Who to Talk to

Instead of chatting up the right lecturer to help you climb the ladder, talk with the caretaker, typists, canteen-workers and maintenance staff etc. You will probably find them more interesting. Most academics are boring to talk to but discussion comes alive when confrontation takes place and you both discuss how you can go beyond your roles in the situation, e.g. physical, rearrangement of the chairs in the middle of a tutorial, or handing the tutor a reading list for the next week, or bringing along a 'low status' mate of yours (or a whole gang) to an elite sherry reception. Go and have lunch in the staff club!