The Dean straightened in his chair. He read the two emails once again, examining every word.
Although he had a vague memory of who Peter Abelard was, he indulged his curiosity and Googled him. He clicked on a reputable biography and began reading.
Quod erat demonstrandum, he thought.
Chapter 23
Downtown, Jeremy Martin was reclining on his leather sofa, eyes closed, listening to Beethoven while his wife got ready for bed. As the Chair of Italian Studies, he was responsible for a number of people, including faculty and students. Gabriel’s revelation that he was dating a former student troubled him.
He knew that Christa Peterson’s complaint was malicious, but like any other complainant, she should be taken seriously. Given the fact that she was correct in surmising that Gabriel and Julianne were involved, it was quite possible that her allegation that Julianne had received special favors was also correct. Gabriel, his friend and colleague, had tried to keep the relationship secret. Now the Dean was asking questions, placing Jeremy in a hell of a bind.
Over the course of his career in the United States and now in Toronto, he’d seen too many bright and promising graduate students become the playthings of their professors. His wife, for example, had been a graduate student in linguistics at Columbia University, only to have her career ruined by her professor/lover after she tired of his alcoholism. It had taken years for Danielle’s wounds to heal, and even now she would have nothing to do with academia. Jeremy didn’t want to see Julianne’s career come to a similar end.
On the other hand, he would not allow the rising star of his faculty to be slandered and vilified for an infraction he hadn’t committed. If the Dean investigated Professor Emerson and Miss Mitchell further, Jeremy would do his damnedest to ensure that justice was served. Failing that, he was determined to ensure that his department was protected. Which is why he was horrified to find copies of letters addressed to Professor Emerson and Miss Mitchell with his daily mail on the first Thursday in March.
Muttering expletives, he glanced at the contents quickly before making a discreet call to one of his contacts in the Dean’s office. Half an hour later, he was placing a call to Professor Emerson’s home.
“Have you checked your snail mail today?”
Gabriel frowned. “No. Why?”
“Because I have a letter from the Dean indicating that you and Julianne are being investigated for engaging in an inappropriate relationship while she was your student.”
“Fuck,” said Gabriel.
“Exactly. Are you sitting down?”
“No.”
“Well, take a seat. I just got off the phone with a friend who works in the Dean’s office. Julianne has filed a harassment complaint against Christa Peterson, pursuant to the allegations against her. In retaliation, Christa has threatened the university with a lawsuit over the fact that Julianne received preferential treatment because she slept with you. Christa’s allegations are now part of the investigation into you and Julianne.”
“That’s preposterous!”
“Is it?”
“Of course it is. It’s ridiculous.”
“I’m glad to hear that, Gabriel, because the university takes complaints like this very seriously. The Provost’s office has ordered the Dean and two others to form a committee and investigate the allegations. You and Julianne are being summoned to appear before them, together.”
Gabriel cursed. “Who else is on the committee?”
“My contact wouldn’t tell me. The good news is that the meeting is only an investigatory hearing. Depending upon how the hearing officers decide the matter, it could be referred to the Provost’s Office for charges to be laid, and then the two of you would have to appear before a disciplinary tribunal. I don’t need to explain to you how deep the shit would be at that point.”
“Why doesn’t the Dean simply meet with me? All of this could be laid to rest in a few minutes.”
“I doubt that. Allegations and complaints are piling up and you’re at the center of all of them.”
Gabriel’s heart almost stopped. “You think there are more allegations forthcoming?”
“I have my suspicions. But nothing has been confirmed.”
“Shit,” said Gabriel, rubbing his eyes roughly. “Just how much trouble are we in?”
“If I were you, I’d stop thinking as a we and focus on I. That’s what got you into this mess in the first place.”
“Just answer the question, please.”
Jeremy paused, flipping through the letters on his desk. “Since there is some question about the integrity of your marking scheme with respect to Julianne, the Dean has suspended her grade in your seminar. That means that her transcript will be incomplete until the matter is resolved either with a dismissal or a tribunal and its outcome.”
“She won’t graduate,” Gabriel whispered.
“It’s University policy to withhold a final grade until all academic infractions are dealt with.”
“So depending on how long this takes, she won’t be able to go to Harvard.”
“If the matter is settled in her favor, they’ll let the grade stand and backdate her graduation. But by that time, I would assume she’d lose her place at Harvard. Unless she can persuade them to defer her admission.”
“Her admission was conditional on the satisfactory completion of her MA. She can ask, but I don’t think she’s in a position to ask for a deferral. And if Harvard catches wind of this, they might withdraw their offer.”
“Then she’d better pray this matter is settled in time for her to apply to graduate. And frankly, so should you. If you’re found guilty of academic fraud, the Provost can strip you of your tenure.”
“Fuck.” Gabriel slammed his hand down on his desk. “When will we have to appear before the committee?”
“Thursday, March twenty-fifth.”
“That leaves them less than a month to sort everything out before she needs to apply for graduation.”
“Academic procedures move at a glacial pace. You know that.” He cleared his throat. “Aren’t you the slightest bit worried about your predicament?”
“Not particularly,” Gabriel growled.
“Well, you should be. And what’s more, my primary concern is you, although I would be sorry to see Julianne’s academic future threatened.”
“I won’t let that happen.”
“And I’m not about to let one of my star professors be hung out to dry.” Jeremy heaved a deep breath. “Under the policy you’re suspected of violating, you bear more responsibility than her. You’re under suspicion of evaluating a student with reference to a criterion that has nothing to do with academic merit.”
“That’s preposterous and you have the paper trail to prove it.”
“No, I don’t.” Jeremy began tapping his finger against the pages in front of him. “I have a paper trail, but it’s incomplete. You didn’t notify me until recently that you were involved with her. Now my boss is starting to ask questions. Do you have any idea how embarrassing this is for me? I look like I just fell off the turnip truck and have no idea what the hell is going on in my own department!”
Gabriel inhaled and exhaled slowly.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that you f**ked up, Gabriel, no matter how you look at it. And I’m not about to jeopardize everything I’ve worked for to cover your ass.”
Professor Emerson was stunned into silence.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were dating her? I hired you, for God’s sake.”
“Because I didn’t think it was anyone’s business who I was sleeping with.”
“You can’t be serious.” Jeremy muttered a curse. “You know the rules governing relationships with students. Since you kept your relationship secret from me and everyone else, you look guilty.”
Gabriel gritted his teeth. “Jeremy, can I count on your support or not?”
“I’ll do what I can, but that might not be much. If I were you, I’d notify the Faculty Association and make sure you bring your union representative to the hearing.”
“This is a witch hunt that was started by a disgruntled graduate student. Christa Peterson is trying to have me fired.”
“You might be right. But before you get on your soapbox, realize that you violated university policy. That makes it much easier for the administration to infer that you’re guilty of other infractions. And by the way, I received an email from the Dean asking me about the M. P. Emerson bursary. For your sake, I hope your fingerprints aren’t on it.”
Gabriel let loose with a string of curses. Jeremy interrupted him.
“If you don’t have a lawyer, my friend, now would be the time to hire one.”
Gabriel muttered something and hung up the phone, walking swiftly to his dining room to pour himself a drink.
* * *
Although Gabriel notified the Faculty Association of his situation, he declined their offer to accompany him to the hearing. John was of the opinion that his legal acumen was far more threatening than that of the union, but he was willing to admit that should the matter result in charges, it would be appropriate at that point to involve them.