O.K. folks I am going to need your opinion today. Yesterday in my staff meeting, I was covertly placed on the staff agenda for my "attitude". The topic of discussion was Jail and Bail attitude. The Director commented on the upcoming Jail and Bail fundraiser and how we need to have good 'attitudes' about it. That we should accept that our students will take out warrants for our arrest, but it is all in good fun and that we need to stay positive about this.Now clearly this was directed at me, because I was the only person in our department who objected to this activity and clearly stated that I was not participating, nor would I be bailing anyone out of jail. For those of you who are unfamiliar, Jail and Bail is a fundraiser used by most y charity organisation such as Cancer Society or Special Olympics. The premise is, that person will pay $5 for a warrant to arrest you and then in our case, campus security will come to your office, or class and place you in handcuffs, arrest you and walk you over to the jail. The jail is a real cell placed in a public place. Before you are thrown in jail you have to stand before the judges who determine the amount of your bail (minimum of $25.00 to an unlimited amount). Then you are placed in jail. It is then incumbent upon you to call friends, colleagues, family to raise the amount of money for your bail.Now I maybe I am just being sensitive about this, and please tell me if I am, but I don't see the humor in being placed in handcuffs, arrested or being put in jail. I think it is highly insensitive to mock what is a painful experience for most people. I think next year I am going to organise a mock holocaust, mock lynching or a mock 9-11, for charity, lets see how popular those events will be. More importantly in these tough economic times, when as a university we are being ask to cut department budgets and employees maybe facing layoffs...do you really think this is the time to be engaging in such a venture.I have always said I worked with special people, but I don't think this is cute or funny. But then again it might just be me because I am sensitive (yall know what that is the code word for when people call you sensitive right). Anyway, your thoughts......
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