next »

[dutchie22]

I'm new to the tt and have a question about "playing it safe" vs. "not ganging up" on someone.

My new dept has a long history of being a "problem" with fights and divisions. Its a reputation that is known outside of the U and well known inside.  The latest chair's been super friendly to me and the other new hire and given us important (but light on daily duties) service positions to get new blood helping to make the decisions.

My question is about an advanced asst prof. When on my interview, the now chair really slagged on that adv. asst prof. What a b*tch she was, that they were a tight group and socialized but that they excluded her and that she was hired during his first tenured year and he and the other junior people then wanted someone else.   I am in a related lit field and a couple of people I knew from conferences were stunned to hear this when they told me to get to know her as they know her from grad school or prof organizations and they think highly of her nearly published book and think she is "great" personally---really outgoing and "fun." It was confusing but I figured the people who saw her daily *now* knew her best.  My advisor suggested that I contact her upon arrival. I told him of her reputation and he suggested that it sounded like "jealousy" and then suggested I watch and wait. He also said that she'll do *me* more good in the future than any of them.  He seems to know her work but not her. I suspect he read her book for her press as he's big in her sub-field and reads a lot for the major press (hers, btw)  in the area. It was plain he doesn't actually know her.

Now 3 months in, I have watched and waited. I realized she is the only one here that I see who  isn't ragging on someone all the time. She actually is the only one who has asked about my research, given me teaching tips and in general been helpful with concrete things. I should note, she hasn't tried, as I was warned, to "recruit" me against anyone or to do anything. Just pleasant "welcome, let me know if I can help with anything" sort of initial introduction. Far from being the live-wire type described by mutual outside acquaintances, she is sort of pleasantly detached. Its clear she's used to being cut out and tries to just get on with it. She's treated like a pariah and those of us who are new are made aware of it fast. To tell the truth, she sometimes looks sad if anything but never says anything but positive things or nothing at all.

Sorry for the long post, I'm conflicted on whether I should just go along and STFU and be safe or cultivate someone who actually might be more useful to me professionally and even might be a nice person to know. How far out on a limb do we dare go? Those who were junior and "lost" the vote when she was hired are now in the ascendancy over both her and me. I don't want to join the "pile on" by any means but is my best courses as a first year tt to just ignore  her too?

[dutchie22]

Sorry, I wrote in fast "stream of consciousness" style and hit "post" instead of preview.  I realize the above could use a good edit but I got "timed out."

[larryc]

Sometimes the dictates of simple human decency trump the careerist principles of STFU.

[crazybatlady]

Amen.

cbl

[london1]

Sounds like a bad day in junior high school.  You have my sympathy, OP. 

I suggest being collegial and friendly with all of your colleagues.  I, would not join the mosh pit tactics of isolating and talking behind the "pariah's" back as some of your colleagues do.  You can always be busy "off to class," "off to the library," "off to my office hours" when this junior high school behavior starts in.

You can't save the world, but you can keep your self-respect.  Good luck and let us know how things are going.

[historian]

I will say its my experience to watch those moral compromises: you think one day when you are "in charge" that you'll be free to make stands but you may find that you are lost the ability to make principled stands long before. It also takes practice.

I'm not telling you to scold your colleagues or make a grand stand but simply to treat others as they treat you. Clearly you have an inkling that something is rotten with the way this woman is treated and your experience contradicts "behind the back" stories and, my favorite, that the ONLY person who hasn't "slagged" on anyone is this person. Tells me something if the tendency in your dept to do this is widespread. Sounds like she's in survival mode to me and trying, nevertheless, to be a good colleague to a newbie. Be a decent colleague back. You don't need to be her best friend, you do need to be (as larryc says) a "decent human being" 

Say hello in the hallway---particularly when others are around and don't. Simply act as if she is a colleague. And, as London1 said, you can keep your own self respect. My guess, from a crazy department is that the woman will appreciate this more than you will know. Isolation is terrible and a simple "hello" can make a world of difference.

"STFU" is meant to save *you* from your own naive mistakes, not to check your moral compass at the door.

[scheherazade]

Amen to the Golden Rule advice.

In respect to self-interest - The female professor is obviously well-respected beyond your school.  Let's say you decide to apply to other jobs.  Wouldn't it be nice to have that professional connection?

[finallyfullprof]

My advice is to make your own friends from among your colleagues by using your best judgment.  You will learn quickly enough who behaves professionally and who is more interested in maintaining the social order of high school.  My experience has been that people often base their judgments on esoteric issues that are more about culture or personality than actual ability or professionalism. There is no reason to take sides. Be cordial and collegial to all and learn what you can about people from your own interactions with them.

[red_queen]

I agree with the others above, on both personal and professional levels. 

And really, when it comes down to it, I have far too much self-respect to shun a perfectly civil and generous colleague because the majority don't like her.

[rizzy]

Oh your post just got my goat.  Be careful dealing with people who speak negatively of others.  They are seeking power.  Once she is gone they will look for someone else to put in that role and that could be you.  They will go down the list.  Watch _Mean Girls_ again -- or _Michelle and Romy's High School Reunion_ ... perhaps while grading.

[patchouli]

I'm with the others here who say that you should treat everyone respectfully and and in the same way you would wish to be treated.  Like Larry said,

Sometimes the dictates of simple human decency trump the careerist principles of STFU.

If you don't keep your head and morals high it may be easier the next time not to do so . . . and that is how people who maliciously gossip and outright lie continue on . . .

[dr_stones]

Be a good colleague, get along with "the pariah," and refuse to be part of the gossiping crowd.

If being an effective professional in your program makes you a bad human being, then there is something wrong  with your program.

[oldfullprof]

Sicka*s department.  See the "mobbing" literature-- or just google mobbing.  I'd befriend this person too, but be aware that there may be consequences.  I befriended the only interesting and friendly person in my department while I was teaching FT during grad school.  He was being mobbed because he wasn't deferential enough to the coaches and business boys who ran the school.  They didn't mess with me because I'm big and scowl a lot.  But I was then not hired for the permanent position I was temporarily in.  It actually turned out well since working there permanently would have been its own punishment.

[cackalacker]

When on my interview, the now chair really slagged on that adv. asst prof. What a b*tch she was, that they were a tight group and socialized but that they excluded her and that she was hired during his first tenured year and he and the other junior people then wanted someone else. 

He was talking smack about her during your campus visit?! That's totally bananas in pajamas-- bad form, red flag.