We were all accused, and accused ourselves so much of arrogance but really it was only that we had other professional obligations. Those of us who said we had not been trained to work at colleges or community colleges and other non research entities were not “being arrogant” but merely stating facts. I have no … More “I have other professional obligations,” or, on “arrogance”
What they say — “apply to everything, be willing to go anywhere,” — is utterly wrong. You should apply in this order: R1, R2, D1, nothing below that and nothing that is not a university. What they say — “R1 institutions are the hardest ones to get tenure at,” is utterly wrong. They are the … More Advice to graduate students
The other thing we were saying at that conference I went to a few weeks ago was that we had met some really mean and also supercilious people in academia and that that was why we had tried to get away from it. Colleague: Where do you expect to publish this book? Professor Zero: Routledge. … More On promise
This is, essentially, what I mean to say. I have not been much of a passive reader since the fifth grade, because I started writing in the sixth. In particular, I only occasionally read long novels for recreation; I do not normally find them relaxing or interesting, and I have to be relaxed and entertained … More Moria on Reading and Writing
There are things like editorial boards that I am on, and forget to say I am. I have to remember them, as we are coming up on annual report season. I do not like looking at my vita and things like that, and part of being in that writing group is to “disenchant” them, just … More J’oublie
I really do try but these basic foreign language courses are depressing and the students are scary. The worst academic advice that can be given is the repetition that one will not “get” to teach such courses any more when one becomes a professor. That was one of the main scoldings I used to get, … More Untenable II
The question in the students’ book was: have you ever said yes to something when you meant no? I would not normally have a profound thought about this question but because it came up in an academic venue, and somehow I have profound thoughts during this very basic class — they float somewhere near the ceiling, … More On saying yes and no
I want it. The reason I do not have it is that there are so many obstacles to rationally managed teaching and service placed here. This is done because the University, as it has said in writing, does not support my fields. One must be less and less kind and negotiate less and less, and … More I want more research time.
Speaking as someone who does not particularly like to teach and only went into academic work because of having had it explained that this was all about research, and very little about teaching, I proclaim that: Contra what the professors say it does not save time or energy, or lead to happiness, health, or new … More Encore une fois
I have had three locked bicycles stolen from the campus area so now I put my bicycle in the office. Many do this. Today as I entered the building the building safety captain, who was smoking by the door, against the rules (and should be hanged contrary to custom) yelled nastily at me that I … More On work environments
coldhearted scientist وداد 