We're getting quite a bit of mail about yesterday's thirsty on office space. We'll start with these three and offer some more in coming days.
At my first tenure track job, which I started last year, I got a smaller, windowless office. However, I get a piece of art on loan from the art department with a promise that I can rotate the piece every four months if I want.The college provided me a large cork board where my conference badges hang, flyers, cartoons, and other little pieces of me. On the opposite wall, a large white board hangs with all my deadlines for journal articles, reviews, and some scribbled ideas for my next project. As one of the few active researchers in my department, it lets my colleagues know what I am up to without me saying it. The college also provided me an extra book case and filing cabinet at my request. The needed textbooks for my classes as well as useful textbooks for my subject areas sit on the shelves along with books in my research area. I have a books that I enjoyed reading and keep on display.
On top of filing cabinets I keep my coffee maker, and a rotating stock of dark roast. I enjoy leaning back in my chair, a hot cup of coffee, and reflecting on the day while looking at my piece of art. Thanks to my space, I can be productive as well as isolated when I want but inviting when needed.
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You fucker, I don't even have an office.
I am a full-time faculty member at a private "career focused" college. Because we are career focused, they treat us like the rats who live in cube farms in big corporations: I get a cubicle. It sucks. I don't even have 24-hour access to my dumpy cube: I can only visit it when classes are in session. Not late at night. Not on weekends.
My dream? An office with a door that closes and locks, with 24/7 access.
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I'm an old silverback and have had more office space than I can remember.
It's always good to have a little space, a place to keep stuff, a place to do the business of being an academic professional. But so many of the young faculty we get nowadays are consumed with their space and what it means about their pecking order.
I'm sorry to say that Newbie Nate from Northwestern does NOT get the big office. You know how many years I've worked here? I get that office. And I don't care if he comes in and looking longingly at my three massive windows, he needs to put his time in before he qualifies for that.
Not too long ago we had someone turn us down for a job because we wouldn't guarantee him a certain size office. Are you serious? That's what you use as your line in the sand? Nothing about tenure clock or committee work or access to the college's golden depository?
It's just a space. Make of it what you will. But the only space a professor (I refuse "proffie") needs is between his or her ears.
