Death of the Ayn Rand Scholar, Gray Cavender [short books for teens .txt] 📗

Studies. It was viewed as somehow undercutting academic freedom. I think that’s a fairly naïve view in this day and time. All universities have had to change, and ASU is just at the vanguard.”

Jillian and Wes nodded but didn’t speak so he continued, “I think some of the opposition was of an ideological nature.” He pronounced the word as if it were the dictionary’s short “i,” not the usual long ‘i.’ “I think the ‘critics’ (he used air quotes) in this camp were actually more angry about the Center for the Study of Economic Liberty than about Ayn Rand Studies because of the connections to the Koch Brothers. University professors are as divided as the public in general these days. Faculty fulminated at the Faculty Senate, there were letters to The State Press…that’s the campus paper.”

“One of our sources said that there was an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education about the topic?”

“Yes, I’m aware of THE ARTICLE,” he emphasized the words. “I think it’s taken on the air of some sort of a bogy-man…out there lurking…I don’t know.” He shook his head in, either in disgust or just dismissal…Jillian couldn’t tell which. “I have never actually seen the story because it hasn’t been published, at least not to date. The putative author is a mystery, too.”

“Professor Seay,” Wes asked, “Is the situation with Rand and the Koch Brothers….whatever it is…is this something that people were deeply angry about, angry enough…” he didn’t complete the sentence, just opened his right hand.

“I would not have thought so. People have a right to their opinions…I understand the opposition…I do…although I think it’s been blown out of all proportion, as is so much these days. Do I think someone would be so fired-up as to attack Nelda, no, I cannot imagine any sane professor doing anything that…that hurtful.”

Jillian continued, “What about in your department or in the Business College generally…did she OR the Center for Ayn Rand Studies have any enemies, any particularly vocal opposition?“

“Not so much, no. The idea of being business-oriented…that’s what we do. It’s our raison d’etre. No, my sense was that most of the opposition came from elsewhere. Some in English…I guess that was to be expected because Nelda held an appointment there. And to be honest, I suspect that there were just some sour grapes, you know, colleagues upset that Nelda had more resources than they did…higher salary, lower teaching load…the usual issues.” He looked away briefly, then continued, “Maybe it’s human nature, but little things take on more meaning when you don’t have much. I guess there’s a tendency to be jealous of those who have more than you,” he shrugged made a ‘who knows’ face? “Of course, there was also opposition in other departments on campus. And again, that was of a more ideological nature” (again, the unusual pronunciation) “although I think a lot of this wouldn’t have been so intense had it just been Ayn Rand Studies. It was also the investment from the Kochs.”

Wes said, “We’ve run into that, too. So, what’s the story there?”

“Same thing, only even more political, if that’s possible. For some—both in academe and out—they’re the purveyor of all that’s…evil. Seems they’re always in the news…the Koch brothers…for funding some foundation, or for trying to end some government program, or for giving money to their favorite political candidate...and all this is, of course, always on the conservative side of things…which is their right…it’s their money after all, and they can support whatever they believe in, whatever’s in their interest, be it their ideological interest or their economic interest. But, this just serves to rile-up the other side. Of course, for academics who think this, well now the barbarians are at the gate. The Koch brothers are threatening to breach their precious ivory tower.”

Seay thought for a second, then said, “I know there’s been a lot of ongoing anger about this—about the Kochs and all the rest—but honestly, I thought it had blown over. And, I just don’t think these larger issues could be related to Nelda. But then, what do I know?”

There were a couple of seconds of silence that were broken by buzzing, first Seay’s cell phone, which was on his desk, then Jillian’s. Seay and Jillian exchanged looks. He returned to his desk while she opened her bag.

“Oh my,” Seay said, “They’re closing ASU for the rest of the day.” He looked to Jillian as he returned to his chair.

“Yes,” she said, and showed her cell to Wes.

He said, “As you predicted.”

She nodded, “Well, that’s the protocol.”

Seay asked, “And, I’m assuming that this is because of Nelda’s…murder?”

“Yes,” she answered.

“Any idea how long the closure will last?”

“No…probably not long. I mean, the alert says for today.”

“Oh well, if it goes on tomorrow, a lot of faculty will be smiling. We had a faculty meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning. It’ll be like a ‘snow day’ for school kids in the southeast. My kids always love that when we lived in North Carolina…I was getting my doctorate at Duke,” he added.

Wes said, “Nobody likes meetings, in whatever job.” He smiled, then said, “Professor Seay, it’s standard procedure in a situation like this to speak with people who were close to the deceased. Are there people, other professors or anyone…who you would suggest that we speak with? Knowing more about her will help us understand…the situation.”

“Certainly.” He drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair as he thought, then said, “I’ll suggest two colleagues. David Roberts—he’s actually in The Center for Economic Liberty as well as in our department…Entrepreneurship and Innovation. And Miriam Moser. Miriam’s out at SkySong. Are either of you familiar with SkySong?”

Wes asked, “That the place on Scottsdale Road with the thing that looks like a giant sail?”

“Yes, although it’s always referred to as the ‘iconic shade structure,’ he corrected, and laughed his snorty laugh again. “It’s an ASU campus…a center for innovation. Miriam Moser is SkySong’s Executive Director. Nelda spent a good deal of time at