[History]

The History Department--so notorious for canceling courses that frustrated students once printed a T-shirt with the word "History" in brackets--has again suffered an exodus of Faculty this year.

Of the 12 Faculty members listed as early modern or modern European historians, six are on leave. Because their courses are not being taught, the course catalog appears to list more courses in brackets than unbracketed, offered courses this term.

Blackbourn, who also teaches European history as Coolidge Professor of History, says the department has tried to replace absent Faculty with visiting professors.

"I would emphasize that we always plan ahead of time to replace Faculty on leave, so that we can attract outstanding visiting faculty," he says.

Blackbourn also stresses that when Faculty members apply for leave, they must include arrangements for undergraduate and graduate teaching.

The slim pickings in ancient history are also related to the recent departure of Faculty who had taught in both the Classics and History Departments.

"History and Classics Departments are currently conducting a joint search for an assistant professor of ancient history," Blackbourn says. "We expect that new courses from this new colleague will be on offer in fall 1999."

Where's My Post-Colonial Lit?

The English Department has been especially hard-hit this year, with both planned and unexpected leaves of absence. In a typical year, the department has four to five professors on leave each semester, says Lawrence Buell, chair of the department. But this fall, the department had seven members on leave and ten members in the spring.

"This is a year when we have an unusual number of faculty on leave," says Buell, who is also Marquand Professor of English and American Literature. "You might think the English Department is unhealthy, but this is an aberration."

Still, Buell says he believes the unusually high number of Faculty on leave is largely unavoidable due to the unique circumstances that often occasion a professor's absence.

He adds that regardless of how many absences the department is prepared for, a professor's petition for a sabbatical, even at an inopportune time, will be considered if a good case is made for it.

"Sometimes such an unusual opportunity presents itself to an individual professor that it seems wrong to deny it, even if it is out of phase," Buell explains.

A Systemic Problem?