If I haven’t written here as much lately, perhaps it’s because I feel constrained from public discussion of many of the topics which are currently preoccupying me.
- There’s an election coming up, and I’ve got opinions, but I’m afraid to express them. Whoever wins, FOLC will have to work with them. It won’t help FOLC’s cause if the president (me) makes public pronouncements on one side or the other. Whoever gets elected can wield considerable influence for (or against) the greenway project. Therefore it seems most wise to keep my mouth shut.
- Speaking of the greenway, we’ve been having some frustrations there as well. It’s related to the mess outlined by the American Zombie. FOLC has sent a letter to the administration and continues to try to get a meeting. There’s plenty more to say, but discretion seems advisable at this juncture.
- On a more personal level, there’s been some unfortunate infighting amongst my co-workers. Not in my unit, happily, but close enough to impinge on me. It’s actually been fascinating, in a sad way, to see all this unfold, but I’ll be damned if I write about it. That could only serve to embarrass those persons involved, and possibly my employer. I resolved long ago not to embarrass my employer in my writings here. That’s in fact why I never mention my employer by name, and just refer to “the University.” I like my job too much to play it any other way.
- By the same token, I’m not going to write about Xy’s discontent with her work environment, except to say it’s bad. Real bad. Leaving the interpersonal differences and administrative challenges aside, she’s sick of the hours. So am I. She’s tired of working a ten hour day and then having a couple hours of homework per night. She feels she’s missing out on her daughter growing up. So she may well be looking for another line of work come fall.
If no one read this blog, I could sound off on any topic with impunity. If I had a huge readership, I could perhaps wield some influence through my writings. As it stands, I’m in that broad middle zone where I get just enough attention to constrain but not enough to liberate.
And of course what’s going on in Haiti right now makes all this seem rather trivial, but I don’t have anything insightful to add about that either.
So I just don’t have anything to say right now. Sorry.
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I feel the same way, much of the time B. If I felt I could, I would ramble on forever about the issues my wife has faced with “the university” as well, especially “the school within the university.” But we’ll just keep it all to ourselves. Thanks for your help with the header. I had a friend at TS get me the rest of the way, the issue was a “padding” issue. There was a 1 where there should have been a 0.
As I am part of the audience that makes you big enough to be constrained, and enjoy your writings and thoughts on the travails, a couple suggestions. Free advice and worth the price.
Consider digging in the archives in the meanwhile and recycling some old material, updating it. AND as a refugee of the school and university (sort of) system, I feel your pain, but document somewhere. I’d kill to go back to the fresh angst of some of the low drama I experienced. Some of the tales can be creatively reframed as well. From Shrinkwrapped an example
The parable of the Frog and the Scorpion is familiar to most of us. A scorpion begs a frog to carry it across a river:
Halfway across the river, the frog suddenly felt a sharp sting in his back and, out of the corner of his eye, saw the scorpion remove his stinger from the frog’s back. A deadening numbness began to creep into his limbs.
“You fool!” croaked the frog, “Now we shall both die! Why on earth did you do that?”
The scorpion shrugged, and did a little jig on the drownings frog’s back.
“I could not help myself. It is my nature.”
Then they both sank into the muddy waters of the swiftly flowing river.
All good calls. I’ll def be here when you resume.
Hey B.
I am watching right now on the UCTV network, which I get on Dish Network…
There is a new documentary called “Dos Americas in New Orleans”,
and it is airing several more times over the week.
Y’all MUST get it, TiVo it, make tapes, and bring forth discussion.
This is the Southwesterner, former (Los)Angeleno, and current New Mexico squatter typing to you and your Nawlins Intelligentsia…
You DEFINITELY want to Know and Share about this stuff.
It is the Federally-enforced Mexicanization of your territory.
Please consider getting your associates to Have Viewing Parties and make copies.
UCTV—-“Dos Americas in New Orleans”
[…] a little shy this time around about voicing my own opinion, but others are not so afflicted. Here’s a […]