On University Administration

I am constantly surprised by the level of bureaucracy in University administrative offices. This morning I submitted the paperwork to advance to candidacy for the PhD. One of my labmates heard me complaining about the $65 fee and claimed that he hadn't paid anything. Since he's in a different department, I went to our (new) departmental secretary (sorry, administrative assisstant) and asked if our department could also waive the fee. She refused. Then, I asked our lab's administrative assisstant if our advisor has ever been charged the fee. He also said no. So when I submitted my check to the Graduate Office, I asked if it was common to have this mismatch between departments. I was told that all students paid their own fee and my labmate must have slipped through the cracks. Not wanting to incriminate him, I let the subject drop. What gets me is that if didn't submit a check and just hoped I'd "slip through the cracks", I would instead be notified on graduation day that I hadn't fulfilled requirements and would be delayed a semester in receiving my degree. That's what happens to the chump (chumpette?) who actually reads these pesky forms.

On Grammar

My research advisor forbids the use of split infinitives and gerunds. The split infinitive issue is, in my opinion, archaic, especially as using them usually increases clarity, a crucial aspect of scientific writing. The gerund rule is uniquely his. I think this symbolizes the dominance of old white males in science. Just because some woman in her 50s told my advisor in the 50s that split infinitives were a bad idea, does not mean that currently accepted standards are in some way inferior. How is anyone surprised at the prevalence of outmoded thinking when it comes to women in science when it is such a big issue in even small, far less significant aspects of the field?