Tag Archives: University of Not-Bielefeld

X marks the Spott

The University of Not-Bielefeld recently wrapped up its biennial exercise in democracy by holding elections for both the Senate as well as the Boards for each of its six faculties. (And, no, that isn’t a typo in the title but a bilingual play on words. Spot does exist in German and pretty much means theContinue reading “X marks the Spott”

Why do two rights mean someone’s wrong?

My dog and I pretty much have a 24/7 relationship. This includes bathroom breaks on both sides. Me for hers for bagging purposes and her for mine for whatever reason. (Ask her …) It also includes work where I blatantly smuggle her into the building and where she also attends all my classes. (But noneContinue reading “Why do two rights mean someone’s wrong?”

Eco-friendly bike theft

I have to admit that this little gem passed me by for the longest time, in part because I don’t read those mostly self-serving pieces of propaganda (AKA press releases) put out at far-too-frequent intervals by the University of Not-Bielefeld. All last summer there were some serious excavations going on in front of one ofContinue reading “Eco-friendly bike theft”

Can’t see the wood for the needs

Another week, another example of environmental pseudo-do-goodery on the part of the University of Not-Bielefeld. This time around, the plan is to enlist volunteers from the university community to plant a Tiny Forest (their capitalization, not mine) on the grounds of the university according to the Miyawaki method. Through this action, the hope is toContinue reading “Can’t see the wood for the needs”

Un-vital signs 14.11.2024

Over the past few weeks, any number of the following signs have been sprouting up on the grounds of the University of Not-Bielefeld. The literal, word-for-word translation of the sign is: I am an insect-friendly flower and wild meadow! This all is, of course, complete nonsense in oh-so-many ways. First, it’s a sign and notContinue reading “Un-vital signs 14.11.2024”

A tale of two kiddies

Over the past few years, a number of women in my lab group have welcomed children to the world, the most recent being just a month ago. And, it got me to thinking just how much things have changed through the years regarding how pregnancy is viewed and especially how admin wants to spread theContinue reading “A tale of two kiddies”

Acute advertising

Right. An e-mail came around from my Faculty here at the University of Not-Bielefeld this past week that I still have no idea what to really make of. Apparently the question was raised at a recent faculty committee meeting as to what rights the teaching staff have to deal with “acute disruptions” during their classes.Continue reading “Acute advertising”

Assisting student assistants

Just before Christmas last year, some well meaning, unionized elves (so, not Santa’s) wanted to put a little something extra in the stockings of the students that we hire to help with all our teaching. Instead of being able to hire them purely on a course-for-course basis as before, the new framework dictates that weContinue reading “Assisting student assistants”

Corporate resign

Some time ago, I wrote how admin here at the University of Not-Bielefeld (if not admin types the world over) like to send chain e-mails, where some e-mail from central admin is successively forwarded down the chain of responsibility (central admin to faculty to department to …) with no one bothering to clean up allContinue reading “Corporate resign”