My teaching ability has always been praised. The biggest criticism that I have received is that I am at times abrasive.

"You have heard enough to form the obvious conclusion about how I was treated in the department and how heavy my teaching load was. I hope you will pay attention to the fact that right here under oath, Lyle, the person who has made these charges against me, has tampered with the evidence three times."

Jane was impressed. She's right. He attached a note written by Diana to one of the suspicious SmurFFs; detrimentally misquoted Ann's evaluation of Diana's performance on promotion sheets and now this last note which very obviously has a large piece torn off from the corner. He must have been told they needed proof that she could write during that time so he tore off the real date and wrote in one in December. What a sc.u.mball.

Diana continued, "I want to thank you all very much for the opportunity to finally respond and disprove these outrageous charges. Thank you."

Before Henry could speak, Jane said, "Diana, I was interested in what you had to say about the F.B.I. and the information regarding doc.u.ment examination. Is there something further that you would suggest we look at?"

"Yes. You should research this so-called science or art as I did.

Read about the Hitler Diaries and the White Salamander Papers.

Learn why authenticated, original standards are important. . .

"I also again request that you procure the SmurFFs for the radiology instructors and course given last year and see how the testimony you have just heard has misrepresented them."

"Is that it then?" Henry could just barely keep the ugliness he felt out of his voice.

At Diana's nod, Henry said, "We must end this. I don't think we'll need any further hearings," said Henry, stacking up his pile of files and papers and preparing to stand up. "You will hear from us as soon as possible. Perhaps as soon as two weeks. Certainly no longer than a month. We will have our report for you and the president then."

That was mid-June.

ACADEMIC JUSTICE

Chapter 28

It is the first of July. The committee has met two times since the hearing ended. The first time, the split was three to two. The three women were resolute that there was not enough evidence to believe that Diana had written the doc.u.ments.

They did not put much credence into the report of the doc.u.ment examiner and they didn't believe Lyle.

Henry could not and would not agree to write the report announcing this to The Pope. His instructions were clear --get Trenchant. Seeking distance, he suggested that they should, in any event, wait for the complete transcript of the hearing.

When that had arrived and everyone had refreshed their memories, they would hold another meeting.

The second meeting, held two weeks later, lasted four hours.

By the end of the session, everyone was tired and angry and no one had moved from their original position.

It was a battle of the transcript. Not only had a.n.u.se and Henry burned the midnight oil preparing for the meeting with suitable quotes from the transcript, but the same could be said of Jane, Esther and Annette.

As tempers, which had so far been under control, flared and threatened to widen the gulf between the two sides, Henry realized that the arguments were just solidifying the opposition and, d.a.m.n it to h.e.l.l, they were the majority!

Since the handwriting evidence was so shaky, he dared not force the issue. He would find another way.

He quickly called an end to it, told them tersely that he would let them know when the next meeting would be and then before anyone else moved, he left the room.

Chapter 29

August slipped into September.

What's happening with the hearing? Everyone was asking.

No one had an answer.

Then the president of N.O.W, Ellie Smeal, came on campus to give a speech. The room was packed with women from all over campus.

Afterwards, Esther saw Diana and went up to her.

"What is going on? Have you heard anything?" she inquired.

"You're the one on the committee. I haven't heard anything since the hearing ended. You guys told me a month, tops.

Haven't you been writing the report?" Trenchant answered tersely.

She was becoming increasingly strung out by the delay and by the obvious fact that the committee chair had once again lied to her.

"Oh," said Esther, alarm showing on her pudgy face, "I'm not supposed to talk about it. I haven't heard anything."

She finished, walking away leaving Diana more in the dark than ever. . .and more apprehensive.

October dropped its leaves.

November brought an early snow.

Christmas flashed brightly, dulled and stood aside for the start of a new year.

It had been nearly seven months since the hearing had ended but Henry had not been idle. After the debacle of the second meeting of the panel, The Pope and Henry had decided to send the material away for confirmation by another doc.u.ment examiner.

The women on the panel were not privy to this information.

"If they can't cooperate, leave them out in the cold,"

was Henry's decision.

"How many had you contacted before you found this one, Henry?"

Frank a.n.u.se had stopped by Henry's office in the administration building at Henry's invitation. A great deal of time had gone by and he had been getting edgy with all the questions aimed at him by concerned faculty.

It was great to have some positive results. Even though he couldn't broadcast them, he could give his inquisitors a knowing look and indicate that it was in the bag.

"This makes the fourth. The b.a.s.t.a.r.ds take forever to make up their minds. They say they are busy with other a.n.a.lyses, but you'd think with all we're paying them that. . ."

Henry shook his head in disgust.

"And they all said the same thing. They didn't like to make a positive match using copies of the standards we sent?"

Frank a.n.u.se asked.

"That's it. They all wanted originals."

"The guy that has them now though, called and said essentially the same thing at first, except he thought if he could have a lot more standards, he could make a decision even if they were copies."

"And. . ."

"And, I sent off copies of everything in her personnel file."