January 31, 2003
Department Politics as a Foreign Language
Between longtime members of a department and the newest assistant professors lies a gulf of incomprehension. Assistant professors cannot understand why their helpfully meant suggestions in department meetings seem not to be heard and are never voted into action. Senior members cannot understand how bright candidates for tenure could be so stupid. Both sides have a point.
The problem lies in the language that divides these two tribes, a version of English used to express departmental
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