I Want To Live

Chapter Two

    Dean Harriet Walker sat at her desk reviewing a speech she intended to present that evening at an Alumni Fund Raiser. A hesitant knock broke her concentration. She recognized the strawberry blond hair of the girl that peeked around the door.

    “Come in, Katie,” she said, smiling to see her favorite student employee. Her delight changed to alarm once she noticed the tentative steps and downcast face. 

    “What’s wrong, Katie?” Concerned, she gestured for her to sit down pushing the speech aside. The girl’s manner of plopping into a chair that faced the desk, rattled her. This isn’t like my Katie. There’s something major upsetting her.         

    Harriet was a large woman, who indulged in chocolate sweets. Her broad bottom attested to a sedentary lifestyle. Grey hair cut stylishly short. Reading glasses suspended from a chain rested on ample breasts. Clasped pudgy hands rested upon the desk. Harriet, known for her generous and compassionate heart, waited with a calm, accepting expression.

    Katie breathed deeply, encouraged by her employer. “I’m here to report.  .  .” An unexpected sob burst forth, hand flying to her mouth, she recovered quickly. “I want to report an infraction by one of my professors.” Then paused, searching for the right words to express her s****l assault.

    Harriet smiled to inspire further discourse. “Go on. I’ve never known you to be speechless.”

    Katie opened her mouth then wavered. “Dean Walker,” she blurted. “I believe I was r***d!” 

    Immediately, Harriet’s demeanor sobered. As Dean she represented the official stance of the University. Even though she commiserated with Katie’s complaint, there were legal issues to consider. She knew what she was about to say wouldn’t be received well. “That’s a strong accusation---one difficult to prove.”

    “You know I’m not flighty.” Katie’s eyes teared. “I don’t state this lightly.” 

    “Unfortunately we live in an age where some women attack a man’s reputation by maligning him.” Harriet knew the conversation was deteriorating.

    Horrified, Katie lashed out, “I would never do that.”

    Harriet leaned back in the chair, choosing her next words carefully. “To make a charge of r**e we need hard evidence. Did you go to Women’s Health to report the r**e, get a physical exam and swabbed for DNA testing?”

    “No. . . ” wailed Katie, realizing her complaint was to no avail.

    Harriet felt a profound sadness. Their relationship would be irrevocably altered. “We’ve had complaints of this nature before. The University can do nothing official without valid proof that would stand up in court.” 

    Katie pushed back her chair and stood, shaking her head in defeat.

    Harriet rounded the desk and grasped Katie’s hand before she could bolt. “I concur. No woman should have to experience something as demeaning as r**e. I sympathize, but there’s nothing the University can do until a person is proven guilty.”

    Katie stammered, “I’m sorry to have taken up your time---it was Dr. Rogers!” She pulled free and ran from the room, slamming the door behind her.

    Frustrated, Harriet ran agitated fingers through her hair. She had failed the student. When will that man learn to keep his pants zipped? He’s skating on thin ice. One of these days it will shatter beneath him and I hope he drowns.

                                                                                           ----                              

    Katie volunteered at the office that printed the campus newsletter, writing assigned articles. All journalism majors were encouraged to do so. For two years she had her own cubicle in the busy newsroom, complete with computer, desk and chair. She headed there after fleeing the Dean’s office. The main room held ten cubicles divided into two rows for student reporters. Old newspapers, boxes of printer ink, packs of computer paper, along with pencils, erasers, yellow legal pads lay randomly on shelves lining the far wall.

    Edgar Wallace, the editor, left his glass-enclosed office when he saw Katie enter the crammed room. Curious, he walked over to her cubicle.

    “What brings you here, Katie? You’re usually at classes in the afternoon.”

    “I have an important flyer to create.” She typed her password into the computer. It sprang to life. Hello, Katie MacKenzie. She opened a new file. Started typing furiously. 

    Edgar’s eyes widened as he read the scathing words over her shoulder. “Dr. Clayton Rogers.  .  .  takes advantage of women.  .  . be vigilant.  .  . warned.  .  . s****l assault.  .  .”

    His handlebar mustache twitched at the implication. He scowled, placing ink-stained fingers onthe desk as he reprimanded her. “We can’t print something like that! We’ll be shut down. We need proof. Witnesses.”

    “I know, Ed. I’m not writing this for the paper.” Katie clicked on file, scrolled down, then hit print 50 copies. The printer sprang to life executing the command. An overloaded tray spit circulars onto the floor. The machine stopped whirring. Katie stooped to pick the flyers up.

    “Oh, God, Katie. What are you going to do with those?” Ed ran a nervous hand over his receding hairline. 

    “Tack them up around campus.” 

    Ed gulped, spread his arms and feet wide in the doorway, blocking her exit from the newsroom. “Did that wolf lay a hand on you?” 

    Katie glared. A prominent blush colored her cheeks. “The sleaze-bag drugged and r***d me!’

    Ed’s mouth opened, about to say something, then shut it shaking his head sadly. “There have been rumors,” he muttered. Sighing, he came to a decision. “Give me half. I’ll help distribute them.” He lifted two rolls of duct tape off the shelves. Handed her one. “Here, wait ‘till it’s dark so no one can identify us.” 

    Katie hugged him gratefully, leaving the building with an armload of fliers and tape.

    Ed watched her retreat. God, I hope this doesn’t bite us in the ass!

                                                                                              ----

    Katie entered the common room of her dorm. Fliers had been placed in strategic places. A number of girls lounged on couches watching Wheel of Fortune on big screen TV.  Katie held up a flier and announced, “Has anyone here been sexually assaulted on this campus?” interrupting their program.

    They looked at her dumbfounded. Most shook their heads negatively. Katie placed the flier on the coffee table and left. She retreated to her dorm room and waited with her roommate.

    “Do you really think anyone will respond?” asked Linda, sitting cross-legged on her bed. Cascading cinnamon-colored hair draped her shoulders. Oversized glasses giving her an owlish look. Glancing at her watch every five minutes.

    A half hour passed before a tentative knock rapped their door. 

    “Come in,” said Katie, mouthing, “I told you so.”

     Linda rolled her eyes, stopped brushing her silky hair and shrugged. 

    A hesitant girl with raven-black hair pulled into a ponytail shuffled in. “Hi, I’m Susan. Are you, Katie? Am I in the right room?”    

    Katie gazed at the student. She’s attractive. Long legs. A model’s figure. Heart shaped face.      

    “You’ve got the right room. Can we help you, Susan?”

    Emboldened to have found Katie, Susan stood tall. A waterfall of words tumbled forth. “I’m a junior. Prelaw. More than ready to see justice served. I was r***d by sleazy Rogers my sophomore year. Told to forget the incident when I tried to make a fuss. Well,---I’m ready to take a stand now.”

     Before Susan finished her tale, Gail meekly peered around the door and entered. “Sorry, I couldn’t help overhearing. May I join you?” Gail was petite. A natural blond with blue eyes. Supple gymnast’s figure. “I was r***d my freshman year. Kept mum all this time. Didn’t want to lose my scholarship. I’ll be graduating the end of this semester. I’ll stand with you.”

    Mimi stopped by. Beautiful oriental girl. Dark eyes. Bobbed hair. Tiny. Slender. Reminded Katie of geisha girls she had seen in books. Same story. Threatened into silence. 

    Katie scrutinized the girls huddled on her bed. These women are beautiful.

For years she had doubted her own attractiveness and self worth. Her mother abandoned her at age ten. That had to mean she was flawed in some way. Rogers seemed to be drawn to alluring women. For the first time Katie accepted her own appeal.

    The four of them realized they shared a sisterhood in Peabody Hall. How many other victims were out there campus-wide? Plans were made to picket outside the English building with placards warning women to be wary of Dr. Rogers. 

    After the girls departed, Katie looked at her image in a handheld mirror. “Linda, do you think I’m pretty?”

     “For heaven’s sake. Do you have your head buried in the sand?” She ambled up to Katie, put an arm across her shoulders. “I would die to look like you. Haven’t you noticed guys’ heads swiveling when you pass on campus?”

                                                                                        ----                                                               

    The following morning, an hour before Dr. Roger’s lecture period, the four of them congregated

outside the doors to the English building, waving their placards. Shouting.

                             Dr. Rogers! A WOLF in sheep’s clothing!

    To their surprise, other female students joined them, taking up the chant. 

                                           “Beware of the wolf!”  

    Many students congregated, having heard the commotion. Ben happened to be among them. Some had read the handbills taped around campus, so were aware of the accusations.

    Mystified, Ben strolled up to a handbill taped to a post. He read the inflammatory words. Understood the reason for Katie’s distress. 

    They demonstrated half an hour before Security officials confronted them. “All right, girls, break it up or you’ll be physically removed; charged with obstruction and disturbing the peace.”

    Susan objected, venom in her voice, “We’re exercising our first amendment rights!”

    “Better read the college bylaws again, lady,” a beefy officer retorted right in her face, his hand on the nightstick attached to his belt. His fellow officers spread their legs, ready for offensive action if necessary.

    The women ceased. Their objective had been accomplished. They lowered their placards and the crowd dispersed.  

    “Shall we go to Starbucks?” asked Katie nonchalantly.

    “Sounds like a plan,” was the consensus. They ambled peacefully in that direction. A few of the concurring stragglers followed in their wake. 

    This was a new version of Katie. Ben wasn’t sure he liked it.

                                                                                               ----                                                                

    That week every member of the student body received a letter from the President stating that demonstrations on campus were illegal and subject to expulsion from the University. Any complaints concerning members of the faculty were to be directed through proper channels.The previously posted handbills were discreetly removed. 

    Katie was summoned to the President’s office. She sat before a very disgruntled man. 

    The President of PSU was stiff. Face red with fury, he stroked a trim snow-white mustache and beard. Dark eyes bored into her.

    Katie thought he resembled a pissed off Santa. Hope he doesn’t have a heart attack on me.

    Long fingers drummed the desk. He snarled, “I’m tired of you girls besmirching a professor’s reputation to get back at him for some slight. Malicious rumors. No valid proof. Your accusations are unfounded. Dr. Rogers has been a member of our faculty for years and is renown in his field. His classes are very popular.”

    Katie held her tongue, fascinated with the man’s vehement display of distress, as if he were trying to convince himself. She deflected his barbs by showing no emotion. Face impassive. Composed. Pensive. It seemed to upset him. Apparently he would prefer a confrontation.

    Dr. Albert Schmidt paused and glared at the troublemaker. He reached for a glass of water on his desk. Took a sip. Organized his thoughts. Steepled his hands. 

    Hmm. He’s about to change his tactics. Katie thought, waiting for the deflection.

    “If you women have been violated in any way, I apologize. It’s demeaning. Disgraceful. Without sufficient proof however, my hands are tied. The administration cannot enforce any disciplinary action.” He sighed. “Silence benefits the reputation of this University. The majority of our funding comes from alumni donations, many of whom are men who have higher incomes than women. Men who can identify with the false implications to Dr. Roger’s reputation.”

    Dr. Schmidt skewered Katie with a meaningful look. “Your standing as a student is impeccable so far. Good grades---chance to be awarded another scholarship. I can forgive your infraction this time if you’ll recant and apologize in the Newsletter. I would think that is a very good option for you, Katie.”

    He picked up his phone. “Carol, would you send in the next person, please.”

    Katie knew that was her exit line. She stood, about-faced and almost collided into Susan in the hallway when she left the room.

    “So, they’ve targeted all of us.” Katie grinned and high-fived Susan in passing. 

    She saw Mimi and Gail sitting in the reception area. Their eyes met, questions not voiced.

    “You’ll get the Old Boys’ Club lecture, I’m afraid. We girls gotta stick together. See yah.”