Yep, got the good news this afternoon. (Sorry that Typepad was down this afternoon, so I had to delay in getting you all the news.) Unfortunately, it wasn't actually such a great conversation with the president. He gave me the letter offering me tenure and then followed that up by saying that he really wanted me to go away –- for my own sake, don’t you know –- and encouraged me to turn in my letter of resignation by the end of spring term in return for a generous buy-out. And the positive thing that he said to me was to wish that I weren't a good teacher or a good scholar so that he could have easily turned me down, but unfortunately I was good at my job. Um, thanks?
But afterward my colleagues were just lovely. There were hugs and congratulations all around, and everyone said that they were so sorry that what should have been a wonderful moment had been undercut by these homophobic politics. And everyone said that they hoped I’d stay and not take the president up on his “offer.” And my chair said to me (with tears in his eyes – not his usual style at all) that I was the best thing that had happened to the English department since he’d been there and that the department could never replace me; that if they did a national search and had 600 applicants, they couldn’t find anyone better than me. And then he said he’d like to give me a hug, if that was okay. How lovely is that?!
And D. just took me out for a celebratory meal, so all in all it’s been an exhausting but ultimately good day. And I'm looking forward to a relaxing Christmas break (other than three days of interviewing for a new professor position) and adjusting to life as an associate professor. Thanks for your good wishes and support during a very stressful semester!
Coongratulations!!!
i'm glad your dept was full of warm fuzzies. what an awful thing for the pres. to say! i mean, how old are we anyway?!
Posted by: Jeannette | December 17, 2005 at 11:52 AM
I've heard of people doing a lot of shitty things in academe, but this is the absolute worse thing I've ever heard. Glad your department was there for you. Congrats for hanging in there and not letting the bastards grind you down.
Posted by: pi | December 17, 2005 at 01:06 PM
I am virtually popping a bottle of champagne in your honor...and then I'm virtually hitting your prez over the head with it!
I presume you two were alone when he said that crap to you. With witnesses you might actually have a legal case against him (but what do I know). I do know this: he's an asshole!
(Sorry for coming late - Bloglines has been slow to catch up with the Typepad folks.)
Posted by: Dr. Virago | December 17, 2005 at 01:07 PM
Hey What Now, email me at Sfrajett@aol.com and we can exchange phones and have a lunch at mla. Look at all these lovely comments of support!!!
Posted by: Sfrajett | December 17, 2005 at 01:33 PM
Um, I decided the imagery of my last comment was too violent, even for a Virago like me. So rather than being virtually violent with that bottle of champagne, I am going to imagine it into multiple bottles of champagne, of the best French vineyard (only real French champagne will do!) and best vintage, enough to share with you, D, everyone here, and your entire department. And *then* we're going to drink it in front of him without sharing a drop!
So there!
Posted by: Dr. Virago | December 17, 2005 at 01:59 PM
Congratualtions, WN, on your well-deserved tenure! But my mouth is just hanging open in disbelief at what the president said to you. He's prepared to give you a buy-out? Although I know it might be healthier for you somewhere else, there's a part of me that says stay and be a thorn in his side as much as you can be!!
Posted by: Rev. Dr. Mom | December 17, 2005 at 09:00 PM
Congratulations! Well-deserved, I'm sure. The president sucks. Sounds like he just doesn't want to have to squirm too much.
Celebrate, relax and enjoy the break!
Posted by: Laura | December 17, 2005 at 09:59 PM
I'm wondering if you have any divorced and remarried folks on faculty? Have they also been offered a buyout along with their tenure?
Posted by: peripateticpolarbear | December 17, 2005 at 09:59 PM
THANK YOU PPB!!! That's exactly the questionI wonder about things like this!
WN ~ He's a bastard. Feel free to screw him over whichever way suits you best (staying and rubbing his nose in it, leaving him for all he's worth, giving him a lifetime supply of exlax brownies -- the possibilities are endless!).
In the meantime ... CONGRATULATIONS!!!! The fact that he HAD to give you tenure against everything he wanted to do should make it mean that much more. That you're far beyond what you needed to be.
That's awesome about your department ... shows that it's not what everyone thinks.
And, although I've said it before, let me repeat that, as a theoretically semi-offical part of the hierarchy that is running that school with policies that lead you to be screwed over in such a manner ... I don't agree with or condone such attitudes, and there are plenty of us who feel the same way.
But ultimately, let me offer congratulations. The fact that you got tenure despite the president's best efforts against it speaks wonders to your talents and skills. Focus on that, and forget about him for the next couple weeks.
Posted by: steph | December 17, 2005 at 10:55 PM
A thought just struck me ....
Any chance that the president's gay? After all, the Vatican witchhunt would focus on him far more than you. Maybe a well-placed rumor here or there ....?
{insert evil grin here}
Posted by: steph | December 17, 2005 at 10:58 PM
Congrats!
Well, I know you'll make the right decision for you. On one hand, I can see where everyone is coming from, and there might be a certain satisfaction in staying and screwing the prez over. On the other hand, might it just be nicer to be somewhere else?
No matter what happens later, congrats on tenure, and make sure to celebrate your success.
Posted by: ianqui | December 18, 2005 at 01:18 AM
Congratulations!
Can you put that on your c.v.? "Tenured, despite their best efforts to the contrary."
Posted by: Jonathan Dresner | December 18, 2005 at 03:55 AM
Coming in late due to lack of Internet but hearty congratulations and a virtual raspberry to a certain president!
Posted by: Emily | December 18, 2005 at 01:58 PM
hooray!
I'm sorry to hear what the president said.
I'm thrilled to hear what your chair said.
Posted by: bright star (B*) | December 18, 2005 at 03:11 PM
Wow. I'm thrilled to hear that you have officially been tenured--a huge weight has been lifted. Celebrate this. And keep celebrating it well into the next semester. God knows you deserve it.
What an emotional year this has been for both you and D. One more week and you can talk about it in the past tense, and start talking about your exciting future!
Posted by: AAYOR | December 18, 2005 at 04:37 PM
A big, big CONGRATULATIONS to you, and a big, big F*** YOU to that stupid president of yours! Hope you're spending the weekend celebrating!
Posted by: Jane | December 18, 2005 at 06:09 PM
Congratulations on this affirmation of your gifts and good for you for being able to focus on that despite the mixed messages.
Posted by: Songbird | December 18, 2005 at 08:58 PM
Congratulations! The president is an ass but -- you've got tenure!
Posted by: wolfa | December 18, 2005 at 09:33 PM
Yay for your chair. And yay yay YAY for you! Warm congratulations, What Now.
Posted by: YelloCello | December 18, 2005 at 09:45 PM
I missed this post when it went up. Hooray for you!! And I'll join in the chorus of "fuck you"s to the president, the homophobic bastard.
Posted by: Scrivener | December 19, 2005 at 10:38 AM