Alex: Thanks for checking up on me. I need to talk to you, in any case before they do.
Adam: They?
Narrator: Alex sighs.
Alex: Would you mind closing the door, Adam?
Narrator: He sees you arch your eyebrow.
Alex: Normally, I wouldn't shut it, but it just doesn't matter any more.
Narrator: You close it.
Adam: Let me guess, does this have something to do with that Graham guy?
Alex: Yes. The man who interrupted us the other day.
Adam: I saw his editorial in the paper. I'm guessing he's trying to get you fired?
Alex: Graham teaches graduate-level biochemistry in our department. When he started her three years ago, it was taken for granted that he would be bringing a lot of research money to Orlin. He specializes in cell metabolism and how it effects weight loss. As you can imagine, there's a lot of interest from multi-billion dollar companies in funding his research. He was a shoe-in for tenure, too. Most candidates have to wait at least five years, but it seemed like he was on the fast track. Unfortunately, his research hit a snag. His recent paper to a journal was retracted. There's been some question as to whether his initial results were just flukes. So he's doing another round of experiments this year, in his quest for a multi-million dollar grant. Not to mention the tenure and influence that will come with it.
Adam: But what does this all have to do with you?
Alex: Well, tenured professors at this university, like in the rest of the country, are a rare and shrinking species. There's going to be only one spot open in our department for a long, long time. When I was hired this year by the dean, I don't think Graham was worried. He saw me primarily as a lecturer, and a researcher second. Sure you got great ratings from you students, but you're not really a threat as a tenure candidate if you don't bring in the money. But he's seen my track record, and it's only the matter of another publication before I could be considered tenure as well. This would've been a non-issue if his recent publication hadn't been retracted, of course. The timing couldn't have been worse for him, given that he's being reviewed for tenure this year.
Adam: And you're his biggest threat to getting tenure? That's what this is all about?
Alex: That's only part of it. The dean likes me, my teaching abilities, and the work I've published. She actually wooed me from my former school by suggesting an early tenure review, possibly within my first year. The dean and Graham had a falling out over this. I was still hired much to Graham's dismay. Again, it wasn't going to be a big deal if Graham's paper had never been retracted, and helped secure this grant. But ever since that retraction, he's been convinced that the dean and I have teamed up against him. Which is totally not true. I stepped into all of this blind. So he's decided to pursue a narrative to make me look bad. But more importantly, make the dean look worse by association.
Adam: To the point where he's following you around, harassing you?
Alex: As you saw last week, Graham came to my office to tell me his plans for a faculty-wide meeting on the professional code of conduct. The topic of sexual relations between professors and students. The dean's tired of his histrionics, and refused his grant request. Unfortunately, you can see this only provoked him to write an op-ed in the paper, drawing immediate suspicion to our department. It doesn't look good, Adam. The dean had to back down and grant him is request. Graham approached me again yesterday. Apparently, we're going to have an administrative meeting next week. Adam, it's a hearing about ME. Not a general discussion about policy. They're starting an investigation.
Adam: What?! He's got no proof.
Alex: That's what I thought too, Adam. But I'm wrong. Graham's hinted that he's got a photo of you and me. From that day in the locker room. It's not explicit, but it's far from innocent.
Adam: Well that explains it. There was a girl in the locker room who took a photo of us!
Alex: Oh it's probably one of his poor PhD lackeys, tailing me. I wonder if he was just waiting for the new, naive professor to trip up and do something idiotic.
Adam: But we didn't do anything! Well, you know, anything bad.
Alex: It doesn't matter, the photo looks incriminating. In any case, Graham's been very smooth about this. He hasn't delivered the photo to the administration, yet. He's hoping I just back down politely, finish up the semester here, and quickly apply to another school. Hands stay clean, nothing ends up on the public record. He doesn't want to make a big stink about this. Him and the dean are already on poor terms. There's some good news, Adam.
Adam: Good news?
Alex: No matter what happens, you can't be kicked out of school or reprimanded. The onus of responsibility is strictly on the professors. You'll be able to finish your semester and graduate her without a hitch.
Adam: Well, that's good. When I explain to them during the investigation that it was all my fault, and you did absolutely nothing-
Alex: You don't need to explain anything, Adam. I'm withdrawing from Orlin.
Adam: W-what?!
Alex: I've already written my letter of registration and I'm handing it to the dean on Monday. I'm done here. Graham has too much power within the administration now. This investigation means a lot of people will be prying into my private affairs. Even if I survive the hearing unscathed, I can't constantly stay in a place where I'm being constantly harassed. Look at what happened today. I choked. This hasn't happened to me before. Even in my early days of teaching. It wasn't even Graham and the threat of a hearing that's been getting to me. It's the fact that I can't teach in these circumstances.
Narrator: You listen, trying to believe your ears. You search for the right words to say.
