Ahhh, seeking promotion in self-defense. That's how I started down the path to the Dark Side, as well. And yes, the politics of IT management truly is fucked up, even in a university environment. It's not clear to me that it's any worse than other kinds of management; just a bit more frustrating, since everyone KNOWS that bad technical decisions are being made for bad reasons, but it STILL HAPPENS.

ahem.

Good luck.