My department underwent some radical changes in the week between the end of the long summer semester and the start of the fall term. I returned from my mandatory vacation (imposed on all student workers) to find the following:
a. Three professors had quit (one decided to retire early, one simply didn't renew his contract, and the last one - the real shocker, as the other two were somewhat expected - went on "medical leave"... he probably won't be back)
b. The brand new department chair was asked to step down (because of a.)The dean appointed a math professor as interim history chair.
c. My boss, the university archivist, found a job in New York starting October 1st
(The university may or may not replace her, depending on whatever the administration's magic eight ball says).
d. The history department's scholarship account was slashed.
A week into classes, one of my professors contracted pneumonia and spent a week in the ICU (he is nearly 80).
All in all, a pretty hectic start. The feeling of imminent crisis has mostly passed. With graduation looming near, I have turned my attention to grad school hunting.
The situation in the archives is still pretty uncertain, but I did manage to polish off the Williamson collection. I hope to post a link to the finding aid soon. The various library departments have been wonderfully accomodating in providing me little jobs. I do odd bits for acquisitions/periodicals, I've begun work on a new manuscript collection (picking up about half-way through), and I'm undertaking a lengthy project weeding our ERIC files.
