Peter Packer Pollinger was of course one of the first to raise a triumphant hand, whether because he knew it would annoy Clemance, or because he had found a Macleod admirer was not, nor ever likely to be, clear. “And have you found them to be good students, or poor students, or merely satisfactory?”
“I object,” Cudlipp shouted, running a hand over his bald head. He had a habit of throwing back his bald head as though he had, in fact, long hair which dangled in his eyes. “The question is irrelevant.”
“Nonsense,” Professor Goddard shouted. “
Piers Plowman
may, as my students persistently tell me, lack relevancy, but if you are damning a part of this University to extinction, I fail to see how it can be irrelevant to discuss the quality of its students. Perhaps Professor Cudlipp can enlighten me.”
“Before Professor Cudlipp enlightens us,” Michaels, the chairman, said, “may I be allowed a few words? I don’t know if you are aware that I am running this Department, which is twice as big as the Business School, and almost twice as large as the Law School, with no administrative staff whatever—the Law School, I mayremind you, has five deans, the Business School six—and I am teaching two courses in Victorian poets at the same time. Mr. Levy, whom, because he is in my field, I know better than I know Mr. Genero, would be able to help me considerably not only with my dissertation load, but with certain administrative tasks in the department. Though none of you can be expected to know it, Mr. Levy is a first-rate administrator. If we are to promote people on the basis of their usefulness to the English Department, I would like to point out that, whatever the abilities of the students in the University College, Mr. Levy is to be highly recommended.”
“I would like to second that,” Mark Everglade said. “Mr. Genero, as it happens, is in my field, which is Comparative Renaissance, he is fluent in Italian and speaks and reads five other languages as well, and if I am to continue as Secretary I would like to suggest that his usefulness to me can scarcely be overestimated. Let me add, while I have the floor, that the students from University College who have been in my classes have been first-rate and have been, compared to the boys from the College, possessed of a higher degree of motivation and a considerably lower degree of arrogance.”
Cudlipp leaped to his feet. “I move that this meeting be adjourned,” he shouted.
“I second the motion,” O’Toole said.
“Now wait a minute,” Carrier shouted.
“Motions for adjournment are not debatable,” Cudlipp announced. Indeed, the faculty had learned Robert’s Rules of Order in recent months.
“We shall have to take a vote,” Michaels said. “All infavor of adjournment signify by saying ‘Aye.’ ” There was a loud chorus of “Ayes.” “Opposed.”
“No,” several voices trumpeted.
“The ‘Ayes’ have it,” Michaels said. “This meeting is adjourned.” He gathered up his papers and marched from the room lest any inclination to continue the discussion manifest itself.
“Interesting,” Kate said to Mark Everglade, “and thanks for your support.”
“It was heartfelt,” Mark said, “and not at all disinterested. I’m conniving for Genero’s assistance in a desperate way.”
“What astonished me,” Kate said, “is how many we’ve obviously got on our side—the side, I mean, of University College. The support is much greater than I dared think. Of course, alas and alack, Cudlipp must be aware of this as fully as I. What do you think he’ll do next?”
“What you taught me to do in the elevator,” Everglade said, “remembering, in your Proustian way, the stories your father told.” Kate stared at him. “He’ll go straight to the President,” Everglade explained, “together with Clemance, the University’s most renowned adornment, and O’Toole, Dean of the College—yes, I was passed a note during the
“I object,” Cudlipp shouted, running a hand over his bald head. He had a habit of throwing back his bald head as though he had, in fact, long hair which dangled in his eyes. “The question is irrelevant.”
“Nonsense,” Professor Goddard shouted. “
Piers Plowman
may, as my students persistently tell me, lack relevancy, but if you are damning a part of this University to extinction, I fail to see how it can be irrelevant to discuss the quality of its students. Perhaps Professor Cudlipp can enlighten me.”
“Before Professor Cudlipp enlightens us,” Michaels, the chairman, said, “may I be allowed a few words? I don’t know if you are aware that I am running this Department, which is twice as big as the Business School, and almost twice as large as the Law School, with no administrative staff whatever—the Law School, I mayremind you, has five deans, the Business School six—and I am teaching two courses in Victorian poets at the same time. Mr. Levy, whom, because he is in my field, I know better than I know Mr. Genero, would be able to help me considerably not only with my dissertation load, but with certain administrative tasks in the department. Though none of you can be expected to know it, Mr. Levy is a first-rate administrator. If we are to promote people on the basis of their usefulness to the English Department, I would like to point out that, whatever the abilities of the students in the University College, Mr. Levy is to be highly recommended.”
“I would like to second that,” Mark Everglade said. “Mr. Genero, as it happens, is in my field, which is Comparative Renaissance, he is fluent in Italian and speaks and reads five other languages as well, and if I am to continue as Secretary I would like to suggest that his usefulness to me can scarcely be overestimated. Let me add, while I have the floor, that the students from University College who have been in my classes have been first-rate and have been, compared to the boys from the College, possessed of a higher degree of motivation and a considerably lower degree of arrogance.”
Cudlipp leaped to his feet. “I move that this meeting be adjourned,” he shouted.
“I second the motion,” O’Toole said.
“Now wait a minute,” Carrier shouted.
“Motions for adjournment are not debatable,” Cudlipp announced. Indeed, the faculty had learned Robert’s Rules of Order in recent months.
“We shall have to take a vote,” Michaels said. “All infavor of adjournment signify by saying ‘Aye.’ ” There was a loud chorus of “Ayes.” “Opposed.”
“No,” several voices trumpeted.
“The ‘Ayes’ have it,” Michaels said. “This meeting is adjourned.” He gathered up his papers and marched from the room lest any inclination to continue the discussion manifest itself.
“Interesting,” Kate said to Mark Everglade, “and thanks for your support.”
“It was heartfelt,” Mark said, “and not at all disinterested. I’m conniving for Genero’s assistance in a desperate way.”
“What astonished me,” Kate said, “is how many we’ve obviously got on our side—the side, I mean, of University College. The support is much greater than I dared think. Of course, alas and alack, Cudlipp must be aware of this as fully as I. What do you think he’ll do next?”
“What you taught me to do in the elevator,” Everglade said, “remembering, in your Proustian way, the stories your father told.” Kate stared at him. “He’ll go straight to the President,” Everglade explained, “together with Clemance, the University’s most renowned adornment, and O’Toole, Dean of the College—yes, I was passed a note during the
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