Language programmes under threat. Sounds familiar. SOAS, my alma mater, recently announced plans to cease teaching Bengali, but I think they've now scrapped that idea in the face of overwhelming student-led protests. However, I seem to remember reading in Robert Irwin's For Lust of Knowing (his recent splendid defense of orientalists) that Cambridge was having trouble filling its Chair for either Persian or Arabic, due to lack of outstanding candidates? or was it Oxford? I forget which.

ps. found yr lj via your other blog via Registan. Mind if I add you as a friend?