I am struck with a sense of malaise

Hubby and I are experiencing �unfocusedness�. I had a really long nap this afternoon, but it did not recharge my batteries. He also napped, and has just finished practising guitar, but simply can�t mobilize himself to compose or write programme notes, or do any of the jobs piling up around him. In his case, he is experience sports-centre withdrawal, since we cannot enter the university campus to use the facilities. But there is a feeling that, while we are not working, we are in a state of limbo. It�s very unusual and difficult to describe. So he�s gone off to watch T.V., which is highly unusual for him, unless of course he finds some tennis.

That enormous banner hanging on the grain silo in the first picture in my earlier entry had an adventure last night. Sometime after midnight (the Lion was going strong until 4:00 a.m., serving up its St. Patrick�s Day specials) some enterprising and malicious individuals scaled the silo and cut the ropes holding it in place. This �prank� amounted to grand theft, as the cost of the banner was $1,200 (anything over $1,000 is considered grand theft), and the executive was ready to call in the cops and prosecute the perpetrators. Firstly they would let it be known that if the banner were returned unscathed, there would be no questions asked and no charges laid. This morning it was found hanging from one of the train bridges, spraypainted on the reverse side with the words �APBU act professional�, or something like that. Fortunately the obverse wasn�t damaged, although the ropes were cut and had to be replaced, and our good people hung it back in its accustomed place. I can see how such an antic would appeal to puerile and inebriated minds, but it�s not funny.

Today we had a couple of flying pickets on the line with us, although I did not meet them. Tomorrow we have more coming from across Canada to join us, and there will be a party at the community centre in the evening in their honour. I am hoping there will really be something to celebrate. The Executive and the Administration met today and talked, so at least the dialogue is open, but by the end of my shift there was no movement. We are all hoping for good news tomorrow, since most of us are really starting to worry about our students.

During my shift this morning three girls, two of them music students, brought us baked goods and copies of The Campus, the student paper. There were many articles on the present strike, most of them very supportive of the profs and their struggle. One of most important issues is the 30% increase in student body and the 10% decrease in profs, thus affecting greatly the teacher-to-student ratio. One of the biggest attractions of a place like Bishop�s is our small classes, personal attention, access to professors and feeling of cameraderie. Where else do students call their professors by their first names? Also, where else does a student know the first name of everyone in his classes? There are distinct advantages to going to a small university, and these are just a few of them. Don�t forget to check the APBU official website for more pictures and updates.

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