IRVINE VALLEY CHRONICLES: the donated table caper

Like this but with blue stone inlay

     Today, a former student of mine told me the following tale.

No there there

     Some time before the December break, a benefactor, through the IVC Foundation, donated a fine concrete table (with three bench/chairs) specifically for the Performing Arts Center and the students thereof. It was placed just outside the north entrance of the PAC and was routinely used by students, who seem to find that sort of seating more convenient (for laptops, etc.) than the nearby basic benches.

     All was well. Then, upon everyone’s return from the break, denizens of the PAC zone were horrified to find that the table had disappeared. Had it been stolen?

     Nope. Evidently, IVC’s Director of Facilities decided that he did not like the table there, and so, with evident and blatant unilateralism, he moved the darned thing to the crossing of that tree-lined pedestrian boulevard out beyond the PE complex. It’s near the soccer field. Way out there, a road to nowhere.

     I went to that location today and, sure enough, I found a handsome concrete table with three ornate concrete bench/chairs. The table and chairs are embellished with inlaid stones. Blue. Nice.

Rice, Ripston, Sobel

     I asked around and, sure enough, this table had recently been moved from the PAC by maintenance. I poked around some more and, as far as I can tell, Herr Direktor is known to do this sort of thing. He does what he likes, they say.

     There’s a handful of such people on campus. Roquemore let’s ‘em do like that. He either doesn’t care or he’s too dumb to notice. After ten years, does it even matter?

     IVC is a peculiar place. By and large, teaching is excellent and much of the remaining staff is excellent.

     But IVC’s top echelon, save our bumbling president, comprises mostly bullies. Bullies seem to thrive at IVC. You know who I mean.

     Or don’t you?

     Even some faculty have exploited Roquemore's bully tolerance policy. One sees them treating perceived underlings—classified employees, junior faculty, adjuncts—badly, amassing power or influence, feathering their nest, blackballing those who don’t fit into their relentless, self-aggrandizing machinations.

     It sure is a shame.

     (More to come.)

SEE Tenure Time