So the department decided it would be a great idea if we could fund some undergrads to go to an annual meeting of a scientific society. I made it happen.
Then, I realized how many people were going and got hotel rooms for everyone (which is what is normally in the club's purview). It was going to be exorbitantly expensive, so I crammed a bunch of people into each room. Free is free. Take it or leave it.
Then I found out the state had some funky rules about how the travel funding had to be declared (of course), so I called a manadatory meeting to explain how the process would work, what the deadlines and responsibilities of the students were. Half the people I arranged funding for didn't show up. So I sent them an email. I went over the regulations not 1x, not 2x, not 3x, but 4x. This resulted in some people telling me I was "being bitchy."
The co-president, who agreed with me about the hotel arrangements then told me during the meeting that he couldn't understand why I didn't book more rooms, thereby throwing me under the bus. The natives grew restless and angry. I was also told that the students felt I should have to room with a student who is autistic, so I can take care of him and make sure he is doing what he is supposed to do. Plus, they told me later, they don't want to room with him, so it's on me. I decided that it is not my job to be a parent to someone who is a grown adult. I went and booked my own hotel room. It's worth the money to have piece of mind. Also, I figure it's not just this student who will feel it is my job to be diaperer in chief at the meeting. I don't want the job. I don't have children for a reason.
Anyway, unhappy with my rules, they decided to bug the department secretary about said funding, which they had done previously when I was working to arrange said funding with the department. Both times, this totally pissed her off, causing her to rip me a new one. Don't see how it's my fault, but there it is.
So I agree to send another email. So I send one to the specific people on who received the largest amount of money and then another email to the secretary to forward to the undergrad listserve. She is the only one with access to said listserve. So I sent a note with the email to be forwarded (this is required). In it I tell her that if they don't respond to multiple emails and a meeting and a FB posting, there is little I can do for the "idiots". Yep, I said it.
Bad idea.
She forwards it to the listserve without deleting my note.
Awesome!
Not.
Then she sends an "oops apology". Fair enough, but it's still out there which means I will get yelled at by the faculty about it.
Yay!
Then, about 10 min later, I get an undergrad emailing me telling me this is "the first they've heard of this" and what do I mean that the department can't do x,y,z. At that point, I lost it and forwarded the emails I had sent previously as well as commented that we discussed this in the meeting.
So far no response.
Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that I couldn't get my registration money back, I would seriously consider not going to the conference at this point. I am SO SICK OF THIS SHIT!
How dumb do you have to be to not follow step-by-step instructions? I mean it's FREE, you have to sign 1 form. That's it. How fucking difficult is that?
So I have not told anyone what hotel I am staying at for the meeting. It's a secret. I don't want them tracking me down, expecting me to solve their problems while I am in CA.
2 comments:
Ha! I love that you're staying somewhere else and not telling anyone. I would too. And really, after all of that effort, I wouldn't care that the "idiot" part was left in the last email. Maybe they should've responded the first 3 or 4 times.
I chatted with everyone and with the exception of the undergrads, everyone seems chill about the whole affair.
Thank god.
I think part of my problem is that for better or worse I am unfamiliar with the undergrads entitled attitude of I pay tuition, so I should get whatever I want. I need to get a grip with this though. It is looking like my future will be dealing with this a lot.
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