2 Desks, 8 People

[E-P]

So, because I'm not teaching for my first year, the school has put me into an office with 2 desks and 7 other people. By the time I got there, a couple of people have moved in, staked out their desks, and set up their personal stuff. We're not talking community staplers - I'm looking at someone's awards, business cards, knick knacks, etc.

In my previous lives, when multiple people have to share the same desk, everyone leaves their personal stuff in a locker/shelf/etc, and only puts it up when they're sitting there. Then, first come first serve.

Everyone else in the office is more "senior" than I am - I'm the only new doctoral student, and most of my officemates either did their MA here as well, or are studying for comps/writing their diss. 

Any suggestions on the social protocol here?  My initial impression is to email everyone and ask who is actually going to be regularly using the office (some people have offices in other buildings, etc.), then work with those people to encourage them to use lockers/tubs/etc. for their personal stuff when they're not there.  I'm even willing to buy tubs for everyone.  But what is the "normal" protocol for this sort of situation?  Am I the only one who has a problem with coming in and taking over space you're supposed to be sharing?

 

[Sigaba]

On 8/5/2018 at 9:27 AM, E-P said:

So, because I'm not teaching for my first year, the school has put me into an office with 2 desks and 7 other people. By the time I got there, a couple of people have moved in, staked out their desks, and set up their personal stuff. We're not talking community staplers - I'm looking at someone's awards, business cards, knick knacks, etc.

In my previous lives, when multiple people have to share the same desk, everyone leaves their personal stuff in a locker/shelf/etc, and only puts it up when they're sitting there. Then, first come first serve.

Everyone else in the office is more "senior" than I am - I'm the only new doctoral student, and most of my officemates either did their MA here as well, or are studying for comps/writing their diss. 

Any suggestions on the social protocol here?  My initial impression is to email everyone and ask who is actually going to be regularly using the office (some people have offices in other buildings, etc.), then work with those people to encourage them to use lockers/tubs/etc. for their personal stuff when they're not there.  I'm even willing to buy tubs for everyone.  But what is the "normal" protocol for this sort of situation?  Am I the only one who has a problem with coming in and taking over space you're supposed to be sharing?

 

I wouldn't ask your office mates a question as a means to initiate a conversation on this topic unless you're willing to counter answers like "This is the way we've always done things," or "Stay in your lane, newbie."

Instead, I'd ask an administrator in your department about the assignment of desk space in this office. Once you know the way things are supposed to be, then you can wait your turn until its time to have a desk or initiate conversations in which you lead your office mates to a "hotel" concept.

If they prove stubborn, you can either go along to get along, kill them with kindness, or escalate the matter in ways that make initiate a renegotiation. 

As much as I'd like for you to raise a little hell, please keep in mind that ABDs are often an undervalued resource in a department. Your office mates may be acting like territorial dorks simply because they can, and they may also have invaluable information on preparing for qualifying exams and managing a dissertation proposal/prospectus process.

 

[iwearflowers]

If you do send an email, maybe phrase it as wondering how space is typically handled rather than proposing a new system right away. I’ve always found that people are nicer when I acknowledge that I’m new and/or not sure what’s going on.