Day 21

On Friday afternoon, my supervisor wrote to us all to assure us that the appropriate percentage decreases in our pay had successfully been updated in the campus HR system, and that we would "unfortunately" all see the applicable reductions in our October 1 paychecks. Here we go...

This morning, a fellow staff member brought to my attention the fact that Berkeley undergraduate admissions is now participating in online virtual college fairs. A company hosts these online fairs, saving colleges and undergrads oodles of travel money by allowing schools and students to get to know each other with scheduled "fairs" that include live chat with admissions reps from hundreds of different colleges and universities. On October 1, the site is hosting University of California day, where students from around the country and the world can "chat" with representatives from all of the UCs. The website is set up to look like an actual college fair, complete with images of booths set up in a giant conference hall. You visit each booth, and chat with representatives much like you would at a real fair. In California, high school guidance counselors have been laid off in hordes. This new online fair is giving CA high school kids the chance to still learn about college and successfully enroll when their guidance counselors just don't have time to help.  I called a representative from the company, and explained to him how he their company could help graduate programs around the country, too, and that we would most certainly participate if given the chance. An example of innovative new technology helping us through an economic crisis. I just worry that the state will see things like this as an excuse not to replace real, live guidance counselors in our schools, turning the lives of California youth into even more virtual versions of reality than they already are.

In a recent conversation with one of our cleaning staff, my building's manager learned that the cleaning staff has had over 35 layoffs, those who remain have had shifts dramatically cut, and that 3 people are now in charge of cleaning four campus buildings including my own (the building I work in is 8 stories with hundreds of classrooms and offices). To be honest with you, I'm not sure how that compares to normal, but my impression is that it is nearly impossible for 3 people to keep four buildings clean. My trash wasn't emptied for 8 days, and as I understand it, this will be the new norm. And forget any vacuuming or other cleaning. Allow me to lay out the welcome mat for bugs and mice. The cleaning woman told my building manager that she doesn't know how often they will be able to clean our offices, but that they are just trying to do the best they can. My building manager wants to know why she heard this from a member of the cleaning staff, and not from the chancellor's office or other appropriate administration.

I spent time this weekend figuring out how the change in my pay will affect my monthly bill paying. This next year will be a true test of my frugality unless I find another source of income, such as getting myself a paper route. Oh, wait, all the papers are out of business...