May 10, 2002

Too Many New Historians, Too Few Academic Jobs

To the Editor:

Perhaps Robert E. Wright is a clever satirist, but ... I think he is just uninformed ("A Market Solution to the Oversupply of Historians," The Review, April 12). ... Last year, we conducted two history searches at Eastern Kentucky University; for each, we had fewer than 30 qualified applicants, although we offer competitive salaries. ...

It is true that academic searches are often conducted in a pathetic fashion.

The indignities heaped upon applicants