You see, I work with my office door open. Mostly because I share the office with other people and it's just easier that way. On that office door is my name and title, "Dr. AA, Ph.D." (yeah, I double-barreled that thing, bitches. Fat lotta good it does, too.)
Somehow, for some reason, strangers feel free to wander in while I'm working and make requests such as:
"Do you have a stapler I can borrow?"
"Hi, I'm in Dr. X's class and I need to turn in an assignment but he's not in his office. Can I leave it with you?"
"Um, hi? Can I get some white-out?"
"Do you know where Dr. Y's office is?"
"Um, do you have a copy code for the departmental copy machine?"
"I was supposed to have an appointment with Dr. W 15 minutes ago, but I'm late, and he's not there anymore. Can you tell him I stopped by?"
The answer to all of these queries is "no". (Sometimes when I'm feeling generous I will lend a stapler, but really?)
Do I look like I am the professional assistant to Drs. X, Y, and W? I don't even know Dr. W! (And I'm pretty sure Dr. X is on a different floor. Possibly a different building.)
My favorite was today. I was writing, with my headphones on, and not only did this person neglect to knock on the door (granted, it was open) before entering, but they stood there clearing their throat not-so-politely until I interrupted my work to say, "Yes?"
"Hi, do you know where Nancy is?"
"I don't know anyone who goes by Nancy."
"Oh, she's a professor - her office is down the hall?"
"I don't know her."
"You know, Nancy..Dr., um...I'm not really sure how to pronounce her last name..."
"As I just said, I don't know her."
"Oh, well, do you know where she might be?"
(WTF, really? I told you several times that I don't know her, and yet you think I keep track of her whereabouts?)
"If she is not in her office then I have no better idea of where she might be than you do."
This shit happens at least once a week. And after taking a quick poll, never to the male grad students in my office or those in the offices down the hall. Undergrads, newsflash: if you see a woman working at a desk, do not assume that she is by default the assistant to all the other profs in the building. It is not her day to watch them.
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6 comments:
I get this problem a lot too.
I show em the double-barrel too!
Same shit here too with the open door. I once found a student sitting at my desk writing an essay with my pen and paper! And the essay was for another class! No, she didn't have an appt with me.
Dr. jc, PhD
It's not always that they assume you're an AA, it's just that you are approachable looking. Perhaps you need some headless bats to have pretend to have bitten the heads off.
I get this too - and this is my 14th year as an academic... female + desk + open door = secretary.
It's really funny when I answer my own phone as 'DrB speaking' and people say 'unm, yeah, hi, can I leave a message for DrB?' never happens to my male colleagues...
You know, just after hitting post, another undergrad walked in my office (again without knocking):
"Do you have a printer in here that I can use?"
"Excuse me?"
"Yeah, I was just trying to print something on those printers (thumbs over shoulder to the lab) but I couldn't get one to work. Is there one in here I could use?"
(This UG is definitely not a member of our lab group, and I don't recognize this kid as a member of the other group that we share space with.) So I ask:
"Which lab are you in?"
"Oh, no, it's not a lab assignment. I'm trying to print my term paper."
"I asked which lab you work in. You indicated that you tried to use the printers in the research lab behind you."
"Oh, I don't work in that lab. I'm just here to turn in my term paper to Dr. X"
"The equipment in those research labs are for the use of those research groups. If you don't belong to those research groups then the printers in there are not for you."
"Oh...um, OK. Do you have a printer in here that I can use then?"
*headdesk*
"No. I am a member of the research group that uses that lab. My printer is the one in the lab that is not for you. I suggest that you print your term paper in the library or computer lab - those printers are for you."
Sheesh.
LOL! This used to happen to me, too! My office was right across from the admin assistants' station. Our admins spent more time at lunch than at their desks (you think I exaggerate, don't you?), and so when students, package delivery folks, and workmen would surface, they would come straight to my doorstep.
But i hafta admit: none of them ever asked to use my printer to disgorge their term paper. I feel neglected.
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