52 Inquiry

Inquiry.

In the small Iowa town of Reunion I was the most vocal and public defender of conscientious objection, nonviolence, and pacifism; of skepticism, agnosticism, and atheism; of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, meditation, and mysticism, all these locally branded "the occult"; of voluntary and nonviolent communism, socialism, and liberation theology; of interracial relationships, homosexuality, and "free love," the principle that sex between consenting competent adults is nobody's business but their own; and I was the town's most vocal and public advocate of the abolition of capital punishment; of the legalization of marijuana, the decriminalization of all mood-enhancing drugs in general; and of academic freedom and liberal interpretation of the rights and freedoms of the first amendment. I wrote and distributed poetry and posted in public places my political cartoons. I encouraged students to be open and honest; and in their writing and their art to tell as best they could the truth of their lives and I published it in department newsletters and magazines.

To my classes in the spring like an increasing number of my students—

I went barefoot.

Yes.

All this and more, much more—

Too much.

It did not go unnoticed.

Trouble.

With the end of the draft and student deferments five years earlier and then finally in 1975 with the end of the war in Vietnam itself, enrollment at the college had dropped fifty percent, fundraising had stalled, and now members of the board of trustees complained.

It was my fault.

Skank.

Billy and I were called to a meeting in the conference room of the administration building. Around the long rectangular table were the vice president and the academic dean, the registrar, the deans of the five divisions, the members of the president's cabinet, and at the head of the table the president of the college.

I'd been called on the carpet.

Blamed.

The president distributed photocopies of a two-page document.

Complaints.

"Our purpose," he said, "is to visit about certain allegations."

He read aloud.

To wit:

April 24, 1975. Report from two students in English class being propositioned by Mr. Skank. They were reprimanded by the dean of women for wild imagination.

May 7, 1975. Report from one student regarding not being given a final test to reinforce grade. Stated no final test was given and class dismissed early. Confirmed.

May 7, 1975. Report from two students that a final test was cancelled and class let out and only the Doxology sung. Confirmed.

May 8, 1975. Personal visit with Mr. Skank regarding these reports. He stated that writing assignments substituted for the final tests. However, this did not satisfy the students involved.

May 13, 1975. Anonymous note in my mailbox asking me if I knew Jesus Christ had returned to earth—that the Head of the English Department was barefoot, dressed appropriately to the Christ role, and praying respectfully as he walked among his people. Unconfirmed but letter on file.

June 25, 1975. Telephone call from mother regarding the fact she was not able to reach her high school daughter at dormitory. Report from other student was that she was at Mr. Skank's. Last sentence unconfirmed.

August 19, 1975. Visit with Mr. Skank and Dr. Boyd regarding goals of department and professionalism. They assured me that about 100 percent of what I had heard was rumor and were amazed that colleagues and students would make up stories like the ones I have repeated. Dr. Boyd assured me that they still believed in morality and that it would be exercised in their conduct of classes.

August 21, 1975. Letter from J. Rutt in the form of a threat that if the administration gave his friends any problems he would close the university. Letter on file for inspection.

September 18, 1975. Report from a student that in Basic Composition class freedom of personal expression was encouraged and then the student's paper was openly criticized in class. The student thought this to be a violation of his trust and personal rights. Confirmed.

September 23, 1975. Report from student that Basic Composition lab is let out before instruction is given on how to write a good sentence much less a good paragraph. Feels short-changed in terms of personal help and is not motivated to try and improve. Confirmed.

September 25, 1975. Visit with student regarding how worthless American Literature class was in the student's opinion. The student felt a majority in the class felt the same way and that only nine attended on Wednesday, September 24. Confirmed.

"Let me make it clear," he said, "that these are only allegations."

He waited.

"Bob," he said, "you may wish to speak to these items."

Such comedy.

Perhaps only another teacher could understand.

"Bob?" he said.

"No."

I'd wait.

"No."

I reread the document.

Silence.

Never in my life had I just flat out propositioned a woman.

Never.

I flirted with everybody.

Teased.

The rest was just plain silly.

Silence.

"Or somebody else may wish to comment," the president suggested.

Silence.

"What does the word 'confirmed' mean at the end of each allegation?" I asked.

Heads bowed.

Everyone studied the document.

Hmm.

The president blushed.

Oops—

He thought.

"It means that such an allegation was indeed made."

Ah!

"I have no comment," I said.

Silence.

"Dr. Boyd?"

"No."

The president seemed confused about how to proceed.

Silence.

"Anyone?" he prompted.

Silence.

No one cared to "visit."

Silence.

My colleagues and associates stared at the table top.

Silence.

We adjourned.

So—

The president needed a bone to throw to the board.

No problem.

I resigned as chairman of the department.

Fini.

Billy replaced me.

Good.

Time passed.