>There has been no postings to this group for several days, and
>my newsreader doesn't even have any old postings to "unread."
>>Does this group still exist?
Yes, but recall it is, for many if not most of us, finals week(s).
But, I've found myself in a difficult situation, so I'll add a note to see
if some helpful suggestions can be found. I'm going to not use names, to
avoid aggrevating my situation.
This spring, my husband was offered a job as "the scientist" at a law
school in New England - teaching science to lawyers, what a unique idea! I
am currently an adjunct at U. Texas, where he had a tenured position.
We went up a few weeks ago, and I visited the two institutions where there
was the greatest likelyhood of my finding accomadations for ongoing
projects (and the grant I have, andthe one I need to write). At one place,
the reception was very cool, but at the other, it was very warm. At both,
the problem was space, but the in-coming chair at the latter said he
thought that there was unused space that I might be able to use. Bench
space was a problem, but I insisted that I use wet-bench space rarely
(maybe 6-8 weeks a year) and mostly would just need space for rearing my
animals and access to hoods and scintillation counters.
During a follow-up conversation after we returned to Texas, the in-coming
chair said that he would not persue the issue further until it was certain
we were moving. As indications were coming that the UT administration
would not make a counter-offer, my husband went ahead and accepted the
offer at the law school.
Yesterday, I received e-mail from the in-coming chair that the faculty had
voted to not allow me to be associated with the department.
I'm trying to be angry rather than hurt - I have telephoned another member
of the faculty with whom I had a good meeting, I have telephoned someone
who works about 4 hr away from the law school who might be able to
accomodate my research in his laboratory (not hopeful), and I am planning
to call the in-coming chair back and tell him that I really don't need an
office, and the spiders can live in almost any room because I can use
"grow-lights" and humidifiers, but I really need something because I am NOT
ready to give up my research.
Horrors, I never thought I'd be faced with the options of family OR
research, andit really hurts.
Any thoughts?????
Linden Higgins
______________________
Linden Higgins
Department of Zoology
University of Texas
Austin, TX 78712
telephone: (512) 471-6905 FAX (512) 471-9651
linden at mail.utexas.edu
