I was in the building, working, this weekend. Which is out of normal hours. So like a good little academic I called security to let them know when I arrived and when I left (in theory this is so that if there is a fire, they will know whether there are any people in the building who need to be accounted for. It makes sense).
There were other academics (not grad students, ACADEMICS) on the corridor both when I arrived and when I left - a lot of us like to do a few hours of science without teaching related interuptions, or grade at work to avoid polluting our homes.
Today, I am in trouble for leaving the lights on over the weekend (and although a 'little talk' from the bureaucrat in charge of bill-cutting may not affect my career in any real way, it sure puts a downer on my day and steals valuable minutes out of my life). I was the only person who had signed in with security therefore I was clearly the person who left the lights on.
Hmmmm. What has this taught me? Not to sign in, of course.
Ed Nather, on his web page, "Advice to the Young Astronomer," writes:
ReplyDelete"Committee assignments: the theory here is that everybody should share in the burden of administration, taking time away from their research work in the process. If you are very good and conscientious about this stuff you will be given more and more of it, since you get things done, to the lasting benefit of the department administrators. On the other hand if you thoroughly neglect it, fail to call or attend any committee meetings, and generally do a lousy job, you will get fewer and fewer committee assignments, and you can get on with your research."
never write your name down on anything...that's how they find us.
ReplyDeleteProps from Atom Smasher, who has gotten "busted" in a similar fashion and whose hatred for pointless meetings (because they interfere with Work) exceeds even my own.
ReplyDeleteps...On Tuesday I sent an anonymous note via interoffice mail to our Dean. I noted that I was bringing my own chalk AND ERASERS to my lectures in Building XXX. I pointed out that I was severely absent-minded, and sometimes forgot my chalk. I asked that housekeeping perhaps check chalk levels or that someone (anyone) leave a box of chalk in the classroom podium.
ReplyDeleteI also noted that sans chalk, my communication would be reduced to interpretive dance. "You do Martha Graham! Martha Graham! Martha Graham! But you keep it all inside." Not to bag on ID here, it's just that I teach...uh...social theory.
Perhaps you could, in a similar vein, write a note in which you inquire if faculty working late are advised to bring lanterns to help save the Uni money?
Couldn't the lesson have equally been to, from now on ... turn off the freaking lights?
ReplyDelete"Couldn't the lesson have equally been to, from now on ... turn off the freaking lights?"
ReplyDeleteNo. Think about it...
Why does Aware and Scared think that I, the law-abiding person who signed in, was the un-environmentally sound person who left the lights on? There were other people still there when I left, so turning off the lights would have been rude...
ReplyDeleteSorry ... my bad.
ReplyDeleteDidn't catch the "others in the building" part.
Thought you were alone.
Each bout of grading does degrade my vision incrementally!
I like BlackDog's idea....Send an email, something along the lines of: "I apologize for not being more conscious about saving the university money. You will be pleased to know that I have since taken to carrying candles around with me wherever I go. I use them instead of lights during class and encourage the students to do the same. Furthermore, I have currently postponed doing my research in order to work on my invention of a projector that can be powered by pedaling. I shall keep you updated on my progress."
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