A Stanford University anthropologist who studies Indian bureaucracy has learned more than he wanted to know about his own institution during a tenure battle that reflects a split in his field over research methodologies.

Akhil Gupta, whose tenure bid was denied by the dean earlier this year, has now had his wishes granted. Last December, Gupta, 38, was recommended for tenure by his department, but John Shoven, dean of humanities and sciences, twice overruled the decision. Although Shoven declined to comment on his reasons, Gupta pointed to letters from anthropologists who were critical of Gupta's methods. Finally, last month, the case was bounced up to the highest level of Stanford's administration--the Stanford Advisory Board, which voted to grant him tenure.

The high-profile case comes at a time when Stanford's anthropology department is deeply divided (Science, 20 June, p. 1783). On one side are cultural anthropologists, such as Gupta, who often use "narrative" techniques to analyze culture in terms of gender, race, and power relationships. On the other are physical and biological anthropologists who rely on scientific testing of hypotheses to study human culture and evolution.

For Gupta, the final decision came as an immense relief: "It really was a painful process," but he's "thrilled" with the outcome. He's less thrilled with Stanford's modus operandi: "We need a systematic overhaul of the tenure structure to make it more transparent and more accountable," he says. In the meantime, he has seized the opportunity to get away from it all for a year, studying Indian bureaucracy as a Woodrow Wilson fellow in Washington, D.C.