The wheel turns, the shadows lengthen

[lunadelcorvo]

I'm going to maybe try to (cautiously) return to posting a bit more publicly. I finally know what happened in spring, and wow. What a mess! I won't go into detail, but let me say that Dr. B. was completely blameless, and undeserving of any condemnation that found its way here, even when it was voiced only in frustration. In fact, knowing what I now do, I have to say he behaved with all the integrity, decency and professionalism that brought me to admire him so much to begin with. And I will say that I am deeply, deeply disappointed in a great many other people I work with. The lesson I mentioned back then holds: I am far too quick to expect rational, mature, and charitable behavior from others, and to extend my trust. I have got to remember that petty gossip, schadenfreude, and mischief will win out almost every time. But enough about that.

Well, I'm back in school yet again. It's bittersweet this time, for many reasons beyond the above. For one thing, I had wanted to be done by now. I'm over it, but...grr. Still not at all motivated on this thesis business. Plus, classes have been a nightmare! I have one requirement left to fulfill the Med/Ren; an art history course. So, I signed up for Gothic Art - sweet! Along with that, I had Cultural Theory lined up, together with a History of Renaissance Italy that I was quite excited about (what with the Machiavelli, and Visconti and Sforza and all!) Not so fast, grasshopper!

Somewhere during summer, with no notice given, the Gothic Art was cancelled. (Don't know why, but there are some faculty shiftings and such in that department just now, so it may have simply been a question of having someone to teach it.) That means I need to scramble to find another art history course if I want to finish the Med/Ren. There's only one: Italian Renaissance Art. And guess what? It's at the same time as Italian Renaissance History!!!! (Like duh, folks, ever think maybe the same people would want to take both?!??!) So I take art history, but now I have to replace history. OK, I'll take Religion and Media! Oh, wait, BOTH are full. Hello waitlist, here I come. *sigh*

Fast forward to 1st day of class. R&M prof says that his course is set up for exactly 24 students, sorry! So no love there. Art History prof says he doesn't feel right letting me in ahead of the others on the wait list*, but I should ask him at the end of the week. OK, so I look to see what I can replace R&M (which replaced history, except I'm still enrolled in that because art history is full) Oh, Lord, OK. Italian it is. In the morning. Four days a week. Consolation? It's easy. "Uno, due, tre..." I get credit for this? Cool.

Still no word on art history though. So I will either get in and finish the certificate, or not and have a history class of which I have already missed two meetings. Joy.

Oh and then there is the Theory class. heh. You remember how I love theory, right? And this is the 'lizard people, reading auras' theory guy. (Let's call him "The Aesthete." Don't ask why, let's just.) Should be a blast..... Though everyone says it's a pretty low-hassle course, which is a good thing.

Welcome back..... *sigh*

*How about because I'm trying to graduate, and your department yanked out the class I needed without any advance notice, leaving an already full class as my only option? Call me biased, but sounds like a good reason to me..... Or am I back to that thing where I expect rational behavior already?

Comments

[lachaim.livejournal.com]

Hope the class schedule somehow resolves itself. Clearly your university is operating under different constraints than ours. My 24 person designed class somehow has 50 in it this semester, and will apparently have up to 100 next fall. How precisely I'm going to manage this is still being determined, but the term "guinea pigs" comes to mind (whether that refers to me or the students is debatable at this point).

If you ever feel the need to rant or get it off your chest, I'm mighty curious about the why and wherefores of the events from last spring. I suspect I can guess part of it, but obviously don't know the characters and details beyond what you've intimated in these here posts. Perhaps its just better to let it all go. Regardless, a virtual back rub and/or ear is always available.

What is the long-term plan as of now? Once you finally finish the Rube Goldbergian Rubric that is your degree program, are you still considering grad school or are you done with academia? I recall your earlier post a month or two ago about not pursuing the same type of research, but it was less clear whether you'll aim for a different area or abandon the ivory tower (which is neither ivory nor a tower, but rather just an off-white painted block two-story construction slightly set back at the end of a cul-de-sac) completely.

[raven-moon.livejournal.com]

ROTFL! Thank you!

So very true on almost all points!

The thing with classes is that it's up to the professor, to a point. The degree to which department chairs, advisors or anyone else can overrule the prof's wishes seems to depend largely on the prof's level of seniority, tenure, and general willingness to be a curmudgeon on his/her own behalf. This guy is pretty established, so he gets his veto.

As far as that, maybe soon. Not here, for sure. But thanks!

Plans? Well, right now I am not looking much beyond closing on this damned house (we are supposed to close tomorrow, but are still waiting on final paperwork; ack!), getting moved, and finishing the Thrice-Damned Thesis™. It is looking at least 50/50 that I will get a class or two for the spring (elsewhere) so I'm damned well not going to do anything then. Afterward... well I'm not sure. If there is to be further study, I know it won't be elsewhere, and it won't be medieval studies ('cause we don't have that here on PhD level, even if I didn't have other ideas). But that's as far as I've gotten. And yes, I am rather disgusted with academia just at present, the present batch in particular, so no hurry!

Ivory tower? I'd say more like a cross between Hitler's bunker and a gradeschool playground! (For the architecture and attitude, respectively, though the other way 'round works as well. [Honestly, 'neo-brutalism' as an architectural style to be proud of?]) Oi.

Thanks for the giggles, and the support. *hugs*

[celtickittenmew.livejournal.com]

Holy Mooses! What a mess! Well, I'm still hanging in there having dropped Latin to make more time for interning and primary history course. However, the new P.H. head wants me to take HIS class and I don't think I have the sanity for it. I mean, really? A full WEEK behind!? In a ONE day a week class!!? EEP! **sigh** I have to see him tomorrow.