[3096] in Depressing_Thoughts
Remind me again why I didn't go Course VI...
sipb7@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (sipb7@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Thu Jun 11 01:23:21 1992
Once again, I have stood face to face with the awesome
unpredictability of Human Nature, and it has kicked me in the balls.
A bit harder than usual.
I work overnight at a dorm for emotionally disturbed teenagers at the
Learning Center for Deaf Children. Monday night, I showed up for
work, and before I could arrive at the dorm, the Dean of Students
intercepted me. She ushered me into her office, where a sign-language
interpreter and the school principal were waiting.
He showed me a copy of one counselor's handwritten notes. One student
at the school, who I will refer to here as "Fred," had accused me of
sexually abusing him during last week's camping trip in New Hampshire.
The principal questioned me for an hour. Is this true? What really
happened then? How would you describe your relationship with Fred?
Have you ever felt any sexual attraction to him? Have you worried
about being falsely accused of sexual abuse? Can you think of any
reason why Fred would have made up this story?...
He also reminded me that as required by state law, he would inform the
Mass. Department of Education and Department of Social Services about
this accusation, and I could expect DSS investigators to ask me the
same questions. If I was cleared of all charges, the DSS would
destroy all records of my case.
For the duration of the investigation, I was suspended with pay. When
the interview was over, the principal drove me to the Framingham bus
station, and since the buses had stopped running, all the way back
home to Brighton. I hope you're innocent, he said. If not....
I went into my apartment, and my roommate was home watching TV, so I
didn't feel like calling anyone on my home phone. I took the train to
MIT, tried to call my mother in California, called my father, and
tried to call my mother again, and left a message with a law-student
friend of mine. It was after midnight; my closest friends were likely
to be asleep, and I was on night mode.
I went up to the SIPB office, logged in, caught up on mail and
discuss, and spent the rest of the night writing my statement about
the alleged abuse and brooding. What if another student made up a
story about being abused by me (thus collaborating Fred's)? What if I
was cleared of the charges, but Fred remained a student, and I
couldn't work with him? What if someone in the SIPB office asked me,
"Aren't you supposed to be at work tonight?" Eventually, I went down
to the MITSFS office to get some sleep.
Tuesday afternoon, I finished editing my statement (after running
through LaTeX, it was a little over twelve double-spaced pages),
mailed it off, and called the principal. He was in a meeting. I was
in the ESP office, so I left that office number and asked that he call
me back. I spent an hour or two waiting for his call; during that
time, I fielded about a half a dozen calls from people with questions
about ESP's summer program.
Finally, the principal calls. I tell him that my statement is in the
mail. I ask: If I am cleared and Fred transfers to another school,
would I be able to continue working? Definitely. If he doesn't -- I
can't talk about those if's now.
I went home and cooked, er, heated up, dinner. I talked some more
to my father. Then my mother called; she was visiting my grandmother
in Connecticut, which was why I hadn't reached her in California.
At 8:40 last night, Fred called. I grabbed a notebook and pen, ready
to transcribe everything I saw on the TTY from him. He admitted to
making up the story about being abused. He did it to get back at one
of his teachers. He was very sorry and he would never never do it
again.
I switched into Therapist Mode. I told him I was glad that he
admitted the truth so promptly. I hoped we could respect each other
and work together again in the future. If he gets abused again in the
future, he should tell people on the staff, and not be afraid that
they will disbelieve him because he lied about me. And so on, and so
on. I talked briefly with one of Fred's counselors. They were trying
to reach the principal and tell him the news before 9:00 a.m., when
the report to DSS was scheduled to go out. I said good-bye to Fred.
I called my parents and my law-student friend with the good news.
I lay in bed, waiting for the principal to call, for another two
hours. Then I gave up waiting and fell asleep. When I woke up, I
waited again until 2:45 p.m. I took a shower and called the school.
The principal was in a meeting. I went downtown to drop off a check,
and then I came here.
I guess, technically speaking, I'm still suspended from work. I don't
know what the status of this case is.
Maybe Fred has recanted his recantation. Naah. He wouldn't do that.
Right?
I wish that my job working with crazy people paid me enough money so I
could afford a therapist.
