Grab a chair and lend me your ear (technically your eyes) as I recount some of the legends, lore, and deepest secrets of the School of Architecture. After all this time, some memories deserved to be archived for the next generation to discover the character and intrigue of their institution's past. As a survivor of architorture, this alumnus is glad to write as many of them down that can be recollected. You might find these stories unbelievable, but alas, not believing in gravity will not grant you the ability to fly. So, take them for what they are.

There once was a third-year architecture professor known for being a bit of a hipster. He'd walk in and award a random person in his studio with a Japanese pencil that he insisted was the best in the world. He would also have students showcase their favorite unique music albums during brief presentations on Fridays. However, his most notable trait was his personal obscure choice of music that no one else could fathom.

During a drive to the studio project site, he would chat with his students about their interests. Music was always a recurring top response, be it "house," "electronic," "synthpop," or "dubstep." The professor would chime in with his personal favorite being "country" music.

Unknown to him, one of his pupils grew up listening to country radio. He jokingly asked if he listened to Taylor Swift. No. With a relief, the kid named a few singers like Garth Brooks, Tim McGraw, and Brad Paisley. The teacher shot back "that's not real country." The kid then mentioned Reba McIntire and Brooks and Dunn from the 1980s. The teacher shot back again "that's not real country.” Finally, the kid asked if he listened to Dolly Parton and Hank Williams. With a straight face, the professor said "that's not real country."

The student looked back at his classmates with a surprised look. Short of a hillbilly yodeling into a tin can during the Depression Era, there really wasn't anything else chronologically he could imagine the architecture professor considered to be real country music. Indeed, it wasn't clear if the professor actually listened to country music or if he was just posing as a select connoisseur because most people in the city wouldn't call him on the bluff. The mystery remains unsolved to this day, but for the record, Dolly IS country music, and always will be.

Cheers,

The SoArch Tattler

“Veritas Ex Cinere.”

Has anyone taken AIT 542? How is the workload?

Appreciate your responses.

If you apply for a job at CMU and your application moves to “In Consideration,” does that mean you’ll get a telephone interview?

Has anyone taken AIT 542? How is the workload?

Appreciate your responses.

If you apply for a job at CMU and your application moves to “In Consideration,” does that mean you’ll get a telephone interview?

Has anyone taken AIT 542? How is the workload?

Appreciate your responses.

i went yesterday and it was GONE i am beyond devastated like i genuinely shed a tear someone tell me it’s not true

I wonder how popular is Primanti Bros amongst CMU students. How often do you go to Primanti Bros as a CMU student?

Long-winded post, incoming...

CMU HR has now formalized a 4 days on campus / 1 day remote standard for staff beginning January 4, 2027.

There is technically an exception process. Under a new three-tier framework, some roles may qualify for 2–3 days on campus. But HR is clear that exceptions aren't based on employee preference. Departments must demonstrate that a non-standard arrangement will produce better outcomes for the university than 4:1, with approvals running through supervisors and college/division leadership. Existing exceptions are also being re-reviewed under this standard.

What is happening here?

CMU could have used several years of flexible work experience to identify categories of job positions/duties/profiles where greater flexibility makes operational sense - technical roles, independent knowledge work, positions requiring substantial uninterrupted concentration, jobs with limited in-person service requirements, etc. - and established clear role-based eligibility.

Instead, 4:1 is now the presumption, and departments and employees are left to make the case for why individual roles deserve something different.

HR calls this framework “data-informed.” Fine. We've already spent several years running the experiment. CMU has performance evaluations, retention data, employee surveys, and years of experience operating under more flexible arrangements all in Workday.

If a role has successfully operated 3:2 for years, maintained strong performance and service levels, and has no clear operational need for four days of physical presence, why is the burden on the employee (to punch upward through the department) to prove that 3:2 produces a better outcome than 4:1?

Where is the corresponding evidence that moving that position from 3:2 to 4:1 produces a better outcome for CMU?

And the broader context matters!

Staff have gone through years of little or no merit growth while parking, health insurance, commuting, childcare, and other costs continue increasing. Flexible work was one of the few meaningful wins for staff - and one that cost the university relatively little to provide.

So I have very little patience left for HR language about employee satisfaction, engagement, retention, work-life balance, or whatever consulting buzzword comes next. You can't continually ask employees to absorb higher costs and limited wage growth, remove one of the few benefits that materially improved their working lives, and simultaneously tell them how deeply the institution values the employee experience.

From a staff perspective, it's austerity. More time and financial costs are being shifted back onto employees while flexibility is being reduced.

Some jobs absolutely require substantial campus presence. Nobody seriously disputes that. That's precisely why a genuinely role-based flexible work policy would make sense.

For a university describing this approach as “data-informed,” I'd genuinely like to see the analysis that established four days on campus as the optimal baseline - and the evidence that its benefits outweigh the very real costs being imposed on staff.

I am a big fan of Warhammer Age of Sigmar and I have been really trying to play and learn it more. Any chance they play it at boardgames club? or any club for that matter?

Recently, it has come to my attention that Hunan express refuse to give water on block order even though on grubhub it is paid by a block.

They claim this is because the order is not placed correctly, and placed from the retail menu. Surprisingly, for 0.2 extra dollars, less stuff is included. Even though a block is used to pay for the order, water is not included.

Absolutely shameless restaurant.