Expos Director Resigns

Less than three months after coming under severe public criticism from Expos teachers, Director of Expository Writing Richard C. Marius has announced his intention to leave the program he helped build into a national leader in the teaching of composition.

"Harvard is grateful to Richard Marius for his outstanding contributions to Expository Writing over the years, and for building the preeminent freshman composition program in the country," Dean for Undergraduate Education Lawrence Buell said in a statement.

Marius' resignation as program director becomes effective on June 30. His announcement, first made at a Christmas party for Expos staff last month, comes on the heels of a three part series in The Crimson last October detailing teachers, allegations that Marius verbally abused Expos teachers and mismanaged the department. Marius has denied those charges.

Marius, age 60, said he resigned in order to spend more time writing.

"I have been going to France every summer and bicycling," Marius said. "This summer, I was invited by friends to their house in Provence, and I [wrote] seven hours a day."

Marius said he began discussing the possibility of stepping down from the directorship with Associate Dean of the Faculty Phyllis Keller more than a year ago. He said he will continue teaching classes in the English Department and in the first-year seminars program, but not in Expos.

"My father ran a Southern railway shop in East Tennessee, worked there for 43 years," Marius said, "and when he retired, he walked through those gates and never came back."

Marius emphasized that the criticism contained in The Crimson series had "absolutely" no impact on his decision. He also said he considered his record in dealing with staff good.

"With 38 people working for you, sometimes I feel like a sheep dog, running around and barking at people all the time," Marius said.

However, sources close to Marius said theybelieve the public criticism figured in theresignation, but that it was just one of severalfactors in his decision.

Friends say he has long enjoyed writing andteaching more than his administrative duties.

Official explanations of the resignation andits timing were few. There was no announcementother than a small article printed inside theHarvard Gazette. Buell, who is Marius' boss, saidyesterday that he had discussed the resignationwith Marius but declined to comment further.

Patrick K. Ford, a member of the standingfaculty committee on expository writing, whichoversees Expos, said he had no advance warning ofthe decision.

"Marius' resignation kind of surprised all ofus," Ford said.

Several Expos teachers interviewed over theweekend said they were jubilant over theresignation. "He should have left a long timeago," one current teacher said.

Other teachers were more reserved. Several saidthey believed Marius' leaving the program wouldonly be a positive if significant changes weremade in department policies. All teachersinterviewed said they hoped to see the quickrepeal of the four-year limit on teacher tenure inthe program which many believe has hurt bothmorale and the quality of teaching (see relatedarticle, page 1).

Marius was teaching history at the Universityof Tennessee when Harvard brought him in to teachExpos in 1978. The new director was charged withimposing standards and restoring confidence in theprogram, and many teachers and administrators ofthe time credit him with leading a revival ofExpos.

In the October Crimson series, however, thevast majority of the 71 teachers who wereinterviewed complained about Marius' conduct anddecision-making, most notably his support for thefour-year limit for teachers.

Eight current teachers, all speaking oncondition of anonymity, said at the time thatMarius should step down as director.

Associate Director of Expository Writing NancySommers had effectively assumed day-to-daydecision making control in Expos, and there havebeen other signs that Marius was on his way out.During a two-and-a-half hour interview with TheCrimson, Marius repeatedly said that he "won't bestaying at Expos forever."

Students have long praised Marius' teachingskills. He won the Levenson Award forundergraduate teaching in 1990.

Marius is an accomplished writer and novelist,most recently of the critically acclaimed Afterthe War. He has authored textbooks on writingas well as a biography of Thomas More. He alsowrites "The Browser," a books column for HarvardMagazine.

Michael K. Mayo contributed to the reportingof this story.

However, sources close to Marius said theybelieve the public criticism figured in theresignation, but that it was just one of severalfactors in his decision.

Friends say he has long enjoyed writing andteaching more than his administrative duties.

Official explanations of the resignation andits timing were few. There was no announcementother than a small article printed inside theHarvard Gazette. Buell, who is Marius' boss, saidyesterday that he had discussed the resignationwith Marius but declined to comment further.

Patrick K. Ford, a member of the standingfaculty committee on expository writing, whichoversees Expos, said he had no advance warning ofthe decision.

"Marius' resignation kind of surprised all ofus," Ford said.

Several Expos teachers interviewed over theweekend said they were jubilant over theresignation. "He should have left a long timeago," one current teacher said.

Other teachers were more reserved. Several saidthey believed Marius' leaving the program wouldonly be a positive if significant changes weremade in department policies. All teachersinterviewed said they hoped to see the quickrepeal of the four-year limit on teacher tenure inthe program which many believe has hurt bothmorale and the quality of teaching (see relatedarticle, page 1).

Marius was teaching history at the Universityof Tennessee when Harvard brought him in to teachExpos in 1978. The new director was charged withimposing standards and restoring confidence in theprogram, and many teachers and administrators ofthe time credit him with leading a revival ofExpos.

In the October Crimson series, however, thevast majority of the 71 teachers who wereinterviewed complained about Marius' conduct anddecision-making, most notably his support for thefour-year limit for teachers.

Eight current teachers, all speaking oncondition of anonymity, said at the time thatMarius should step down as director.

Associate Director of Expository Writing NancySommers had effectively assumed day-to-daydecision making control in Expos, and there havebeen other signs that Marius was on his way out.During a two-and-a-half hour interview with TheCrimson, Marius repeatedly said that he "won't bestaying at Expos forever."

Students have long praised Marius' teachingskills. He won the Levenson Award forundergraduate teaching in 1990.

Marius is an accomplished writer and novelist,most recently of the critically acclaimed Afterthe War. He has authored textbooks on writingas well as a biography of Thomas More. He alsowrites "The Browser," a books column for HarvardMagazine.

Michael K. Mayo contributed to the reportingof this story.