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

“And Professor Siemens didn’t agree?”

“It was more like…she didn’t care. She said that faculty women tend to present themselves as victims of an unfriendly organization…‘vic-fems’ was the term she used. She argued that instead of painting themselves as victims, women needed to exhibit more agency.” Carolyn seemed to think about this briefly, and then said, “Nelda was a strong woman, no doubt about it…she had no patience for anyone who came across as weak...in any way. I understand her point…it’s just that she tended to overly individualize women’s experience…as if there were no commonalities, which, of course there are…that’s the reason for a Faculty Women’s Association, the idea that women faculty are similarly situated and need to build coalitions...with each other and with other groups that tend to be marginalized.”

Jillian said, “Post-feminism…she was arguing post-feminism.”

Carolyn beamed at Jillian. “Exactly…the idea that the Women’s Movement was successful, the playing field is now equal, and there’s no further need for feminism, thank you very much.” She dusted her hands together to make the point. “Now, it’s up to the individual.”

The kettle clicked. Carolyn grabbed cups, offered Jillian a small assortment of teas, and said, “It’s good to see that you still know your feminist theory, Detective Sergeant Warne. Milk?”

Jillian chose an English tea. Carolyn went to the small fridge under her computer table.

“So, that was Nelda’s view. I understand that sort of thinking, but it’s just so one dimensional. Yes, of course people have agency, but we also live in groups, and our group identities affect how we think. It’s not either or…it’s both and… Anyway, yes, Nelda is the embodiment of post-feminism. So, no surprise, she is really popular on the conservative lecture circuit. Or so Ian tells me…he actually follows her through Facebook and other social media…tracks her lectures.”

Jillian nodded. “Yes, I spoke with Professor Naremore. Several people we’d interviewed said he was one of the faculty who was really opposed to Professor Siemens.”

“He told me that you’d talked with him…he came by my office this morning. I think he was a little embarrassed by some of the things he said about Nelda.”

“He did make some pretty strong comments.”

“That’s Ian…he tends to pop-off. If it makes any difference, I think he regrets some of his comments. Of course, he’s a man so he’d never actually say that.” Carolyn shook her head in exasperation.

”Do you agree with his views about all this?”

“Pretty much, yes, I do. Times are tough for universities…financially…especially at ASU. The legislature continually cuts our funding…then, they come along and earmark money for some of these conservative programs on campus. There’s a new one that just started…I forget its name…it’s one of those long ASU-type names…most of us just call it ‘The Philosophy of Dead White Guys’ Department.”

Jillian laughed.

“I don’t mind that they have such a department—well actually, of course I mind—but what really chaps me is that the legislature funded them…directly. That’s an ideological thumb on the scales if I ever saw one. And then add the Ayn Rand thing and the Koch Brothers thing, so yes, I mind it a lot. And, I understand why Ian gets so mad. In the same way that the post-feminism claim angers me, the color-blind racism that Nelda espouses is in his face. They’re similar arguments: we’ve dealt with race in America and it’s time to move on…you know, except with food or music…no need for voting laws or anything in the way of affirmative action programs…which is one of Nelda’s hot-button items. So, yes, I understand…still, from what Ian told me, some of the things he said crossed a line.”

Jillian smiled and nodded. She didn’t think it was appropriate to say too much about the interview with Professor Naremore, even to Carolyn. She also wondered if his visit to Carolyn and his mea culpa with her was genuine, or if it was strategic…and designed to deflect attention from what he’d said and from how bad it had sounded.

Jillian said, “Let me double-back to Professor Siemens. Do you know…did she get along with President Davidos?”

“Pretty well, I think. Once a year, he speaks at the Faculty Women’s meetings, and he and Nelda seemed quite friendly.”

“How is he on women’s issues?”

“I’d say he’s one of the globalist types that you read about in the masculinities literature. You know, if people do their work and do it well, it makes no difference to President Davidos or, to the multinational people like him, whether the person is a man or a woman, white or a person of color. Of course, it’s still the case that the people who direct these multinationals are mostly white men, but they are not sexist or racist in the traditional sense. Why do you ask?”

Jillian didn’t want to reveal too much about their interview with President Davidos, but she did want Carolyn’s take on a couple of things. “When my partner and I interviewed President Davidos earlier today, he said he knew Professor Siemens…and I just wondered about their interactions.”

“Like I said, when he spoke at the FWA last spring, they obviously knew one another.” She thought for a second and said, “They may have sat together. And on second thought, he singled Nelda…at least once…in a positive way.”

Jillian made another mental note, and then said, “I just wondered how he treated women faculty. Maybe it was my imagination, but he seemed to focus on me during the interview. I don’t know if he was trying to intimidate me…or what…but I had the feeling that he’d checked-up on me. He knew about my history with Tempe PD, that I was now with Campus Police, even about my time as an ASU student. It just struck me as odd…made me feel uncomfortable.”

“Hmm. Maybe it’s just that the campus community is upset about this murder, and he wants to know the people who are involved in the investigation…and you’re one of those people. Or, you know what it could be…you’re