THE meeting

Well, we did survive, but Colleague and I were pretty pissed with the outcome of the meeting, for which we worked soooo hard. Chair does not want to hear us nor our reasons. The Commitee has already made its decisions in advance. We arrived with a very strong document, they said no for stupid reasons and got into an impasse. For now we at 0-0. No score has been made. There is still a Departmental meeting in which decisions will be voted and could be overturned. (I am sorry I can't give you more details).

To my personal point of view it does not look good. I don't know what can be done but I don't think we'll get anywhere. And in my experience with Stubborn Administration, you have to fight it when the momentum is there (what we are doing now) but if decisions are not overturned quickly, there is no hope. Fight when you can and if it does not go anywhere, move forward. Think at the future, go ahead, let them stay in their little dark hole.

Last year I have seen a friend of mine in a very similar position lose her health over her case and I am NOT next. I am so not next that I am considering my options. I mentioned Toxic U. June is the month when I will know what courses will be available. I'll have a look and then I will decide. If decisions won't be overturned, I will have two options:

a) stay an additional year and then find something else = a lot of work, a lot of teaching, little time and a lot of stress

b) go adjuncting at Toxic U = more time, more research and better life quality

Guess which one I will pick? But because it is still early, I am not making a decision right now.

The irony of it all: Chair sent me right after the meeting a note from Dean who received a message from an ex-student of mine in whiche Stu was telling what an amazing professor I was. Chair even congratulated me........ I cound't help it but answering that, yes, it was great, but receiving this message was as surprising as it was ... ironic (the same day in which they want to cut my position, is ironic, or what?). It just reminded me of Morrisette's song. I had it in my haed all day long....