I'm angry. Yes, ANGRY. I just found out that my old friend Suzette Bates, (update: I found the link) a 34 year employee of Lyon College was summarily fired about a month ago. Yes, after 34 years of service was handed a pink slip one day after work. She has been a Programmer/Analyst there for well, the past 34 years and was one of the people who probably let me play too much on computers so many years ago. I know Lyon's had some hard times as of late (which I DEARLY hope that the change in administration helps fix - the last one had the personality of a turnip) but please -- you DO NOT treat someone who has been that loyal to your institution, who has been a faithful employee, who never misses work, who has been recognized by her peers for outstanding service, and is such a stickler that if they take 5 minutes too long for lunch will stay 20 to make it up the way you treated her. Period. If you folks up there are reading this then know that I am ASHAMED of you. Find those with less seniority, those with fewer deep ties, ones who can more easily change careers. You do not treat your own that way (if I recall correctly, Suzette was #2 or #3 on the seniority list there. She's outlived every single member of the administration and all the faculty but 1). There are better ways to save a buck.

Don't bother asking me for a donation this year. You won't get it.