Poirier Will Leave Harvard to Become Rutgers Dept. Head

Richard W. Poirier, assistant professor of English, is leaving Harvard to become Chairman of the English Department at Rutgers University, the CRIMSON has learned. Poirier will assume his new post next fall.

In addition to his administrative duties, Poirier will teach a course in American literature and one in English literature since 1800. Attached to his Chairmanship will be the title of professor of English.

Poirier, who is currently on sabbatical, was best known at Harvard for teaching Humanities 6, an introduction to literature emphasizing close textual analysis. His other courses included a survey of modern American fiction and a study of Joyce, Faulkner and Lawrence. Poirier has been at Harvard since 1953.

According to a reliable source, Poirier's appointment is the first step of a concerted effort to revitalize the Rutgers English Department. Reached by telephone, Poirier commented that he will be responsible for reorganizing the Department, "in part by the appointment of various people in the major fields who would teach on both the graduate and undergraduate level."

During his sabbatical, Poirier has been writing a book on the relationship of English and American literature.