University of Virginia Library

Commitment

The problem for Mr. Porter and
his wife is that they are committed
to finding a situation where they
can teach together. This seems a
reasonable quest, especially in light
of their common interest, the
language of Shakespeare, on which
they are each writing dissertations.
However, between the often
unwritten policies of discrimination
and nepotism practiced against
women in academic communities
across the nation, they seem
doomed to fall short of their goal.

The problem is not one that is
unique to English departments or
this University, as the Newsweek
article points out. However, this fall
only six out of the 48 in the
English department's faculty at the
professorship level will be women,
three of whom are faculty wives.
This is an encouraging increase
from previous years, when
nepotism was subtly enforced. It is
as of yet inadequate.

Photo by Saxon Holt

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Porter