The gossip and snarky comments that were omnipresent in graduate school only get worse the longer you are in academics. It's exhausting trying to stay neutral when everyone is trying to drag you to their side.
Is there a delicate way to remove oneself from work politics?
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Flipping out?
If you haven't heard, Dr. Amy Bishop (for some reason it's really important to mention that she went the Harvard) is accused of killing three fellow biology faculty and wounding three other faculty/staff. Reports coming in claim that she went off after finding out that she had lost her appeal for tenure (after already being denied).
Holy crap.
I'm not really sure how to process this.
At LargeU, several faculty were denied tenure during my time as a graduate student. All went slightly nuts. One stopped teaching class completely, leaving their TA scrambling to fill in during lecture. Another went on tirades during the Q&A portion of seminars.
But I never thought it would get violent.
With several of my collegues coming up for tenure in the coming months, this recent incident is starting to hit a little close to home.
Holy crap.
I'm not really sure how to process this.
At LargeU, several faculty were denied tenure during my time as a graduate student. All went slightly nuts. One stopped teaching class completely, leaving their TA scrambling to fill in during lecture. Another went on tirades during the Q&A portion of seminars.
But I never thought it would get violent.
With several of my collegues coming up for tenure in the coming months, this recent incident is starting to hit a little close to home.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Teaching under the influence?
There is perhaps nothing more entertaining to students than a professor teaching under the influence of lots of cold medication.
Yes, folks, I decided (by this I mean that my germy students decided..) to welcome February in with one heck of a flu case. Buckets of hand sanitizer have been evaporated. It's possible that I'm now addicted to pseudoephedrine. My nose is puffy, red, and shredded.
My lectures were...interesting...this past week. Students actually didn't catch on that I was sick until Thursday. One student commented that they all were placing bets on how much coffee I had consumed pre-lecture. (aw, how sweet).
I have certainly lectured in a worse state. There was the time I gave a lecture, only to realize later that I had a fever of 103 F. The week that I guest lectured during an allergic reaction (one that made it impossible for me to keep any food or liquid down) was particularly memorable for me.
Obviously, none of us want to infect our students. But sometimes, you just have to suck it up and get through the 60 minutes.
What's the worst state that you've been in during lecture?
Yes, folks, I decided (by this I mean that my germy students decided..) to welcome February in with one heck of a flu case. Buckets of hand sanitizer have been evaporated. It's possible that I'm now addicted to pseudoephedrine. My nose is puffy, red, and shredded.
My lectures were...interesting...this past week. Students actually didn't catch on that I was sick until Thursday. One student commented that they all were placing bets on how much coffee I had consumed pre-lecture. (aw, how sweet).
I have certainly lectured in a worse state. There was the time I gave a lecture, only to realize later that I had a fever of 103 F. The week that I guest lectured during an allergic reaction (one that made it impossible for me to keep any food or liquid down) was particularly memorable for me.
Obviously, none of us want to infect our students. But sometimes, you just have to suck it up and get through the 60 minutes.
What's the worst state that you've been in during lecture?
Sunday, January 31, 2010
TV downsizing
I'm not ashamed of my love of (bad) TV. I didn't get cable until well into grad school. I didn't own my own TV until I became a professor. I'm an adult; I can watch reality TV if I want.
Lately, I've been thinking about rearranging my cable package.
If you could only have one channel, which one would it be?
Lately, I've been thinking about rearranging my cable package.
If you could only have one channel, which one would it be?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
List of Weekend Wants
Things I would like to happen by the end of the weekend (in no particular order):
1. sleep. SLEEP. sleeeeeep!
2. Catch up on my grading.
3. Think about research. Or not.
4. Write 23049803 reference letters. (Anyone else think that writing reference letters can really be teh suck?)
5. Get groceries. (Not that I mind PB sandwiches for lunch and dinner....)
As you can see, it's going to be a VERY exciting weekend.
1. sleep. SLEEP. sleeeeeep!
2. Catch up on my grading.
3. Think about research. Or not.
4. Write 23049803 reference letters. (Anyone else think that writing reference letters can really be teh suck?)
5. Get groceries. (Not that I mind PB sandwiches for lunch and dinner....)
As you can see, it's going to be a VERY exciting weekend.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Hostile students
Ever had a student so obviously hate you that it's distracting during lecture?
Generally, my students like me and tolerate my class. Every now and then, I encounter a student who doesn't mesh with me and my teaching style. I currently have a precious, little snowflake who doesn't like my class. He pouts. He glares. He clearly can't stand my very presence in the classroom.
What to do?
At first the evil looks gave me pause. Now I just smile sweetly and move through the lecture. Until it distracts someone else other than me, I'm not going to say anything. You can't reach every student, and there will always be ones who don't like you. All I can do is hope the snowflakes don't band together and create a classroom avalanche.
Generally, my students like me and tolerate my class. Every now and then, I encounter a student who doesn't mesh with me and my teaching style. I currently have a precious, little snowflake who doesn't like my class. He pouts. He glares. He clearly can't stand my very presence in the classroom.
What to do?
At first the evil looks gave me pause. Now I just smile sweetly and move through the lecture. Until it distracts someone else other than me, I'm not going to say anything. You can't reach every student, and there will always be ones who don't like you. All I can do is hope the snowflakes don't band together and create a classroom avalanche.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Is a degree just a degree?
Does it matter where you get your PhD?
Some of my colleagues only want to interview candidates from top-10 PhD programs. Others (I guess the ones who didn't go to top-10 PhD programs...) don't think that the ranking of the PhD program matters.
I'm not really sure what to think.
Is the degree snobbery valid?
Some of my colleagues only want to interview candidates from top-10 PhD programs. Others (I guess the ones who didn't go to top-10 PhD programs...) don't think that the ranking of the PhD program matters.
I'm not really sure what to think.
Is the degree snobbery valid?
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