Stoner

Indeed, the improvised lecture is not the last Stoner hears of Walker. Shortly after, Stoner gets called into Finch’s office to discuss the matter. While Finch and Stoner are still friendly, they rarely see one another, so their meeting is a somewhat rare occurrence. Still, Finch has great trust in Stoner and intends to help him with the Walker situation however he can. He starts by asking Stoner what happened. Stoner explains that, in addition to his lies, Walker barely put any effort into the course and seemed to have a tenuous grasp on literary study in general. Finch expected as much and plans to report the incident to the higher-ups at the university accordingly.

Additionally, Finch mentions that the English department chair is about to open up. Although he does not say so directly, Finch is trying to figure out whether Stoner is interested in the job. Stoner assures him that he does not want to pursue the position. Stoner can see that his response pleases Finch, who says Stoner wouldn’t want the job anyway because of its bureaucratic nature.

A few months later, the department selects Stoner, as one of Walker’s former seminar professors, to sit in on Walker’s preliminary oral exams. The department decides that the exams are the best way to determine whether Walker will be able to continue on in the program. Stoner deliberately arrives late to the proceedings so he does not have to talk to Walker before the exam begins. To Stoner’s surprise, Walker gives an impressive overview of his planned dissertation subject. Finch, who is also in the room to assess Walker, gives Stoner a look, signaling his surprise.

However, as soon as Walker moves to the question portion of the oral exam, he begins to falter. Lomax, Walker’s dissertation director, gives Walker softball questions, which he answers with ease. However, when other professors ask questions, Walker is clearly lost. Lomax repeatedly rephrases questions asked by other professors, wording them in such a way that he practically gives Walker the answer he is looking for. The whole affair disgusts Stoner, who feels guilty about exposing Walker but also feels that he must do so on principle.

Stoner begins asking Walker extremely easy questions about famous topics and authors from the history of literature. When Walker starts to fumble, Lomax once again tries to interrupt, but Stoner shuts him down. Without Lomax, Walker starts to ramble, so Stoner insists that his questions—many of which are simply asking for the names of authors and plays—be answered succinctly. However, Walker is completely lost. When his exam finally ends, Walker thanks everyone and walks out of the room so the professors can discuss his performance.

Everyone except Lomax thinks Walker made a fool of himself and should not be allowed to continue in the program. When Lomax pushes back, Stoner stands his ground and insists on failing Walker. Additionally, Stoner insinuates that Lomax acted unethically by aiding Walker during the exam, which sends Lomax into a fury. When Finch sees the argument getting heated, he steps in and suggests a brief extension on the decision. Afterward, Lomax speaks to Walker to let him know the decision on his progress is delayed. However, Lomax promises Walker that he has nothing to worry about.

The next day, Finch, Stoner, and Lomax have a meeting in Finch’s office. Before Lomax arrives, Finch asks Stoner to drop the Walker debacle. He informs Stoner that Lomax is about to become the new department chair, and he doesn’t want to see Stoner suffer because of a petty argument. However, on principle, Stoner refuses to back down from his position. In response, Finch promises to do everything he can to help Stoner and to stick by his side until the Walker affair is settled.

When Lomax joins the meeting, he quickly becomes angry when he learns Stoner has not changed his mind. He accuses Stoner of discriminating against Walker because of his disability, a charge that Stoner wholeheartedly rejects and says is foolish. In response, Lomax provides a long list of Stoner’s supposedly discriminatory behavior toward Walker, which includes telling Walker that he does not belong in the English department. Stoner feels that Lomax has completely twisted the events of the past to paint a false narrative and tells him so.

Refusing to back down, Lomax threatens to file formal charges against Stoner. Finch tries to shut Lomax down by claiming that his charges are ludicrous, but Lomax promises to follow through with them and storms out of the room. After he is gone, Finch and Stoner wonder aloud why Lomax is doing so much to protect Walker. Stoner still believes Lomax is a good man and an intelligent professor, so he does not understand why he would defend such a terrible student. Although no formal charges ever come Stoner’s way, Lomax punishes him by assigning Stoner only freshman composition classes the following year. Briefly, Stoner wonders whether he should look for a different job. However, when he brings the matter up with Edith, she tells him that she will never leave Columbia.