Am I reading this correctly? This notification from your committee, The Committee on Very Important University Matters, appears to be inviting me to a meeting. That makes sense to me. In fact, thanks for inviting me. I would indeed like to know what your committee has been up to. But was it your intent to imply that this meeting is a “pizza party”…seriously? Any mention of food is a surefire way to boost attendance, but your message seems to overly emphasize the pizza component. You even added a clipart pizza to the announcement. I would like to think that you are being funny, but I suspect that you are not. Will we also be going roller-skating later? Do I need to ask my parents to sign a permission slip to attend? Will there be juice too?!? Look, pizza is tasty. But a committee of your stature, discussing topics as important as they are, should really adopt a more serious tone. Ditch the pizza rhetoric. Now, for all of you attending my tenure meeting, there will be doughnuts! Yes, delicious doughnuts. And cocktails! Oh, and door prizes! Wait, party favors too!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
NO, No you didn’t…
Am I reading this correctly? This notification from your committee, The Committee on Very Important University Matters, appears to be inviting me to a meeting. That makes sense to me. In fact, thanks for inviting me. I would indeed like to know what your committee has been up to. But was it your intent to imply that this meeting is a “pizza party”…seriously? Any mention of food is a surefire way to boost attendance, but your message seems to overly emphasize the pizza component. You even added a clipart pizza to the announcement. I would like to think that you are being funny, but I suspect that you are not. Will we also be going roller-skating later? Do I need to ask my parents to sign a permission slip to attend? Will there be juice too?!? Look, pizza is tasty. But a committee of your stature, discussing topics as important as they are, should really adopt a more serious tone. Ditch the pizza rhetoric. Now, for all of you attending my tenure meeting, there will be doughnuts! Yes, delicious doughnuts. And cocktails! Oh, and door prizes! Wait, party favors too!
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Careful! It's likely a trap. The pizza is the bait...
ReplyDeleteThe more they have to offer to lure you in, the worse they are acknowledging the meeting will be. Attend at your peril.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, thanks for your encouraging comment on my 'blog. I've really enjoyed browsing through yours (and simultaneously congratulating myself on not going into academia).
I'm sure there must be a secret University policy somewhere detailing when the food bait trap can be set and when it can't.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't drink the Kool-aid!
ReplyDeleteI disagree with the above -- The pizza is a clear indication that you shouldn't expect to discuss anything important, much less make actual decisions, at this meeting. The real action for Very Important University Matters is clearly occurring elsewhere.
ReplyDeleteBut in some ways the picture is a perfect symbol of how Universities act like something is going to be one way (pizza!) when secretly, no pizza.
ReplyDeleteThere is something in that box...
ReplyDeleteRight. Nothing like pizza!
ReplyDelete