on may 19, 1972, acanfora was interviewed by a personnel specialist in the department of personnel for montgomery county public schools. following the interview, the personnel specialist filled out an "interview and recruitment form" which is a standard part of each applicant's file. acanfora was rated above average in each of the seven categories contained on the form (appearance, personality, verbal expression, knowledge of subject area, enthusiasm for teaching, references, and scholarship). in the "comments" section, the interviewer described acanfora as "an above average earth science applicant." however, the interviewer had acquired a subjective "gut feeling" during the interview that acanfora might be a homosexual, and so he added the following comment on the form: "principal must interview before contracting; reservations."