P r o l o g u e
Depositions and Activists
September 30, 2010
Washington State University
Pullman, Washington
If an annual review accuses a professor of repeatedly canceling classes despite warnings that the level of cancellations was unacceptable, do you think the faculty member is entitled to find out specifically what classes were canceled?"
"Surely the faculty member knows that," responded the deposed witness, apparently unaware she had misunderstood the intent the question. My attorney was trying to establish whether university administrators believe they have an obligation to provide evidence when they accuse faculty of violating university rules.
"Well, how does the faculty know what particular classes are the subject of the criticism?"
"I would think they should ask," said the vice provost, who also was a professor of psychology.
"And if they ask, do you think they should be told by administration?"
"I don’t know. I mean, in this particular case, Dr. Demers is doing the canceling of the classes. I believe he would know. By the way, let’s rephrase that and not say ‘canceling.’ Let’s say ‘not holding the classes.’ He knows that information."
"How do you know he knows that?"
The witness stiffened in her chair. The stenographer looked up.
"He would certainly know whether he went to a class at a particular time," she shouted, shaking her finger at me. "If he doesn’t, he needs the help of somebody in my profession."
"Well, doctor, what would happen if no one told him that the conduct of online quizzes was unacceptable?"
"He was told repeatedly," the witness said, shouting even louder now. "His violation of the rule in the academic regulations was considered to be out of line with the acceptable faculty standards, and he was told that repeatedly by many people."
The witness stared at me — the kind of stare that Johnny Miller gave me in third grade right after I beat him in a game of tetherball and just before he slugged me. Thank goodness this time there was five-feet of table between us.
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