A young physicist, upon learning that he was denied tenure after six
productive years at a University in San Francisco, requested a meeting
with the Provost for an explanation, and a possible appeal.

At the meeting, the Provost told the young physicist, "I'm sorry to
tell you that the needs of the University have shifted somewhat,
during the past six-years leading up to your tenure decision. In point
of fact, what we now require is a female, condensed-matter
experimentalist. Unfortunately, you are a male, high-energy theorist!"

Dejected but not defeated, the young physicist thought for a moment
about the implications of the Provost's words. "Sir," he said, "I
would be willing to convert in two of the three categories you
mention, but ... I'll never agree to become an experimentalist!"