They expect you to ask, they say no, then you say "oh, ok, that sucks. But alright!" As if the situation was like I asked for chocolate cake and you bought me vanilla on my birthday and told me tough shit. Some inconsequential menial thing.

Those in power don't like it when people have principles and they really really hate it when people insist on living by those principles and implementing those principles into society as a whole. You can only believe in the almighty dollar in America and any belief otherwise, such as "I would like to make dollar without killing babies," is unacceptable. They are allowed to force the belief that killing babies is fine in pursuit of dollar though.

Sorry for putting it into such redundant and reductive terms. It helps me though to remember that these people, capitalists and all their little subsidiaries down to the board members at universities, never actually engage in discussions with those outside of their capitalist bubble. The answer is already decided the moment you asked and nothing but force will make that change.