University of Virginia Library

To The Editor

Faculty Defense

I wish to reply to Mr. MacDonald's
column of the 6th March,
1970, the paragraph subtitled
"Complaints Surface," the sentence
saying, "One student who has
researched the question said the
calibre of the entering graduate
classes is declining in terms of
previous records and of fellowships,
such as Woodrow Wilson grants."

As one apparently on whom a
degree of departmental and
graduate population calibre is
measured by some, I respond. I chose
the University over a number of
other institutions in part because 1.
the outstanding foreign affairs program
and faculty. 2. I have had
during my undergraduate years
(Emory '69 H.H.), departmental
products who uniformly represent
the type of teacher and scholar I
would someday hope to be. 3. The
demonstrable calibre of the undergraduate
majors, who I may instruct
in a couple of years and the
placement of graduate products. 4.
The cohesiveness of the faculty. Of
all the alternative schools I considered,
the University uniquely had
a faculty that not only talked to
one another, but carried on a
continuous academic and bureaucratic
interchange that I felt was
vital to the running of a smooth
and productive program. 5. The
accessibility of and the publications
of the faculty.

I have not been disappointed in
my choice of graduate schools (I
plan to continue for a Ph.D.). I
might add that I have been
particularly pleased with the faculty
"open doors" and with their
genuine interest in student and
education. I have found the department
to be a real and stable
academic community. I might also
add that I have not been disappointed
in the calibre of my peers.

I do not want to leave the
impression of wholesale approval.
No department is without fault or
room for improvement; but in my
second semester I am perfectly
happy and my time and talents are,
I believe, sufficiently taxed, while
my patience is not.

I admit to not being fully
informed on the Ritter affair, but I
feel no compulsion to be so
informed. The department was well
run (by faculty and students)
before my arrival, and I am not
now dissatisfied. If the faculty finds
that to maintain its reputation,
sense of community, rapport, or
program responsibilities by relying
on astrology or black-balling or
whatever, more power to them.
Faculty judgement is not infallible,
but I for one do not find sufficient
cause to sign petitions, to leave the
University, or to contribute to the
politicization of a faculty
community issue. I would not want
to risk the results of a more
democratized faculty or department.

The air Saturday afternoon was
mild, and the sky had only some
high clouds. It was good eclipse
weather. So after watching television
for a while, I went over to
the Rotunda and set up a box with
a hole in it, projecting a two-inch
solar crescent onto a card in the
shadows below. Seeing the crescent
swing around and looking out at
the strangely lit landscape was well
worth the time spent. My eyes were
untroubled until a couple of hours
later. I was about to cross Main
Street. As I watched the passing
traffic, a dozen chromium suns
gleamed in my eyes. I crossed the
street. When I blinked, a dozen red
suns flashed.

Moral: chrome-plated automobiles
may be hazardous to your
health.