I am trying my best to keep things positive, maybe even humorous, around here, but it’s difficult when I know my days are numbered here at Romulus University. Everywhere I look, I see reflections of little effort around this campus. Last week, I had another instance of this realization.

I am currently working on a research book where I am conducting interviews for the project. I don’t want to give away too many details, but it involves alternative sports. Since I started this project, I had the opportunity to interview over a dozen professionals and industry leaders in the sport. I was fortunate enough to land what my wife calls one of my “white whales” to interview. Honestly, I think she was more excited about the interview than I was.

The individual I interviewed was a relatively famous person from the 1990s. They owned a well-known clothing company from that era, and they engaged in some controversial activities during the decade, which brought them some notoriety. We conversed for over two hours about various things they experienced during this time, and they provided a wealth of valuable data for my research. At the end of our conversation, this person invited me to California for an event later in the year, which would include a number of my white whales that this person was willing to introduce me to. I was extremely grateful for the offer, and I told them that I would consider it.

By the time I wrapped up the interview and left my office, it was after 5 PM. As I walked out the door, I stared out at the empty parking lot in front of me. I know that the summer months don’t bring a lot of action on campus, but I couldn’t help but feel some indignation towards this campus. I just wrapped up a great interview with a person who is still influential in their sport, and they thought that I did such a fantastic job that they would like to introduce me to their industry friends so that I could conduct interviews with them as well.

Now, I stand alone in the parking lot of a campus that doesn’t want me. Other faculty members are relaxing and taking it easy while I am in my office, grinding away at projects because I can’t sit still. When I earned my PhD, it wasn’t the goal. It was a mile marker. I wanted to do more than pontificate to students. I know SLACs aren’t known to produce research, but I don’t want to be a lump. There may be one or two other faculty members on this campus who engage in some form of extracurricular work, but I am not aware of it. So, I suppose we’re in the same boat in that regard.

I am doing my best not to let this place make me bitter. Remus College was a far worse campus, but I rarely let that place get me down. I refuse to get angry over the politics on this campus. This place felt different when I arrived, and now I see it is just like Remus with a different coat of paint.