It feels very decadent (but how appropriate in these times of cataclysmic decline) to be heading off to a week's beach holiday after a meeting today where the co-chairs decided that we have no choice but to cut back course offerings and with that auxiliary faculty. In order that our regular faculty aren't allowed to feel untouched, we have also nixed our travel budget, computer upgrades and a few more things that the will hurt. It was depressing to get feedback after our faculty meeting on Tuesday to discuss strategy that, first of all, came only from the full professors and, secondly, consisted entirely of how to make cuts that in essence wouldn't touch them. A year plus into this job I am still astounded at how people really are either supremely self-interested or they aren't.
So, off to Riviera Maya for a week of sun and swimming and reading books. I have made the rather drastic decision not to take my laptop. There is a computer kiosk at the resort, but i shall try to avoid checking in.
