Job Discussion Forums

fatimah · Joined: 10 May 2008 Posts: 11

I'm still considering employment at PMU but I must say that, based on the latest exodus, I am very, very hesitant. I have read and appreciate all of the comments above, but there must be much more to the story than SPITs and Wasta Boys. I am not asking for people to criticise, but simply offer an intelligible and objective analysis regarding such things as management, working conditions, etc. So far, brasscat, despite his imaginary degrees, is the only one who has offered any useful information.

desultude · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 614

Look at the thread on housing. Housing conditions are a critical concern for expats in Saudia.

As for the rest, well, the exodus is mostly from the women's campus. The women's campus has been increasingly isolated from the men's. The men's contains all of the administration, all men, so it is impossible to get anything done or any input into anything. An edict recently went down, entitled "segregation of the sexes", which forbids women to even enter the admin building without express permission of the rector.

The head of the women's campus was moved to another area altogether. The women's campus now has as its go to person an underpaid Philippina. She does a great job, but she is not going to be listened to or respected by the male administration. There is no means to debate or appeal decisions that are handed down as edicts.

If something goes wrong on the women's campus, it can take weeks and months to get addressed. The main copier on the prep floor has been out of commission for most of the academic year. One clever instructor was able to patch it together at times, but mostly it was out of order. The plumbing and airconditioning can go out for days.

All of this is the little stuff that makes you crazy day by day. The real problems are with the western male administrators- both extremely nasty sexist men with bad tempers who listen to no one. All decisions are arbitrary and subject to retraction or change by the hour. it is important to watch your campus email, as a decision can change directions 3-4 times a day and you are responsible to keep up.

I am sure others will chime in. Those who waited and left at the end of the year are just getting our of town- some with great difficulty.

There are other jobs in the region and in Saudi Arabia. Consider carefully.

brasscat · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:03 pm Post subject: All So True

I did not appreciate the nasty swipe. Given, at best it came from third hand gossip. Fact is my credentials were vetted and approved by both the Saudi Embassy and PMU, which is first hand verifiable.

The female campus was in indeed treated exceptionally shabby.
All stated is the truth. The Head of the Female Campus was my boss for 6 months. She now runs the ELI.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 8:18 pm Post subject:

When DOESN'T the fun end in saudi!!! Laughing

NCTBA

johnslat · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 9:44 pm Post subject:

Dear NCTBA,
Alas - it ended when you took your Final Exit.
Regards,
John

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:14 pm Post subject:

Regards, John. But, by the postings that I've been reading over the past few years, it seems that the "fun" started soon after I left!

NCTBA

johnslat · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 10:23 pm Post subject:

Dear NCTBA,
Aha, I see. You meant unfunny fun (and games.)
Regards,
John

Evan2009 · Joined: 26 Dec 2008 Posts: 41

How could anyone survive w/o air conditioning for several days? Does this ever happen on the compounds?

desultude · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 614

fatimah · Joined: 10 May 2008 Posts: 11

desultude · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 614

You can dye (sic) the rhetoric any color you want, but the fact is that the women did (do) not stand a chance with the administration.

So, is it also passe to call a person who has no respect for people not of their own ilk racist? Have these problems been solved to the degree that they no longer warrant comment? If you believe this, you may just be PMU material.

If you cannot comment about sexism in the magic kingdom, than you cannot anywhere.

Isolating the female faculty, not listening to their comments or concerns, rendering the highest level female subservient to the lowest level administrator- these are all facts. I am sure you know that Mr. Brass Cat is a male, and he will verify what I am saying- as will most of the (western) male faculty. And the vast majority of them are not sexist and are quite supportive of the women.

But if your attitude is as indicated- welcome to PMU- it may be just what you are seeking.

fatimah · Joined: 10 May 2008 Posts: 11

Well desultude, I can see that my profiling was indeed accurate - at least in your case. Wink

desultude · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 614

Mea Culpe- what I get for responding to trolls. My father always taught me better!

Rolling Eyes

Fatimah on another post:

"Hey Scot47...no mention of menopausal witches? I hear your particular employer has its fair share of these."

Please go back, or stay at, or dream about, BAE. You will be happier without women. And I expect it will be reciprocal.

brasscat · Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 2:13 am Post subject: Facts, just the facts mame

I personally witnessed the sewage back-up and overflow into the ground just outside the LRC building.

Yes, there were indeed a/c failures, I know of three, my office was unbareable in two of them.

Then of course there was the famous toilet paper outage on the female campus, several people were foraging about for any kind of paper.
I talked with several female friends on the PMU bus who had to bring their own toilet paper.

No gossip or rumors, just first hand facts.
brasscat

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I can confirm that friends of mine back up desultude's tale of the plumbing woes and AC problems and that the women's section had many many problems with most everything that too often seemed to be ignored by university management. But, not everyone considers the management to be nasty and/or sexist.

Just like every job, there are some people who get along with individuals in management and some who don't. I would put the plumbing, AC, and other teaching and living issues before individual personality clashes if I were job searching.

And I wouldn't consider the woman's section of PMU if it were the only offer I had...

VS