“Ah. A classic prisoner’s dilemma emerges. I wonder if either of you realize the outcome you are headed toward if you continue in this manner.” Dr. Aras cleared this throat. “I can allow you a short recess in order for you to confer with your attorneys, Miss Mitchell and Professor Emerson, but I expect you to answer our questions expeditiously and truthfully.
“In the absence of any testimony at all, we reserve the right to decide the matter for ourselves, based upon the evidence we have been able to gather. And to refer the matter to the Provost’s office so he can lay charges, if that is our recommendation. You have five minutes.” The Dean’s voice was cold and dispassionate.
“Since relationships between professors and students in the same department cannot be consensual, I move that we excuse Professor Emerson so we can interview Miss Mitchell.” Professor Chakravartty gave Julia a sympathetic look. “Let me assure you that this is a safe space. There will be no reprisals from the Department of Italian Studies because of anything you disclose to us. If you’ve been a victim of sexual harassment, we can help you.”
Tara’s sympathy immediately morphed into disgust when she glanced in Gabriel’s direction.
Julia quickly rose to her feet. “I wasn’t harassed by Professor Emerson.”
Soraya clutched her arm, but Julia ignored her. So Soraya stood beside her, waiting for the appropriate moment to interrupt and to object.
Gabriel began shaking his head in agitation, but Julia couldn’t see him, fixated as she was on the hearing officers.
“We weren’t involved while I was his student. And our current relationship is consensual.”
The room was silent for a moment, before the silence was broken by the sounds of the hearing officers’ pens scratching against paper.
The Dean sat back in his chair, looking remarkably unsurprised.
This was Julia’s first indication that something had just gone very, very wrong. She sat down slowly, ignoring the hiss of Soraya’s voice in her ear and turned to look at Gabriel. He stared straight ahead, but she knew he could feel her looking at him, she could tell by the set of his jaw. He crossed his arms angrily over his chest, his eyes fixed on the Dean’s like a cobra waiting to strike.
“Thank you, Miss Mitchell. So the relationship is amorous.” Dr. Aras glanced in Gabriel’s direction before looking at Julia again.
“Since you’ve been so forthcoming, allow me a follow up question. When did you purchase the airline ticket to Italy, knowing that you would be traveling with Professor Emerson?”
Julia gazed at the Dean blankly.
“Surely the tickets would have been reserved before December eighth, which would place the purchase date squarely within the semester. So prior to his submission of your grade, you must have had a conversation about your intention to accompany him to Italy as his guest. That seems problematic for the professor-student relationship, does it not?”
Julia opened her mouth to speak, but Soraya interrupted her.
“With respect, Dr. Aras, you’re speculating.”
“Actually, Miss Harandi, I’m making a reasonable inference of a quid pro quo.” The Dean’s lips visibly thinned. “Moreover, I’m suggesting your client just perjured herself. She said she wasn’t involved with Professor Emerson last semester. Are we to believe that they magically became involved the moment the semester ended?”
Julia inhaled loudly, the sound echoing off the walls. Across the aisle, Gabriel’s anxiety was telegraphed by the way he clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to hide them at his sides.
The Dean began to speak but he was interrupted by Professor Mwangi. “Miss Mitchell, at this point I need to remind you of the penalties for perjury and also for the violation of the non-fraternization policy of this University.” His calm and kind voice was a studied contrast to the Dean’s impatient directness.
“Perjury can result in expulsion or serious sanctions. A violation of the non-fraternization policy can jeopardize your academic standing in last semester’s seminars.” He shuffled a few papers on the table in front of him.
“You were writing your thesis with Professor Emerson until the beginning of November, about a month prior to your trip to Italy. You were registered in his Dante seminar for the entire fall semester, and awarded a mark of A.
“The non-fraternization policy exists to protect students from being preyed upon by their professors and to prevent any possibility of unfair preferments being dispersed. If you’d dropped Professor Emerson’s class, we would not be here today. But since you remained in his class, we have a problem.”
Professor Mwangi handed some papers to Meagan, who walked them obediently to Julia and Soraya. While Soraya glanced at the documents, Julia gaped in horror. She looked over at Gabriel once again, but he wouldn’t return her gaze.