Good fight: 0, Despair: 1

Me: Professor, I think that if I am really going to make a difference, I should take a class in public policy, so that I can understand how policy making in this country works.
Teacher's College Professor: Ha ha ha. You are so naïve, it's adorable! But being in a room with a bunch of future lawyers and politicians will be a sufficiently depressing learning experience for you, so go for it.

Later...

Me: Sorry that I won't be able to take your class next semester. I am going to try to take a public policy class, so that I could understand how acts such as the NCLB get passed.
Engineering Professor: What's the NCLB? Is that like the NCSA?

Even later...

Me: Hello, I would like to see a syllabus for your class. I am interested in learning how the legal system works, so that I can be effective in public school reform.
Law School Professor: Uh. I'm rich. Why do you think that I care about, what did you call them, public schools? And what tree-hugging department are you from, by the way?

And still, later...

Me: Hello, I think that I'd like to take your class. I would like to learn how federal legislature, such as the current administration's NCLB Act, could be passed, since its didactic approach completely disregards one hundred years of research, going all the way back to John Dewey.
SIPA Professor: What are you talking about? The NCLB is a huge triumph! Bi-partisan support! Unanimous consent! I use it as an example of a public policy success story!

And finally...

Me: I am bummed.
Engineering Professor: I am teaching "Advanced Methods in Monte Carlo Simulation" next semester. You know, nothing does the trick like some Monte Carlo simulation when you are feeling depressed.

Sigh.