Paranoia:
I wasn't at my best. It was the end of a long day and I was huffing and puffing my way to the student union to drop a box of clothes off for a clothing swap when a kind colleague stopped me on the sidewalk: "How are you doing?" As a third of our faculty are supposed to be fired by December 15th, this made me feel some sort of way. I burst out: "Omigosh, what did you hear?" He was taken aback, and I was so effing embarrassed.
I wasn't at my best. It was the end of a long day and I was huffing and puffing my way to the student union to drop a box of clothes off for a clothing swap when a kind colleague stopped me on the sidewalk: "How are you doing?" As a third of our faculty are supposed to be fired by December 15th, this made me feel some sort of way. I burst out: "Omigosh, what did you hear?" He was taken aback, and I was so effing embarrassed.
Plaudits:
I took some consolation from this text exchange from a colleague in the art department later in the day:
I took some consolation from this text exchange from a colleague in the art department later in the day:
"You were a brief conversation topic in my class today!
Seems that the consensus is that you’re awesome!"
Seems that the consensus is that you’re awesome!"
(I think it had something to do with me showing my "Bad Babes and Mad Men" class the difference between the timid Judith painted by Caravaggio versus the powerful and determined Judith painted by Artemisia Gentileschi, who had been a survivor of sexual assault herself.)
12 comments:
COngrats
I'm sorry things are so tense on campus. Everyone must be on edge.
Lovely photo.
Awesome comparison of the artists' interpretations of Judith. That's the kind of thing that can turn students on to art as well as make them understand so many things.
I'm sorry for the undercurrent of stress at work. I know how that feels. It makes things really tough on everyone.
Everything in the second paragraph is amazing, from the course name to the content. Waiting for layoffs is SO exhausting and terrifying, no wonder you reacted that way.
I love the art comparison, I agree that you are pretty awesome.
We just went through layoffs, which were announced ahead of time and had us all on edge. You'd get a random phone call (spam) on your work phone and think it was HR calling to fire you. VERY on edge. And it felt like there was no rhyme nor reason to who they let go, so telling yourself that you are a great employee and an asset made zero difference. So yeah, I GET IT. Hang in there.
Thanks :)
Thanks, Steph!
Thanks on both counts, Nance. The stress is getting really palpable. I know Dec 15 is per AAUP guidelines... but it's also so close to the holidays!
Thanks, Friend <3
Julie--Thanks for that. It's a sobering thought to think we may do our best and still catch an unfair break or an unlucky one. But it's best to stay realistic and aware.
The consensus is that you're awesome! Let's just go with that : )
Ha! Let's <3
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