Bob's Case: A Friendly Physiologist

by David F. Brakke, Dean
College of Science and Mathematics
Towson University

Faculty salaries were modest and as a supplement Bob taught the latter half of a summer course in general biology. He had grant support but not enough to cover the summer or to buy new fishing equipment to tackle steelhead and salmon. Early summer was spent doing research, hiking in the mountains and exploring the coastline. Watching a sunset over the ocean he told Sally "these students need some real world examples rather than studying jars of dead things with funny names. In Oregon, we can study live marine organisms. We could have done more in Kansas, but just consider the possibilities along this coast."

Bob took over the second half of the class enthusiastically. Although just forty and checking for signs of gray, students found him young and energetic. Dr. Jones, who was nearing retirement, taught the first four weeks. Jones was soft-spoken and sweet hearted, but very frustrated with teaching. He wished Bob "good luck with this group. Nothing interests them. I can't believe how much students have changed."

After Bob's first lecture, a Nursing student said "your lecture was so clear and interesting. Your overheads and slides are great, too. Dr. Jones' overheads were colored from age. We couldn't see anything on the tiny diagrams and he mumbled on and on."

The lab followed lecture. Bob circulated around the room and sensed the students were excited to be working with living organisms and learning their role in the system rather than looking at their smallest parts studied from slides or dead specimens. One group was particularly animated. The three women, Jill, Jackie and Maureen, had taken other classes together, talked loudly and made their partner Sam the butt of all jokes. One of Bob's colleagues who delighted in knowing everything in town stopped Bob after class and said "you know that woman in your class with the big rock on her hand?" Bob had no idea. Maureen was married to Daniel Patrick, a local entrepreneur, and her parents had a cottage next to his colleague's.

Day one was a success. The second class was an interactive lecture. Bob felt very comfortable with the class and his approach to bringing the course alive. During lab on the third day, he spent time meeting each of the 24 students. He learned many were in pre professional programs, only two were science majors and most were sophomores. Five students were "non traditional," including three males in school under a special program after a major manufacturer closed and moved to South Carolina, and two women who had degrees but wanted a different career.

During the next lab, Bob found he had several things in common with Maureen. Although she grew up in the South, she spent several years in Manhattan, Kansas. She and Daniel moved to Oregon after he lost his job. He found a job in a local business, bought it when the owners retired and expanded by buying several businesses. She was older than Bob and had two sons. One son was the same age as Bob's and played in the same baseball league on different teams. They traded stories about their boys.

Bob always talked with pride about Sally, who was so special. Maureen said her parents lived where Sally worked. Sally struggled adjusting to her job and commuting on weekends. She lived in quarters on the office compound with another woman and wanted a place to herself. Maureen's parents were moving to the coast and Bob asked if they were renting the house. Maureen said she would tell them about Sally's interest in renting the house if they didn't sell it.

The last day of the course, Bob left his office to go watch his son's baseball game. He found a note on his car saying "I stopped by your office. Disappointed you weren't there. Sorry I missed you. Maureen." Bob thought it was unusual, and particularly that she knew his car and its location. Bob expressed his best wishes to every student on leaving the final exam, and knowing about Maureen's upcoming vacation he wished her a good trip.

Two weeks later as Bob worked on a manuscript in his office, Maureen walked in. Bob asked "how was your trip?" She replied "I really missed you. I was getting used to seeing you every day." She gave him a small sea star, saying "I found this on the beach and thought of you. I thought you would like it." Bob was uncomfortable and didn't know what prompted her comments. While he enjoyed talking with Maureen, he had no interest in her nor did he find her attractive. That night Bob told Sally about the notes and Maureen's visit. She said "watch out, and don't give her any signals." Bob agreed. "I liked talking with her and don't know many people my age, but I'll be careful."

During fall semester Maureen took more Biology, along with other students Bob knew. The instructor was being considered for tenure and was having a difficult time. Bob made visits to the lab to observe. Bob talked with various students, including an advisee who played football.

Later that fall Bob and Sally planned their annual Christmas party. They always invited a variety of people. Some guests were local business people and they invited Maureen and Daniel. Shortly after the invitations were mailed, another note from Maureen appeared in Bob's office saying "Thanks for the invitation. We are looking forward to the party." A week later Maureen looked for Bob after lab and not finding him left a note in his office. "Sorry we can't attend the party after all. Daniel is having a party for his businesses on the same evening. I would rather be at yours--it would be more fun. Give our regrets to Sally."

Before Bob sat down in his chair, Daniel started accosting him loudly and angrily. Bob got up to shut the door as Daniel charged "what is going on between you and my wife? Not that it matters, our marriage was over long ago, but what is going on? All she talks about is you. On vacation she was quiet except to talk about you and your stupid course. Now we are invited to a Christmas party and it's all she talks about. What's going on?" Bob replied "I don't know what you are talking about. Nothing is going on." He was nervous and bothered by Daniel's volatile display.

Daniel pressed further saying Maureen had told him that Bob had been pursuing her and she was interested in him. "I still don't know what you are talking about," Bob replied. Daniel was enraged and Bob worried that telling him about the notes would jeopardize Maureen and wondered whether Daniel might be abusive. Then Daniel said "something must be going on. You don't invite students to Christmas parties." Bob chuckled slightly and explained he and Sally always invited students, usually those working with Bob, and four other students were invited. Daniel didn't believe anything. Bob was shocked and hurt that someone he talked to as a friend would turn on him. Daniel issued a threat that "if I ever catch you or hear of you contacting my wife, I'll come after you and make sure you're fired." Bob took a walk to calm down. Bob understood real situations of harassment. Here he was an innocent victim, but he didn't know whether to report the threat or not, for fear it would reflect on him. Being new and uncertain of his position, he didn't want to be summoned to meet the Dean, and who knows what connections Daniel had at the University.

Bob had talked to Maureen always with an open office door or in a group in a lab, and never displayed any signs of interest. He felt by his place being invaded and violated, and he worried about Daniel's connections in the community and what he might say. He thought it wouldn't be much because it reflected back on Daniel, but this was little comfort.

That evening Bob told Sally what happened. Sally was upset and called Beth, a friend in the business community, who might know Daniel. Beth didn't work with him but said he had a reputation as a womanizer, especially on hunting trips. She also said her husband Michael, who taught in another department, was sweet and helpful to students in advising, and had a couple of divorced women spending way too much time in his office. She said they developed crushes on Michael and he never saw it coming.

Two weeks later Bob picked out chicken in the supermarket while Sally was getting vegetables. Maureen came up from behind without notice and said "I really need to talk with you after this blows over." She looked awful with puffy eyes and a red face. Bob said he wasn't interested and was upset by what she said and Daniel's threat. Maureen replied "please, you have to understand the position I was in." Bob answered "I won't talk with you. You lied and your husband threatened me."

The story lingered with Bob. He rarely sees Daniel or Maureen, but it occasionally happens in a small city. He mostly forgot about the incident, but was reminded two years later when he learned that Maureen had told some friends Bob pursued her. Two years later, it came up again when he arrived five minutes late for a haircut and waited because someone had taken his appointment. He couldn't tell who it was from the back but when the gentleman got up to leave he looked familiar. The hairdresser said later "you should know him, that's Daniel Patrick," and on hearing the name he changed hairdressers.

Bob feels the effect of Maureen whenever he encounters new students, particularly females close to his age. He is less outgoing and more detached from some students. He worries it impacts on his connections with them, the spirit of the classroom and on learning. Nonetheless, he felt so threatened by the situation that he compensates when he senses the possibility a female student is expressing an interest in him and he remembers the angry man yelling and threatening him in his office.

© Copyright, 1998 David F. Brakke