Death of the Ayn Rand Scholar by Gray Cavender (classic literature list txt) 📕

very clear about this, although she couldn’t remember his exact language. She also gave them an earful about the sloppy and incomplete nature of his certificate proposal. To her, a sloppy proposal, even at an early stage, was a harbinger of “larger problems to come later in the implementation of the certificate framework.” Also, she didn’t much like some of the readings that he’d included in the proposal.

She said, “Yes, Professor Siemens was well-prepared in her opposition to the certificate, but being prepared is what you’re supposed to do…unlike Professor Naremore, whose proposal was inadequate. So, of the two professors, who was in the wrong?“ She had no idea how Professor Siemens knew that Professor Naremore would be presenting at the meeting or how she came by an advanced copy of his proposal, and she didn’t care.

Afterward, as they sat in the café at Hayden Library—there wasn’t time to return to HQ before the meeting with Professor LeJohns—Wes said, “Whew, that was intense, wasn’t it?”

Jillian said, “Yes…she came across as very formidable.”

Wes had iced coffee; Jillian had iced tea. It wasn’t all that hot yet, so they sat outdoors, but in the shade of the building.

Wes said, “I’m not sure what Ms. Disis saw as Professor Naremore’s worst offense…that he threatened Professor Siemens, OR that his proposal was “lacking in its attention to detail.” This was a direct quote, so Wes made air quotation marks as he spoke.

“In a way, it’s hard to take all this seriously…except…” Jillian tapered-off.

“Yeah, she all but drew a straight line between his threatening behavior in their meeting and the Professor’s murder.”

When Jillian didn’t respond, Wes said, “Let’s see what Professor LeJohns has to say about all this. Maybe he’ll put things in a different light.”

At the top of the steps, after they left the Hayden Library Café, Wes and Jillian took a right and kept walking…past Wilson Hall, then straight between ASU’s two education buildings…Farmer Ed and Payne Ed. Wes asked, “The Music Building…that’s the one that looks like a drum, right?”

“Yes,” she said, and pointed straight ahead.

When they arrived a few minutes later, Wes asked, “Ever been in this one, Jilly?”

Jillian thought for a couple of seconds, then said, “Yes, I think I was here for a speech. It was in a large auditorium, somewhere in the basement, I think. This was a while back so I don’t remember much…except that the auditorium was very steep.”

Jillian looked at Wes and said, “You’re always asking if I’ve ever been in this or that building…how about you? I know we were on the campus a few times when we were partners…”

“Yeah, that’s right…and now and then for cases before we were partners, but, not much. Like a lot of people in the Valley, mainly, if I was on campus it was to see a concert…maybe a play…in Gamage Auditorium,” he said, and pointed his thumb over his shoulder toward the auditorium. Then, he smiled and said, “Jilly, did you know that Gamage was the last building designed by Frank Lloyd Wright?”

“I did not know that…thanks, Wes.” She laughed…everyone in Tempe and the surrounding cities, too, knew that the famous architect had designed Gamage. It’s something you always tell visitors when you drive past the building.

They had no trouble finding Professor LeJohns’ office. Wes rapped on the door, which was partially closed, and they heard a “Come in, please.”

The office was fairly small, but everything was neat and orderly, so that it seemed comfortable, notwithstanding its size.

He stood as they entered, stepped from behind his desk, and shook hands with them. To Jillian, Professor Jeff LeJohns looked like his photo from the ASU webpage, although in person (and standing), he was a larger man than she had thought: tall and a bit portly. His long, thin white hair draped to just below his shoulders. From his web-entry and now his actual appearance, Jillian assumed that he must be in his late 40s, so maybe his hair was prematurely white, she thought. He wore a big, droopy mustache and a soul patch…both also white. All that white highlighted his pinkish complexion. She recalled that his specialty was the bass fiddle. “This guy even looks like a musician…Wes is going to love this,” she thought.

After they’d identified themselves, Professor LeJohns said, “I’ve just returned from studio and I’m brewing myself a pot of tea…care to join me?”

Wes answered, “No thank you, professor, we had something just before coming over.”

“Good, let’s get to it, then, I know you have questions.”

Wes said, “When we spoke last night, Professor LeJohns, you told me that you were at the meeting where there was an argument between Professor Naremore and Professor Siemens.”

“Yes, I was there.”

“You told me a little about their argument, but I wonder if you could elaborate…for both of us,” Wes said, including Jillian with a gesture.

“Certainly,” he said, as he tended to the tea. “As I mentioned, this was a meeting of the University Curriculum Committee. Ian—Professor Naremore—was there presenting a proposal for new certificate that he wanted to create, and I was present for the same reason…a new certificate. Ian was on the agenda before me. After he made his presentation, Louisa Disis—she essentially runs the show at these meetings—asked if there were any comments. That’s when Professor Siemens made her presence known…and in opposition to Ian’s proposal.”

Jillian thought that Professor LeJohns had a very distinctive way of speaking. His speech intonation was extremely clear and precise, although everything sounded as if he was being judgmental, even disdainful, maybe. There was something about his demeanor gave that sense, too, although Jillian thought it could just be his inflection and his look, because he also seemed nice enough.

Jillian said, “We heard that Professor Siemens was well-organized in her opposition, as if she’d had an advanced copy of his proposal.”

“Absolutely...she’d written out her comments…I could see that from where I was sitting.”

Wes asked, “And the situation got bad…pretty quickly?”

“That is an understatement. But, even though Ian definitely overreacted, let me say