The provost at CCNY insists that release time be padded into every grant. Even though 
the grant we were applying for had a limit above which we would be kicked into a much 
tougher category, the provost didn't care. Of course, release time was a phony device 
to suck more money out of the funding agencies.

The Research Foundation is another bureaucratic organization that takes its undue 
share of an engorged overhead. All the people at RF are friendly and competent. All 
do a good job and all should be fired. But the RF is the Port Authority of CUNY and 
it will outlive the planet.

That was the last proposal I wrote for CCNY. My 60th birthday present to myself was 
that I will never write another proposal other than the simple one for PSC CUNY 
that is almost automatic.


Poem begun during Christmas 2002 - lost then recovered 14 May 2004

It is the season to be jolly
But I'm incensed at RF's folly
While others celebrate I can't
I'll have to write another grant
So when they party I fume instead
About exorbitant overhead
Fringe benefits of course come first.
For their fraud may they all be cursed.
But the Provost demands yet one more line.
Before His Arrogance will stoop to sign
On top of fringe and Overhead's crime
All grants are padded with release time
This allows the Provost to claim by force
That he's released us from a course
This unmerited fealty brings delight
To that administrative parasite
The ponderous grant is too rich say I
Provost: "Then cut your pay or let it die."
Even his AA's know to say
"Why not give up your summer pay
Because they want it sent their way."

Six months later the grant was lost.
Rejected as too great a cost.
Next proposal though I think may fly
Because it won't be done through CCNY.