Another thing that's distressing me is hard to explain...I'm supposed to present the bulk of my dissertation (which is creative work) or at least something in order to graduate, but other than what I've been working on for my dissertation, I don't have a lot else. And I can't get the people to really do any of it as it all requires a lot of collaboration and not enough people are available.

I'm being set up to look like the biggest loser on the planet. I don't know where to go for more help. I'm even paying for all of this out of my own pocket because there is no departmental support. We're just to hope people will do it for free or pay for their time ourselves.