"Disgruntled"

Glenn wrote:

I went to the meeting I had with the associate VP at Student Affairs on Wednesday, and I was correct in my guess that it was about emails I sent to Troy, the new coordinator. What a surprise.

My first impression of this guy was that he was pretty low-key and easier to talk with than the other associate in that office that I've had earlier dealings with. He was also easier to talk wtih than the provost was, but I think part of that was because I had such lousy accommodations for that last meeting with the provost that I wasn't even sure the provost and I were talking about the same thing.

He said that there have been some complaints received about my angry emails. I told him that I realized what I had sent was inappropriate and I shouldn't have expressed myself that way. I also explained my extreme frustration in trying to get this issue resolved and the administrations unwillingness to do so.

We got to talking about the contract offered on August 14, 2008, and he said that the contract was consistent with those offered at other schools. I immediately disputed that; telling him that was not true. We came back to that a bit later in the conversation and he said something like "Perhaps they aren't available in this area." I told him they absolutely are available in this area.

I then told him that I had asked Troy what the credentials of the CART provider were several times and never received an answer. He told me that the hiring is done by the director (nobody told me that) and Troy might not know. He said that the director did the hiring and he would make some inquiries to find out what the credentials of the CART provider are. Or aren't.

We came back to the angry emails towards the end of the meeting. I think it was a way to recap what it was about. He even went as far as to say that I was "disgruntled." That was kind of ironic that he would use that word because it is one of the terms Rob Harden used while describing the interpreters and transcribers who left because of the problems he caused and wouldn't acknowledge or resolve. So I guess I'm in good company!

My impressions after this meeting is that this guy does NOT have much of a clue about much of anything going on in the situation of the students. It is obvious that 95 percent of his information comes from Rob Harden. It seems obvious that he has been misinformed or misled about the true nature of things. It's clear to me that he doesn't understand what is going on because of his comment about the contract offered being consistent with other schools. That is so far from the truth. It would be very easy for me to prove that the contract is, in fact, drastically different than any contract at any school in Washington.

As we wound up the meeting, he promised me that he would talk to Rob Harden and find out what the credentials of the CART provider are and about the contract offered. I think that he will just get more "spin" from Rob Harden...more misleading information and ambiguous half-truths. I don't know if he will ask me to another meeting in the future to present what he has been told. I'm getting tired of talking with the administration because they don't seem to be interested in my side of things; only Rob Harden's version seems relevant to them.

To end this post on a positive note, I heard back from as assistant of the president last week. She told me that the president had been out of town for several days, but is now more informed about this situation and is very concerned. She ought to be. There is some type of group on campus called Resource Central comprised of some of the upper administrators...some of whom I've already had dealings with (and been ignored by). Sooooooo you'll understand if I am not all-out enthusiastic about this bit of news. But since it is a directive from the president of the university, who knows...maybe this time the situation will be given due consideration.

This new development might serve to alleviate the future problems, but I don't see how it will serve to address the past problems. I am not really willing to forget what happened and move ahead as if the past never happened. The past never should have happened, and it has created what the future situation is now.