I’ve seen some things
Let’s play a little game.
Some of the following incidents might be based on truth. The remainder are complete fabrications. Even the incidents based on truth have been modified for dramatic effect and to protect the guilty. None of the incidents, true, false, or embellished, occurred at the Kelley School of Business or Indiana University. Spot the lie(s), if you can. Good luck!
After a professor unexpectedly departed a university, an administrator occupying a neighboring office hired a contractor to make some renovations. A door disappeared. So did the interior wall separating the two offices. The administrator’s office roughly doubled in size. Few people noticed, and those who did naturally assumed that someone, somewhere, had approved this redesign. Years later, the department was finally authorized to hire a replacement for the departed professor. There was one problem: the replacement’s office key only opened the supply closet.
An instructor experienced a major family event midway through the semester. His home and work obligations became too demanding, and he stopped holding classes six weeks early. No students complained. Nobody else noticed. His student feedback was better than ever. The following semester, for no particular reason, classes again ended at roughly the same point in the semester. This proved to be a surprisingly durable pedagogical model. It was eventually discovered, several semesters later, and the instructor departed the university. Classes were canceled for the remainder of the semester.
A senior administrator routinely had a staff member pick up his lunch without reimbursing her. The staff member eventually complained. After a multi-year review by the institution, he was directed to repay her by EOB. Apparently short on liquidity, he made a quick trip to his safe-deposit box and produced $12,641 in casino chips. He still owes 52 cents.
While interviewing a candidate for a faculty position, the department chair got up to use the bathroom, which was inside the suite where the interview was taking place. He left the door open, “so he could hear.” The acoustics of the suite were, unfortunately, excellent.
A department chair invited his friend to come for a semester as a visiting professor. After a few weeks, the department chair began to refer to the visitor exclusively as “the fat Frenchman.” Their friendship deteriorated over time. Eventually, outside authorities became involved.
At a school-wide event, an outgoing provost was invited to reflect on his time at the university. He probably meant to talk about “strategic vision” and “transformative impact.” Instead, over the next half hour, he recounted a particularly memorable episode from his tenure: “Instagram,” “belly shots,” “hot tub,” “expense account,” “anonymous source,” “front page.” He ended by wishing all involved “the very best.”
A faculty member was serving on a personnel committee evaluating a colleague with whom he was romantically involved. Given their appointments, the relationship was an HR headache, and they had tried to keep it secret. They failed. It was obvious. Everyone knew. When the case came up, another committee member gently suggested that, under the circumstances, perhaps the faculty member might consider recusing himself. “Why would I need to do that?” He looked confused. Genuinely confused. The meeting continued.
Think you know? Vote below. No answers will be given. Don’t even ask.