Freund Humanus

A branch of the dean’s office sends out information about an intiative to enhance student experience. I have a proposal. But I also have a question about it.

I phone around, no-one seems able to deal with my question or send me to the right office. It keeps coming back to the key person x. I phone x’s office, leave a message. Send an e-mail, each time explaining what I want to do and asking a very specific question. No response. I just tried calling again, and reached the assistant y.
Me: can I talk with x, I have a question about the initiative?
Y: Sorry, she’s in a meeting.
Me: when can I talk to her?
Y: Ooo, that will be difficult, her schedule is really full, so it will be a while.
Me: what does “a while” mean?
Y: the 23rd of November.
Me: that’s 13 days from now. It’s the day before the deadline for applications. It’s too late. And I just need 5 minutes on the phone.
Y: hmmmm, I’m not sure
Me: We’re talking about a 5 minute conversation on the phone with a very specific question.
Y: hmmm, I’m just checking your e-mails to her so I can see how I would have to prep her. She might need to get more information before talking to you.
Me: why don’t you just schedule a conversation, I’ll ask her my question and then she can decide whether she needs more information or not.
Y: well, let me see if that will work. It’s going to be difficult, because her portfolio is so full.
Me: I know this isn’t your concern, but perhaps you could pass on my frustration when you speak with her. The university spends more and more money on administration, which comes up with these initiatives, and then they don’t have the time to answer questions about the initiatives they have come up with, posed by the people who are going to make the initiatives happen or not.
Y: hmmm