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sugaree
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« on: October 16, 2007, 10:54:35 AM » |
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I'm a long time lurker to the forums and appreciate the sage advice (and sometimes snark) that regularly appear, so I thought I might avail myself of your collective wisdom. I am in my 3rd year on the tt and have tried to do everything "correct" in terms of good teaching, maintaining a research agenda, service, collegiality, etc. My school is currently celebrating an anniversary and has all sorts of events planned. One of them is a fancy dinner; this is the type of thing that I assumed I should go to, so I dutifully bought a ticket and now I have come to find out that I am the ONLY young-ish (read: non-tt) faculty going. There are some staff members going whom I enjoy spending time with, so it would not be such a hardship to go and have dinner with them, but here's the thing: the Dean has kind of weird ideas about faculty/staff relationships. S/he is not opposed to them or anything, but thinks that faculty should not be overly friendly with staff (for whatever class-based reason). So here's my question - should I go and commit to the "face time" of being at this event, or would being there with staff members (rather than older faculty who I have just no interest in hanging out with beyond being pleasant and saying hello - and to be fair, they have their own little clique of 'remember way back when at the college...' conversations that are not terribly interesting to me anymore as I've already learned all the good gossip!) actually not be a good thing for my case as a college community member? The whiny part of me does not want to go and I resent my non-tt colleagues for choosing not to go! But the responsible part of me questions what is the right move here?
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where's the bourbon?
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satanicmechanic
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« Reply #1 on: October 16, 2007, 11:25:02 AM » |
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Look, if you don't go and hang out with the staff with whom you are friendly you are reproducing the gross class heirarchies gently imposed by your Dean. You will not be denied tenure for socializing with faculty, but you will be participating in perpetuating the classism at your school if you do not attend simply because you don't want to be seen talking with staff.
Like I said, you won't be denied tenure or be otherwise punished for such a thing.
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exileinsc
New member
Posts: 19
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« Reply #2 on: October 16, 2007, 03:43:50 PM » |
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Go, but circulate. Sometimes, you may find that some of your older faculty are just looking for a chance to shine a little. If this doesn't happen, at least you get a decent meal and you can spend some time with your friends.
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larryc
Hu hatin'
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 18,285
Eschew the hu.
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« Reply #3 on: October 16, 2007, 04:42:11 PM » |
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Go, and share the sunshine of your personality with as many people as possible.
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marlborough
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« Reply #4 on: October 16, 2007, 10:17:31 PM » |
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And you've never really learned all the good gossip...
Get dressed up, go socialize with the senior people in a formal, chaperoned way (much easier than more casual events), get your picture in the school's anniversary brochure and play nice (you already bought a ticket!)
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expatinuk
Has spent over 1000 pounds but now holds a Brit passport!
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 6,653
From SC living in UK
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« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2007, 04:50:26 AM » |
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I think that your fellow non tenured colleages have lost their minds in not attending this event.
Go, talk to a lot of different people. And enjoy.
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Expatinuk seems to be a Soviet Satellite in stationary orbit over the UK
It is what it is.
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sugaree
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« Reply #6 on: October 27, 2007, 12:13:25 PM » |
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Thanks all for the advice. I went to said fancy dinner last night and "mingled," though I sat with staff friends for the meal. It was a 15 hour day for me, but not a bad way to spend a Friday evening. It was fun to see "classic" pictures of the college from back in the day (slideshow/speech for the entertainment). The Dean was thrilled I was there, too.
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where's the bourbon?
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larryc
Hu hatin'
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 18,285
Eschew the hu.
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« Reply #7 on: October 27, 2007, 02:34:58 PM » |
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The Dean was thrilled I was there, too.
Score! Glad it worked out for you. |
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august_leo
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« Reply #8 on: October 30, 2007, 02:38:52 PM » |
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Nice happy ending!
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Your environment sounds vaguely toxic. Or maybe just characteristically British.
I heart august_leo.
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