September 5, 2008

Generational Conflicts in Academe

To the Editor:

Your July 18 Academic Workplace section seems to be mostly about public relations. The lead article, "A Midlife Crisis Hits College Campuses," focused on people with more than eight years of experience. Workplaces are full of 32-year-olds who think they should have the jobs of 52-year-olds.

It is an erroneous assumption that baby boomers are all going to retire soon. In fact, people who are 50 and in the work force won't retire until age 68 unless they don't need