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

as possible, trying to get a complete picture. That’s why I asked about enemies.”

“Enemies,” he exhaled, pursed his lips, then said, ”Sad to say… yes. Some faculty were very upset about the Rand Center grant. Not so much here in Business, but in other departments...English and elsewhere around campus. They were jealous…they’re…they’re living in the past.”

“How so,” Jillian asked.

“Well, these types…they’re out of touch. This country has become more conservative, politically and socially, and rightly so. More pro-business. These faculty…” he said the word with disdain, and was then quiet. He seemed to be on the verge of becoming a little unhinged, but, he regained his composure and continued.

“What I think is that some faculty opposed the Rand Center because Ayn Rand was such a brilliant spokeswoman for capitalism. Her philosophy eviscerates their arguments, their economic perspective. Of course, they really don’t mount a coherent economic position...they’re nothing but ideologues…and a failed ideology at that. But, they use their positions in the university to try to spread their views.” Roberts, whose gaze had become unfocused again—or at the least he wasn’t looking at Jillian and Wes—paused, and held up his right hand, as if to rein himself in.

“Sorry I’m so passionate about this, but the Center was an awesome idea. It brought in a million dollars to ASU. And I should know, I co-authored the grant. And the very idea that one of these cretins who opposed it has murdered Nelda…” He couldn’t finish his sentence.

Jillian thought he was a bit tightly wound, although she understood…so were Grace Wilson and Carla Nagel. A death, much less a murder, does that to people. And Roberts had lost a colleague and a friend.

Wes, who rarely showed any emotion during an interview unless it was strategic, continued the questions. “So, you co-authored the grant? How’d that work?”

A work-related question seemed to calm Roberts. “A private organization was offering grants to universities that would create such centers. As I said, Ayn Rand is a hero to many in the business community, and in government, too. Anyway, I’d read about these grants…maybe in The Wall Street Journal or could’ve been in The New York Times. Anyway, I discussed the idea with William Norland…he’s a colleague…we put together a proposal…the funding organization liked it. Probably helped that the proposal came from ASU because we have a reputation for entrepreneurship. The long and short of it…we got the grant…the Center was funded…and there was a national search for a professor to head the Center. Nelda applied, and she was far and away the best candidate…she’s an internationally recognized Rand scholar, you know. Better still, she has degrees in English AND an MBA in Business from the University of Chicago…impeccable credentials.”

Jillian asked, “Did you apply to head the Center…you co-authored the grant, after all?”

“No, I didn’t. Realistically, an internal candidate would have been disadvantaged. But more important, the funding organization was clear in their language…the head of the center had to have a reputation as a Rand scholar…and I’m not a Rand scholar. Don’t get me wrong, I’m really into her ideas, but Nelda’s exactly the sort of a person they had in mind.”

Wes nodded at Professor Roberts’ explanation, and then circled back to his original question. “Thanks, Professor Roberts…that helps us. So, back to enemies? You explained why Professor Siemens may have had enemies…any comments on who they were?”

It seemed to Jillian that even though Roberts was calmer, there was still anger or maybe some other emotion just under the surface. He made a dismissive face and said, “Well, Ian Naremore for one.”

Wes nodded and held up an index finger. “I think someone else also mentioned him as being against…I don’t recall their exact comments…was Naremore against the Center or against Professor Siemens, or both?”

Roberts seemed to be thrown off by Wes’ question, but he did a slight reset, and then said, “A guy like that, who knows? Naremore is one of the ideologues that we were talking about. Everything he writes is the usual anti-business screed. He’s forever calling for more regulation, not less.” Roberts shook his head in disbelief. “I assume that his classes are the same. I’ve heard that the better business students have virtually black-balled him and refuse to take any of his courses.”

Jillian was glad that she hadn’t bragged about being a Justice Studies student or about Professor Naremore having been on her honors thesis and MS project. She asked, ”Do you know if there were ever any specific run-ins between Professor Naremore and Professor Siemens?”

“Do I know of any personally? No…but that doesn’t mean that there weren’t any. I do know that over the past…” he looked toward his book shelves, thinking…”let’s say over the past month or so, Nelda had experienced some negative interactions with professors.” He held up a cautionary hand, “And no, I can’t tell you any specifics, although she did confide in me that there were some. I don’t even know if these were in-person or over email…or what. Just that there had been some unpleasant exchanges, and I had the sense from her that some of these had been...a bit threatening?”

“I see,“ Wes said. “So, I understand that you and Professor Siemens were colleagues. You’re both in the Business College…is that correct?”

“Yes, and I also am an affiliate in The Rand Center…I mean, I got the grant that funded it,” he gave a rueful smile. “Actually, I’m also in Innovation and Entrepreneurship with a joint appointment in The School of Economic Engagement.”

Jillian asked, “Is that the program that’s funded by the Koch Brothers?”

“Yes, it is, Detective,” he answered tersely; he seemed annoyed by her question. “Although, I should note that the School is also funded by ASU, and, like any other academic unit on campus, it’s directly under ASU’s supervision...notwithstanding what the faculty critics say.”

Wes asked, “Was Professor Siemens also a part of this School?”

“She had a courtesy affiliation, but in terms of a formal appointment, no, she did not.” He paused, then added, “As I’m