***** Vol.3 Chap.10 Disaster strikes *****

“Come in!” Frank yelled.

Dr. Jim Thomas, the department chair, came in without a word. His coming was unusual and his being grave was even more unusual.

“Hi, Jim. Have a seat.”

“Thank you.”

“To what do I owe the honor of this visit?”

Frank joked in a good mood, not having picked up on Jim’s serious attitude.

“Frank, how was your conference?”

“Very interested. There were many good sessions and excellent papers presented.”

“Did you have a time to relax?”

“Are you serious? The conference was packed with sessions and papers. There were two sessions in the morning with a plenary talk. Then there were another two sessions in the afternoon with another plenary talk. I am quite worn out from the trip. How are things back home?”

“We make do.”

Just small talk.

Finally, Frank sensed that there was something in the air. Besides, one did not get a visit from the department chair casually and Jim was never one to go around chitchatting with everyone.

Frank waited.

A pause in the conversation.

“Frank, let me come straight to the point.”

Here it comes. He said to himself.

“There were several complaints from students that you were gone too much this semester and were not taking your classes seriously.”

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“How can that be? I have only been gone twice this semester and during both times, I have asked JB to cover my classes. You know, she always covers my classes whenever I am gone.”

“Nobody covered your classes all last week.”

The bomb shell exploded.

Frank was shocked, sitting there with mouth wide open!

“Nobody?”

“No one.”

Another pause.

Jim continued, “The students came and waited for half an hour in both classes. Eventually, they came to the office inquiring about where you are. We at the office knew you were gone to a conference, but we did not know what arrangements you have made to cover for your classes.”

“I was in a big hurry when I left and forgot to send you an email. I did ask JB to cover my classes.”

“No one came to cover your classes all last week. Some students complained to the Dean, and I heard one student got so mad he wrote a letter to the State Regents.”

“What?” Frank was stunned.

“Frank, this is big.”

“Jim, you knew that JB always covered my classes when I was gone?”

“We checked with JB and she told us you said nothing to her.”

What? You gotta be kidding!

“I told her verbally right when I was leaving.”

“She said she knew nothing about taking your class.”

“She knew I was gone to a conference. She knew…”

Jim held out his hand.

“Frank, Frank. I am not the judge nor the jury. Not only is the Dean’s office looking at this, even the President’s Office is involved as well. I thought I would just warn you about what is happening.”

Frank sat there, shaking his head, shocked and unbelieving.

“I told JB to cover for my classes. I told JB to do it.” Frank muttered underneath his breath.

“Frank, most likely the Dean will have a talk with you about the incident. But it is not clear at this point whether the President’s office would ask for a hearing or not?”

“A hearing? You gotta be kidding!”

“A hearing from the Academic Appeals Board. Apparently, the complaint letter sent to the Regents was forwarded to the President’s office. The President forwarded that to the Academic Appeals Board, and the letter was used as the basis for a class action complaint. Having no instructor showing up for an entire week tended to disturb a lot of students who paid lots of money for tuition.”

“This is ridiculous.”

“Some considered that it was more ridiculous that you did not show up for class.”

“JB was supposed to take my class. She knew that.”

“Still, JB is not on the faculty. You are. You are responsible for the classes.”

Resigned to the inevitable, “Well, what can I do?”

“Nothing. What was done was done. Just hope that you have a better excuse than what you gave me. I know you are an excellent teacher, but I am not sure the Academic Appeals Board would be that forgiving now that the State Regents are involved. They will watch diligently what is going on. So is the President’s Office.”

Frank cursed underneath his breath.

“Do we know who wrote the letter to the Regents?”

“No, it was anonymous. Even if I knew, I could not and would not tell you.”

Baffled, Frank cursed under his breath again.

“Well, I got to take care of a few other things. I thought I would just warn you about what is happening.”

Jim turned to leave, shaking his head.

“Thanks, Jim.”