Is OTHER wrong in the post ? POST : I have been with the same cohort of graduate students for 3 years. This is our last semester and we should in my opinion be cruising to the finish line. This semester we are taking a course together that runs from 9am to 3:30pm because of our professors wishes not to meet on separate days.

Starting last semester my colleagues and I have noticed aggression from one of our colleagues. They aren't physically harming us but their comments are combative and are accompanied by a noticeable frustration and hostility. Several times now the class environment has degraded from an amicable exchange of ideas to an outright argument.

During our last meeting this individual directed his venom at me. I tried different tactics to avoid escalation but I ended go having to walk out of the classroom. I tried diffusing with jokes, with silence, with agreeableness but the professot insisted on continuing an uncomfortable exchange. After I left 2 out of the students in class sent me texts acknowledging the situation asking if I was ok and noting how intense the exchange had become.

I have 3 emails which I have sent to my professor and she is aware of the students rude /foul behavior. She has promised me she will intervene next time but never actually does.

It has gotten so bad that 4 of us have requested we change the format of the class from a seminar style to individual meetings with our professor.

Our professor has denied our requests and has emailed us telling us she will absolutely not intervene in any discussions/arguments and that she refuses to change the format. We are all uncomfortable and the class has become tedious and dreadful. She has told us this is a character building process.

I have considered filing a formal complaint but am worried about the academic repercussions.

I refuse to argue with the hostile person for several reasons. I dont think it's healthy. I suffer from anxiety and do not fare well in combative situations. I am comfortable discussing and defending my position but this person raises their voice, has told me to be quiet and wait my turn to speak, gets visibly angry, and will not be reasoned with. I am not sure what is expected from me.

AITA?

TL:DR - there is an asshole getting hostile in our class and our professor is validating their behavior by taking a hands off approach. I am thinking of filing formal complaints.


UPDATE: My colleagues met outside of class and thought up some strategies to controlling the dialog going forwards. We will not tolerate yelling, screaming, or disrespectful behavior by basically shutting the class down. 

I confronted the rude student in person and that seemed to work well, they were no where near as aggressive when alone. This makes me believe the behavior is some sort of insecurity and not actual aggression. 

The professor should be prepared for some rather harsh end of term reviews. 