May 26, 2000

The Lessons of a Lost Career

By SCOTT HELLER

By staying in Charleston, Mr. Overton stepped aboard the Baptist College's fiscal roller coaster. He became subject to the whims of an academic culture where personal loyalty is all-important, and popularity with students counts. Instead of an up-or-out tenure-and-promotion system, the college advances some people quickly, while others languish for years, turned down but not turned out.

It's the worst of both worlds, says Tunis Romein, a veteran professor of English. "You have the