Let’s throw a bone to
the university for just a moment and view the adjunct as a willing and generous
donor who gives the students and the university a gift. “It’s a privilege” to
teach for the university and “the best adjuncts want to give back.” Place a
value on it: let’s say a couple of hundred thousand dollars worth of expertise,
and for the students, a priceless amount of caring and attention. In return, the university gives them a tip
and treats them without respect and as completely dispensable.
Continuing on my riff of the adjunct as donor, I’d like to
tell you what happened when I “donated” my time and years of expertise as a
last minute substitute for a full-time, tenure-track faculty member. I had two weeks to prepare, and at the
appointed time, on a dark January evening, I arrived at the designated
building.
The building, on a satellite campus, appeared to be closed.
Most of the lights had been turned off.
There was a weak light over what turned out to be the entrance. The
building was completely unsecured.
The next day, I contacted the faculty liaison for my
department (whose offices are on the main campus). I described the fact that the
building was dark and unsecured and asked what I should do in case of
emergency. I received no response.
