Prof. Virgil, I know my bad programming background leads to my results did not reach
your expectation. I have decided to seriously practice object-oriented programming during
winter break. I believe I can improve my programming level!

Dear Prof.Virgil, I really need your help sincerely! Could u give me some help?


Thanks!
Sincerely!

Spring 2014

Fall 2013

Spring 2013

Fall 2012

Email of the semester:

Hello Professor Bistriceanu,

I am writing in regards to the unit testing requirements in the syllabus, and how
you are going to grade that. As you will see in my update for 11-12-12, I didn't
realize that unit testing was an essential part of the class, and that without it
there is no way for someone to pass the class. So this week I did a mad scramble
to try to get unit testing up and going. While I have it up and going on my local
box at home, I am not sure that I would be able to relay the steps you would need
to do get it going on yours, as there were many packages I installed, and many hoops
that I had to jump through to get it going. Therefore, I am not sure what combination
of those things I tried are required, or if I even have a comprehensive list of the
things I did. Anyway, I have it to the point that it outputs a nice set of html
documents, and I am hoping that this will be sufficient for you, as it gives explicit
detail down to the line numbers which code has been run, and which has not. If this
is not sufficient, I may want to talk to you about an incomplete if that is a possibility.

Thank you for your time,

[name removed]

Spring 2012

Email of the semester:

Dear professor.

I am really sorry for missing the project.
I know any excuses are not acceptable, but to make excuses,
First, I was overwhelmed about the project. This is my third CS major semester. I changed
my major from [name removed] 2 years ago. Compared to my experiences, the project was too big.
Second, This is my first semester in US. Those cultural differences made me depressed.
For those reasons, I missed the project.
Can you give me another chance to avoid the grade "I"?

Fall 2011

Spring 2011

Fall 2010

Spring 2010

Fall 2009

Email of the semester:

Mr. Bistriceanu,

I apologize for not being able to give my presentation on November 23rd as originally
scheduled. However, I believe I can be ready to present tonight if you would like me to.
Unfortunately, I was far too busy last week with last minute preparations for the IIT
Christmas Party to work on the Programming Assignment. If I prepare my presentation for
tonight, I won't be able to get my PA done until Wednesday. Is this acceptable to you?

Thank you for your patience, and I hope to work with you to get my assignments done
in an acceptable fashion.

Sincerely,
...

Spring 2009

Email of the semester (on why an extension is needed):

Unexpectedly I began not feeling well Sunday night and will be going under the knife today.
Unfortunately I haven't had time to finish PA-1 due to this circumstance so I was wondering
if I can hand it in next class the latest.  Sorry for any inconveniences this may have caused.

Fall 2008

Email of the semester (on why papers look strangely similar):

Professor while while working on this assignment, I had some discussion
with my friends, but I can assure you that it was just discussion. All
the work in my assignment has been completely done by me. I have even
sent you the executable that i had created to calculate the characters.
One thing that i should mention is that for calculating the time, I had
to use my friends computer which was running on Ubuntu , whereas i am
using Window Vista. In order to do so, I had to use a pen drive. I
computed the time on ubuntu and mailed you the report from that computer
and not my. Now, Professor I can't recollect did I delete that file or
not. As far as I know, I must have deleted it from that computer, but i
am not sure.

And here is another one on the exact same topic. 

Dear Virgil,
You are right in your observation. We worked on this homework
assignment together. Infact I contributed a lot to this assignment. At
the end, we got really confused as deadline approached to submit the
assignment and I did the mistake. I really apologize, this is my first
semester and being a international student, this kind of educational
system is new to me.

Spring 2008

Fall 2007

Spring 2007

Fall 2006

Spring 2006

Fall 2005

Spring 2005

Fall 2004

Spring 2004

Fall 2003

Spring 2003

Email of the semester:

Hi,

I am in ur CS470 class, section .... I have been feeling sick for the past
few days, and yesterday, the symptoms worsened, and it seems like I have
the flu.

I had tylenol, robitussin, soup, and went to sleep hoping that it will get
better in the morning. This morning, although the flu aches seem to have
gone, my throat has gone very sensitive, I am feeling extremely weak, and
my eyes are going red if I keep them open for long.

With the temperature outside being in the negative F, and I commute using
the train, I am extremely scared that going out might worsen this further.
I have more midterms this week, and I dont want to be sick for the entire
week.

I will take a nap right now, and wake up around 2-3pm, hoping that it will
get better so that I can attend the exam. Hopefully I can, but if not, please
provide me an alternative.

If you want, since the exam is open book, you can email me the exam at 6.25
and I can give it from home. Although my eyes are hurting after staring
at the screen for a few minutes, I can keep washing them to finish the exam.

Please help,
Sincerely
...

and here is the follow-up: 

Hi,

When I woke up at 3 on Monday, I could not even sit up without my head spinning.
I got a friend to drive me to the IIT doctor on Tuesday.
I was feeling a bit better then, and compared to Monday, I felt as if I
dont have any fever. However, the doctor measured one of 102.7 degrees.
He diagnosed a bacterial disease in my ear-nose-throat area, and prescribed
me high doses of penicillin and tylenol, with complete bedrest, as I had
become very weak.

The doctor and nurse also gave me a note saying that I can be excused for
missing classes from 10th till the 13th. (monday-thursday).

Please tell me when I can take the makeup exam.

Sincerely,
...

Fall 2002

Spring 2002

Email of the semester:

sub:Late project submission

Respected Sir,

My name is ....., and i am in your cs-330 class. I have already turned
my project to TA, last week.  The project due was on wednesday, but on that
week on monday, i suddenly had to go Atlanta for business matter and I went
back on next week monday.  So i couldn't submitte my program on time.
I have did my project before one week before due date, and i have proof
of that.
I have sent my project to my friend for help in some error was coming.
And he fix the error and he has sent me back the project by email.  And
i have saved that email with the date he has sent me, which shows that i
have done that project before due date.

I have just one request that please accept my project atleast on time instead
of late. This project points can really change my grade.

Thank you very much for reading my email.
I will wait for your reply, sir.
...

Fall 2001

Spring 2001

Fall 2000

Spring 2000

Fall 1999

Spring 1999

Fall 1998

Spring 1998

Fall 1997

Summer 1997

Email of the semester:

Subject: Urgent!!

I am your student in Cs450. My name is ........... I have a hemorrhoid
bleeding and bladder infection. Yesterday Morning, I was urinating with
fresh blood. Thus, I could not sit for two hour for final exam. today.
Because when I sit, the pressure on my hemorrhoid and bladder will so
painful!!

Please response. Thank you.
...

Spring 1997

Fall 1996

Email of the semester:

Dear Prof. Virgil:
 I've the honor to stat that in your solution you've at least one
clear mistake (I should rather say "typo").
....
Sincerely,
...

Spring 1996

Email of the semester:

Hello Mr. Virgil:
I am in a big problem. I couldn't able to take the cs470 exam because I
overslept. I don't know how it happen but I am now in a state of tension.
If you permit I can come for the exam tomorrow morning as early as possible.
I hope you understand.
Sincerely,
...

Fall 1995

Virgil Bistriceanu Computer Science