Death of the Ayn Rand Scholar by Gray Cavender (red scrolls of magic TXT) 📗

offered large grants to any universities that would create a Center for Ayn Rand Studies. These days, ASU is chasing the money because the state legislature has reduced our funding, so they applied—again, some professors in Business. And they were successful. As a requirement of the award, a professor had to be designated to head the Center. There was a national search and Nelda was, I suppose, the best candidate. Her Center technically is located in Business because they got the grant, but, given her background, she wanted a joint appointment: Business and English.”

“So, what made her the best candidate, Professor Gilroy?”

“Well, she has a good educational pedigree, and she was at Mount Holyoke and all that.” He said this in a way that made it sound somehow only minimally acceptable. “And, she is a Rand scholar. She’s written a book on Rand’s novels. Actually, two books, I think. As well as several articles on Rand. All were…well received.” He said this in a dismissive way.

“And what did it mean to have such a Center?”

“Most obviously, courses were added to the curriculum, both undergrad and grad, here and in Business; Nelda teaches the English courses. I take it that a part of her duties was to proselytize. She’s supposed to be generating student interest in Rand…honors theses, dissertations…I think the courses that she added to the curriculum were somehow tied to that. I know that she’s in the process of planning a symposium—for spring semester, I think—that would bring in other scholars and create a buzz.”

Gilroy said “buzz” as if this was somehow distasteful. “Someone said that there might be either an edited volume or maybe a special issue of a journal comprised of the conference papers…but of course that’s just table talk.” He seemed on to be on the verge of another comment, but grew quiet, then added, “Now, of course…” He seemed to Jillian to be genuinely reflective. “Detective, do you think that Nelda was murdered?”

“It’s too early to know. That’s the sort of thing that the Forensics people are looking at. Professor, from what you were saying in the corridor earlier, there was some anger about her hiring. Is that correct?”

“Yes, people were far more upset about this than what Jonathan intimated. Some were angry about a donor literally having the power, the monetary where with-all, to create a position. You have to understand, because universities are so desperate for funding, it’s difficult to get new positions, especially in the Humanities. The English Department teaches the entire entry freshman class every year—that’s over eleven thousand students—but new positions are almost nonexistent. We aren’t even guaranteed replacement positions if someone retires or takes a job at another university. So, there’s that. And then, other people just don’t like it that outside organizations with obvious political agendas can affect university hiring. Whether it’s the Rand organization or the Koch Brothers—by the way, they’re here too—lots of faculty just don’t like it. I don’t like it. I don’t have a political bone in my body, but it troubles me.”

“So, this anger against the award, was it directed against her personally? I don’t necessarily mean from you, but what about others?”

“Well, yes, I was against having anything to do with locating the Center in the English Department, and of course that included hiring her as well. Rand may have been a successful novelist, in terms of book sales, but that was a long time ago. She’s not considered to be such an important writer these days. In other words, she hasn’t stood the test of time. However, once Nelda was here, I’ve tried to be civil—she’s a colleague after all, and this is a university. Although I have to say that with Nelda, that’s not always easy. She’s not all that civil herself. She’s quite arrogant.”

“Is this a widely held view of her?”

“It depends. Some people smell a possible career connection and suck-up to her.” He said the words “some people” in a way that made it clear that he had specific people in mind. “Others are more ‘live and let live,’ he said, and made air quotes. “But some, also here in English and in other departments, have been even more vocal, more…I guess you’d say agitated. Some of this was discussed in the Faculty Senate, although that went nowhere. And, I understand that there was an article submitted to The Chronicle, that’s The Chronicle of Higher Education which is THE outlet for any discussion of universities. My understanding is that the article addressed the specific situation here at ASU, but was about the more general situation in universities, as well.”

“Who wrote the article?”

“Ah…I’m…I haven’t actually seen such an article so maybe I shouldn’t comment further on that. I do know that it has not yet been published. You have to understand, Detective, feelings run high on these matters.”

“I completely understand. I’ll of course interview Ms. Wilson and Professor Keefer, but would you suggest that we chat with others, either your colleagues or professors in other departments?”

“Well…I hate to name names…”

“Professor Gilroy, this isn’t about being a tattle-tale on the playground,” she said, changing her tack. “This may turn out to be a murder investigation. The more accurate our picture is, the better our investigation can proceed.” Then, she changed tack again. “Please, we need your help. After all, you were enough of a stand-up person that you called us to report her death.”

Maybe the compliment appealed to Gilroy’s vanity or maybe it made him see reason…in any case, he said, “You’re right, of course. So, the person in the Faculty Senate who was far and away the most resolute in his opposition to the Rand award, and especially to the Koch Brothers, was Ian Naremore.”

“Ian Naremore…OK.”

“Right, right, you may know him. He’s a Justice Studies professor.”

“Yes, I had classes with him.”

“Well, it is a small world after all. By the way, and I apologize for not remembering—some of my classes are quite large—but Detective Warne, did you ever have