Subject Line: Special Consideration for Time Difference

Seavey van Walsum

Hello Professor,

I noticed on Quercus you posted the due date for Essay Number 3 as April 2nd. I was wondering if there is a way to change this to accommodate my time zone?

I look forward to your email!

S

he/they

__________

Dear S,

The University recognises that online schooling in these unprecedented times is exceptionally difficult for students in different time zones, so we are offering extensions for those in foreign countries. The essay is due April 2nd at 11:59 EST, however, you can find the timetable with a proportionate extension for each time zone on the class website. Please communicate this with your TA.

Saheem

they/them

_________

Hi Professor!

Thank you for the resource, I won’t be able to use it though!

I was actually directed to talk to you by my TA since my case is unusual.

I am an online international student but I’m in the testing program for inter-galactic students. They are still working out the appropriate coding, but the servers are allowing “instantaneous” online connection between galaxies. Cool, right! (It’s not actually instantaneous though, there’s a delay) I’m doing online school from the M81 group, which is 12 million light years from Earth.

I was also asking about the deadline since I genuinely have no idea what date it would be for me. All the Best,

S

he/they

_____

Dear S,

That is an exceptional case. I thought that program was cancelled back in 1989, but it seems whatever delay between 1989 and 4000 P.A. has allowed the Colonies to arrange for it. Of course, the university is willing to adapt for its students.

I will forward your email to the Physics & Space Department head at the University to see if we can work out a solution.

Thanks,

Saheem

they/them

_____

Greetings Saheem and S,

I am delighted to be part of this conversation!

S’s case is indeed unusual since most of our inter-space students are from Mars or the Andromeda Galaxy. Universities across Earth are working out a system of uniform multiversal time at the moment, but they’ve been at it for the past few Earth years so I wouldn’t hold my breath. The autonomous planets refuse to use the position of Sol (Earth’s illuminating star) as a baseline, saying they won’t alter themselves for their once-coloniser. Which is a bit annoying, since we know the most about the Milky Way out of any other galaxy.

For the moment there’s nothing concrete in place, so it looks like we’ll work on a case-by-case basis. I presented the issue to my grad students, two of whom are from Mars. One of my Martian students (Is that how the correct term nowadays? I know the past connotations are negative, but my students self-identify with that term) has an auntcle bordering the M81 cluster and says that certain planets are trying to perform mass-altering maneuvers to have an experience of time similar to Earth’s and better stimulate internet-trading. I am not optimistic about this either, given the length of time construction projects usually take. I also know nothing about the tech they have out there.

S, I’m not sure what planet you are on in the M81 group, but have you considered transferring to a university closer to you? As I understand it, the four Earth years it takes to complete undergrad would age you a significant number of body-years to the point where you are geriatric. (Assuming you’re human and your planet has artificial gravity)

My best advice at the moment is that you use Sol’s position as a baseline (you can find the specific ‘time’/position linked on this live website), or that S transfers universities.

Sincerely,

G. Ryou-Moon, PhD

Head of Physics and Space Department

no pronouns

____

Hello Dr. Ryou-Moon and Professor Saheem,

Sol as a baseline is fine.

I appreciate your concern Dr. Ryou-Moon, however, I am committed to attending this Earth university for private reasons. Your concern about my age is unwarranted, as was your assumption about my race. One of my parents is an E.T.P. (Extra-terrestrial Person) so I age slower and process time at a different rate.

Please do not press about the biology of my body, even for science. It’s been done enough, and I pay enough international fees to expect basic respect. Thank you! S they/him P.S. Professor Saheem, the planets are no longer colonies and don’t really appreciate being called that. There are thousands of preferred terms, so I can’t give you a basic one.

_____

Dear S,

Thank you for your email, I was not aware. I don’t believe Dr. Ryou-Moon meant anything negative, either. I appreciate your gracious spirit in pointing this out with gentleness.

Perhaps you would like to be a professor one day.

The deadline is in 13 Sol days, please note there will be a difference between the position of Sol’s axis and equator. I have copied your TA, Zahavah, on this.

Saheem Dhanial, PhD

they/them

____

Hi Professor Dhanial, S (or Ṣ̶) and Doctor Genk Ryou-Moon!

I’m Zahavah, a PhD candidate working with Professor Dhanial at this time!

I want to add what Ṣ̶ was saying about preferred terms.

Martian is the preferred term! I myself am a Martian-Earther and an active member of the Martian Liberation movement, and Step 1 is destigmatizing terms the colonizers perverted! :)

I’m happy we can all be working constructively on this unprecedented project! In related news, Ṣ̶ and I think we have enough ideas for a book the university may be interested in publishing! The topic is on Time-politics and Internet-trading among the student body!

Obviously, we’ll narrow it down as we go, but we’d like to set up a meeting first.

Best!

Zahavah

Spivak pronouns: ey/em/eirs

__________

Hello all!

I’m happy to see ey got added to the email chain!!

I think a meeting’s a good idea, but the issue of time comes up again. :(

If we move forward, I think it would be most beneficial to be at least within the same galaxy!

The University Press has expressed interest in publishing. I think both Zahavah and I would like Professor Saheem Dhanial to oversee the project, does that sound ok?

All the best!

Ṣ̶,

he/they

Hello S (S̸? Is that preferred?) and Zahavah,

I’d be pleased to oversee the project. Unfortunately, the earliest we can start is next fall. (S̸̱, See link to Sol time)

I can’t speak to what the university is willing to endorse in terms of travel, but I advise you to reach out to the Bursar’s office.

Best,

Saheem Dhanial, PhD

they/them

Sent from my iPhone

______

Hi Professor Dhanial and Ṣ,

I sent an application for funds already. The decision will be here shortly!

All the best!

Zahavah, PhD Candidate

Spivak pronouns: ey/em/eirs

P.S. Ṣ̶, is an example of the pidgin language in the autonomous planets. It endures today as a legally unrecognised language.

_________

Greetings Saheem,

You must be very proud of your students!

Zahavah and S, specifically. I am honoured to be a part of the diverse student body and faculty of this university, as well as the rich intellectual community the institution curates. I am willing to acknowledge that S and Zahavah are a part of that. For the comfort of my students, I consistently accommodate all preferences and orientations with an exhaustive amount of tolerance.

However, sometimes this is still not considered enough for certain individuals. For example, my remarks were misinterpreted into a significantly more “bigoted” way by your students. So I felt that I should remind you that if you collaborate with them your position is vulnerable. I myself am not bothered by their accusations, because I know they are reactive and false, but it is apparent any particular action might feed the victimisation narrative your students have.

At the very least, I suggest you do not research with two people from colonized planets, since their sense of victimhood feeds off one another. Evidently, S and Zahavah already seem to have their own, predetermined, separate goal. I advise you to replace one of them with a native Earther.

Students are free to live their lifestyle, but sometimes that lifestyle comes at the unfair cost of good professors.

Sincerely,

G. Ryou-Moon, PhD

Head of Physics and Space Department

no pronouns

_______

Hi Genk,

I appreciate your thoughts.

Whatever relationship of “feeding off each other” they have yields results.

I’ll manage,

Saheem

Sent from my iPhone

______

Hello Professor Dhanial and Ṣ̶,

The University approved Ṣ̶, for enough funds to reach a galaxy 2 million light years away from Earth!!!!!

There’s a printing station closer, but I’m afraid the signal might not reach from the M81 groups. Studies show that when we try to reprint on a weak signal there are aberrations.

All the best!

Zahavah!

ey/em

__________

Zahavah,

Is it possible to reach the closer station? At the rate you age we may not be able to finish our research by the time I get there.

S

S

You might not be the same on the other side. It’s not a risk I’m comfortable with bearing the responsibility of. Best, Zahavah ____________

Dear Zahavah,

How old will you and the professor be by the time I get printed there, and reprinted closer, then reprinted again on Earth? You might be dead by then. Won’t the many reprints change me enough anyways? Please rethink the plans,

S

No. Please think of how I’d feel, writing up the plans

Th̸̨̛er̶̩͗e’̴s̶ ̶̨̛n̶̓ǒ ̶̨̂g̖̎ú̴a͂r̵̈́anṱ̸͂ḛ́ͅȅ̵̃ ̱̉̍ỳ̍ő̶ư̴’̶̗̈́d̵ ̴ê̸v̸e̴n̸͂ ̸̦̃̀k̸̓̅ͅn̄o̵̥̲w͂ ̶ẘ̵h̵o Ḭ ̴ấ̵ṃ́ö̶̧n̸c̵̥ẹ̴y̶̨ö̵u̴g̵e̶̴ r̸ep̵ͅř̵í̸̮ṇ̴̋̀ţȅ̴d long ranget̴.

Zahavah

Ṣ̶ Of course I’d still know who you are. How could you even say that?

If you want it done, I won’t be the one to do it.

________

Hello Doctor Rhyou-Moon!

My name is S, I believe we conversed a few Earth months ago. I contacted you because I received funding to travel to Earth, but due to the rate my colleagues age, I require access to long-range reprinting. You have the authority to rewrite the plans. I’ve attached the current travel docs, but I was hoping you’d be able to reschedule the ticket to this station.

I am aware of the possible and likely complications, and I’ve signed a liability contract. (See attached)

Best,

S

Greetings S,

I’d be pleased to reschedule this for you, and because of my interest in this project, I will personally pay the difference.

In return, I ask that you please record the effects of this long-range print.

I’m interested to see what happens to you.

Sincerely,

G. Rhyou-Moon, PhD

Head of Physics and Space Department

No pronouns

_________

S,

THIS IS AN AUTOMATED MESSAGE. DO NOT RESPOND.

A change has been made to your ticket under the authorization of Doctor Genk Rhyou-Moon.

See the revised copy attached.

Zahavah,

Ỉ ́w̃í̵̭ͅļ̶̈̄̒̄l̶ ̵b̴̦̉̈́̓̎̋̓́ͅe ̂ͅŵ͗́ḯ̴̧̧̖t̶̥ĥ ̸y̴ͅȏͅų ̴́̀̌̌͂̄ͅs̸ô̶̦̯̮̩̮ơ̸̥ͅͅn,̶ ̶̧̌m̶̧y ̵̧̹st̍̒ą̥̩̩̊̀ͅr̴̛̤p2

Ṣ

_________

Sr̵̨̛ͅ,̴̨̎ͅ

w̸̓h̴aţ̵ ̵̩h̴ȃ̵̋ͅv̸èͅͅ ̴ȳ̸ǫ̶̱u ̴̧ͅd̶̊̓̌̍ó̸̧ṋ̶̱̗̃̎̏̅͂̉̉ͅế̸̛?