Friday, September 5, 2008

work or being chair

we got a vote of confidence from our faculty last week - they would like us to continue. That felt good. What does continuing mean? Making difficult decisions. Today we had word to prepare for a potential 2% cut from base funding. Base funding is salaries... pretty much. So, we get to say "you got a raise, but now most of it has to be given back..." not a popular message I anticipate. As well today there was the meeting with Middle East Center which ended with a party at one of the faculty member's houses. Much drink and dancing both of which make you think that if there was more of that perhaps things would go more smoothly over all. It was fun.
Other choice chair moments - why should we approve hiring an assistant for someone? not because the class is overly large, but, as her colleague put it "She is wearing someone else's hair". that is, she is in cancer treatment, not that I know this first hand....and I do not doubt it, but it is a weird thing to have someone utter the above phrase with a straight face.