“Dr. Robert Mwangi, Vice-President of Student Affairs.” Professor Mwangi was a Kenyan Canadian who wore wire-rimmed spectacles and a button down shirt with no jacket and no tie. He was the most casually dressed of the four of them and the most obviously friendly. He smiled at Julia, and she smiled back.
The Dean proceeded with his opening remarks.
“Miss Mitchell, Professor Emerson, you have been notified by letter as to why your presence was required. Pursuant to our investigation of the allegation of academic misconduct against you, Miss Mitchell, we have talked to Professor Picton, Miss Peterson, Mrs. Jenkins, Professor Jeremy Martin, and Mr. Paul Norris.
“During the course of our investigation, several facts emerged, facts that have been corroborated by more than one witness.” The Dean stared at Gabriel, pursing his lips. “For this reason, the Provost’s office ordered this committee be formed to investigate matters further.
“The facts that have come to light so far are as follows: first, that a public argument with possible personal overtones took place between Miss Mitchell and Professor Emerson during his graduate seminar on or about October twenty-eighth, two thousand and nine.
“Second, that on or about October thirty-first, Professor Picton agreed to supervise Miss Mitchell’s MA thesis at the urging of Professor Emerson, who later notified Professor Martin about the change. Professor Emerson claimed that the switch was necessary due to a conflict of interest, namely, that Miss Mitchell was a friend of his family. Paperwork was filed in the School of Graduate Studies in November to effect this change.
“Third, on December tenth, Professor Emerson gave a public lecture in Florence, Italy, to which he was accompanied by Miss Mitchell. Over the course of the evening, he introduced Miss Mitchell as his fiancée. These facts are substantiated in print and in photographs, and they have also been corroborated by a Professor Pacciani who was present at the event.” The Dean held up a piece of paper that appeared to be a hard copy of an email.
Gabriel glared darkly at the mention of Pacciani, mumbling an expletive under his breath.
The Dean fixed his gaze on Gabriel. “Did Miss Mitchell harass you into participating in an amorous relationship with her?”
Julia nearly fell off her chair.
All eyes in the room focused on Gabriel, whose color deepened. His lawyer began whispering furiously in his ear but Gabriel waved him aside.
“Absolutely not.”
“Very well. Are you currently engaged in an amorous relationship with Miss Mitchell?”
“Dr. Aras, you’ve offered no evidence of any policy infractions here. All you’ve offered is a sketchy timeline that is open to interpretation and tabloid journalism from Italy. I will not allow you to railroad my client,” John complained.
“If your client has nothing to hide, then he should answer our questions. When did the relationship between you, Professor Emerson, and your student begin?”
Before John could open his mouth to protest, Professor Chakravartty interrupted. “I object to this line of questioning on the grounds that relationships between professors and students in the same department cannot be consensual. And I’d like my objection minuted.”
The Dean nodded at his assistant, Meagan, who was typing notes furiously on her laptop. “Duly noted,” he huffed. “We’ll discuss that issue shortly. Professor Emerson?”
“With respect, Dr. Aras, my client is not obligated to respond to supposition and speculation. Perhaps Miss Mitchell might take a different view.” John cast a snide look at Soraya, then smiled innocently at the hearing officers.
“Very well. Miss Mitchell?”
Soraya glared at John before turning to face the committee.
“My client has already been subjected to a harassing experience by the Dean’s office when she was forced to defend herself against a serious but entirely malicious complaint by another student. In view of the stress and emotional trauma that has already been inflicted on her, I ask you to direct your questions to Professor Emerson. He instigated the transfer of my client’s thesis supervision to Professor Picton, it’s his signature on the forms, and we have nothing to say on the matter.”
Julia leaned over to protest in Soraya’s ear, but Soraya waved her off.
Julia gritted her teeth.
“Ah. A classic prisoner’s dilemma emerges. I wonder if either of you realize the outcome you are headed toward if you continue in this manner.” Dr. Aras cleared this throat. “I can allow you a short recess in order for you to confer with your attorneys, Miss Mitchell and Professor Emerson, but I expect you to answer our questions expeditiously and truthfully.
“In the absence of any testimony at all, we reserve the right to decide the matter for ourselves, based upon the evidence we have been able to gather. And to refer the matter to the Provost’s office so he can lay charges, if that is our recommendation. You have five minutes.” The Dean’s voice was cold and dispassionate.
“Since relationships between professors and students in the same department cannot be consensual, I move that we excuse Professor Emerson so we can interview Miss Mitchell.” Professor Chakravartty gave Julia a sympathetic look. “Let me assure you that this is a safe space. There will be no reprisals from the Department of Italian Studies because of anything you disclose to us. If you’ve been a victim of sexual harassment, we can help you.”
Tara’s sympathy immediately morphed into disgust when she glanced in Gabriel’s direction.
Julia quickly rose to her feet. “I wasn’t harassed by Professor Emerson.”
Soraya clutched her arm, but Julia ignored her. So Soraya stood beside her, waiting for the appropriate moment to interrupt and to object.
Gabriel began shaking his head in agitation, but Julia couldn’t see him, fixated as she was on the hearing officers.
“We weren’t involved while I was his student. And our current relationship is consensual.”
The room was silent for a moment, before the silence was broken by the sounds of the hearing officers’ pens scratching against paper.
The Dean sat back in his chair, looking remarkably unsurprised.
This was Julia’s first indication that something had just gone very, very wrong. She sat down slowly, ignoring the hiss of Soraya’s voice in her ear and turned to look at Gabriel. He stared straight ahead, but she knew he could feel her looking at him, she could tell by the set of his jaw. He crossed his arms angrily over his chest, his eyes fixed on the Dean’s like a cobra waiting to strike.
“Thank you, Miss Mitchell. So the relationship is amorous.” Dr. Aras glanced in Gabriel’s direction before looking at Julia again.
“Since you’ve been so forthcoming, allow me a follow up question. When did you purchase the airline ticket to Italy, knowing that you would be traveling with Professor Emerson?”
Julia gazed at the Dean blankly.
“Surely the tickets would have been reserved before December eighth, which would place the purchase date squarely within the semester. So prior to his submission of your grade, you must have had a conversation about your intention to accompany him to Italy as his guest. That seems problematic for the professor-student relationship, does it not?”
Julia opened her mouth to speak, but Soraya interrupted her.
“With respect, Dr. Aras, you’re speculating.”
“Actually, Miss Harandi, I’m making a reasonable inference of a quid pro quo.” The Dean’s lips visibly thinned. “Moreover, I’m suggesting your client just perjured herself. She said she wasn’t involved with Professor Emerson last semester. Are we to believe that they magically became involved the moment the semester ended?”
Julia inhaled loudly, the sound echoing off the walls. Across the aisle, Gabriel’s anxiety was telegraphed by the way he clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to hide them at his sides.
The Dean began to speak but he was interrupted by Professor Mwangi. “Miss Mitchell, at this point I need to remind you of the penalties for perjury and also for the violation of the non-fraternization policy of this University.” His calm and kind voice was a studied contrast to the Dean’s impatient directness.
“Perjury can result in expulsion or serious sanctions. A violation of the non-fraternization policy can jeopardize your academic standing in last semester’s seminars.” He shuffled a few papers on the table in front of him.
“You were writing your thesis with Professor Emerson until the beginning of November, about a month prior to your trip to Italy. You were registered in his Dante seminar for the entire fall semester, and awarded a mark of A.
“The non-fraternization policy exists to protect students from being preyed upon by their professors and to prevent any possibility of unfair preferments being dispersed. If you’d dropped Professor Emerson’s class, we would not be here today. But since you remained in his class, we have a problem.”
Professor Mwangi handed some papers to Meagan, who walked them obediently to Julia and Soraya. While Soraya glanced at the documents, Julia gaped in horror. She looked over at Gabriel once again, but he wouldn’t return her gaze.
“Professor Martin testified before this committee that he has no recollection of any conversation with Professor Emerson about having Professor Picton grade your work in the Dante seminar. The Registrar’s Office reports that it was Professor Emerson who submitted your grade via the online grading system. We have dated copies of those electronic documents, which you’ve just received.”
“Dr. Mwangi, since we are just receiving these documents now I’d like a short recess in order to speak to my client.” Soraya’s voice broke through Julia’s shock.
“Those moments are past, Miss Harandi, since your client has already perjured herself.” The Dean’s voice was harsh.
“I disagree,” Professor Chakravartty interjected. “Miss Mitchell might not be in the best position to judge whether or not she was the victim of coercion. Certainly, any perjury on her part would be excused if she’s the victim of harassment.”
“Professor Picton graded my work in the Dante seminar. I’m sure she could clear up this misunderstanding.” Julia’s voice took on a stubborn tone that contrasted sharply with the tremor in her voice.
“Dean Aras, forgive me for interrupting, but I’ve just received an email from Professor Picton.” Meagan’s voice broke in hesitantly. She walked over to the Dean and presented him with her laptop.
He scanned the screen quickly before waving her aside.
“It would seem that Professor Picton confirms your story, Miss Mitchell.”
Soraya leaned forward in her chair. “Then that should clear up any problems. Respectfully, we ask this committee to conclude the investigation and end this matter.”
“Not so fast, Miss Harandi.” Professor Mwangi looked between Gabriel and Julia curiously. “If the relationship truly is consensual, then why is Professor Emerson hiding behind his lawyer?”
“All you’ve done is present us with speculation and fantasy. Why should my client respond?” John’s tone was contemptuous.
