Day 16

As I walked past the department mailboxes this morning, I noticed that most of them contained a bright red piece of paper. I checked my mailbox, and sure enough I had not been excluded. Printed on the alarmingly red paper was a place for me to write my name and department, then a short list of checkboxes for me to check off if I felt so inclined. The instructions at the top tell me to check all that apply and to post the form on my office door to help "spread the word." No group or person was listed on the form as taking credit for producing or distributing them. My checkbox options are as follows:

• Control of UC's budget should be democratic and transparent.
• Classes should not be cut.
• UC should be public and not be privatized.
• Education should be affordable.
• All UC workers should have living wages.
• I will walk out on September 24 to advocate the above.

After a quick, nonchalant stroll through the office, I noticed that no one had posted the form, and I doubt anyone will. This leads me to wonder whether my fellow staff members find the whole thing to be a bit of a joke, or if they would prefer to post the note but fear retribution and scoffing from others. Maybe people are just waiting for September 24 to take action, and don't want to raise any--pardon the reference--red flags just yet. I also imagine that my supervisor might be inclined, and I think would have every right to walk around the office and tear the notes down if she saw them posted. I'm not certain that I could get away with posting something like "Free Tibet!" on my office door, though I've frankly never tried, so I don't know. These unofficial rules are, of course, different for faculty who might face nothing more than an eye roll or guffaw from fellow professors. Honestly, the whole thing feels a bit awkward, and doesn't seem to fit with the goal of having a set of staff members feel like a team. In my office, we have union represented staff, non-represented staff, and administrative management. It's us against them. I know how important these issues are, but I am also learning the uneasiness at the thought of blatantly disregarding the rules, and potentially causing rifts between myself and my boss or fellow staff members. I am sincerely disappointed that I won't be here on September 24, but I am at least a little relieved that I will be observing from afar rather than having to make these difficult decisions on that day.

I have done a little math, and the loss from my paycheck with the furlough will be for about the same amount that I spend on groceries in a month. This means I will need to hunt through my budget to scrounge up enough money to feed myself. Thankfully, during my vacation next week I am staying with friends and family, and at those resorts, meals are included.