As-salam alaykum

Dear readers,

don't be surprised, if you won't hear longer from me. I'm away, and you can guess where it's going to. :) The title should give you a clue.

Your Writer1976

©2012

The Moevenpick Hotel Frankfurt City, Germany

This time around I let my better half EW do the work. :-) The review is his.

We've recently [ early May 2012 for 2 nights ] stayed at the Mövenpick Hotel Frankfurt City located near the main entrance to the Messe.

Location: Near the Messe entrance, only around 10 minutes walking distance from the main train station || Hauptbahnhof.

Caution: During our stay, the hotel was surrounded at the front from a huge building site. Not a problem for us and our room was very well insulated and we heard not a thing.

First impressions: Fantastic exterior design [ the hotel opened in 2006 ] with a red steel frame, small entrance with red carpet, very practical laid out lobby, friendly welcome, got our room straight away and all infos we need for our stay.

Room: Stayed on the 5th floor front facing, standard room, excellent fresh design with a quote by Goethe above the bed, great earth tones throughout, no wear and tear, really a fresh room, great views of the skyline of Frankfurt. The usual was provided, good writing desk, in-room spa offerings, fully stocked minibar, a comfortable bed, a power shower, ecological bath amenities which smelled and felt great to use. All in all, what we expect from a Mövenpick hotel in the 4 star category. As a bonus we received Mövenpick chocolate and a card reading sweet dreams for the turn down service.

The room can get very warm during the evening and night, we called reception and problem was fast looked into and solved within a few minutes, since than we had no problem with the air-conditioning // heater anymore during our stay. So well done!

Others: The hotel is perfectly geared towards the business travel market, we saw not one but a few conferences and meetings going on at the same time during our stay. There is also a fitness center and a restaurant plus Bar.

Eat || Drink: On one afternoon we tried their Bar, here we had the Frankfurter specialty Grune Sauce mit Ei und frishen Brot || Green sauce with eggs and fresh bread, very recommendable plus a cocktail and fresh OJ. No visit to Mövenpick would be complete without trying their fantastic ice cream selections, as expected wonderful. Price wise the Bar is in the mid-tier segment.

One morning we had in-room breakfast and it was very very good too, we shared a continental breakfast which was so much more e.g. incl. scrambled eggs, sausages, fresh yoghurt, fresh OJ, coffee, a glass of sparkling wine, fresh bread selection, butter, jam, very nicely presented and served, highly recommended.

Overall: A great location [ despite building site surrounding the hotel during our stay ] a fresh design, friendly service, eating, drinking and that nice chocolate plus great room decor made for a great stay in Frankfurt am Main.

Would we recommend this hotel? YES!
Would we return for another stay? YES! 

©2012

The Steigenberger Bad Homburg, Germany

Having visited the Steigenberger Bad Homburg on a trip to Frankfurt many years ago we decided we wanted to stay there. Now was the chance, and we took it up.

We arrived via S-Bahn from Frankfurt Airport. The journey took around 45 minutes. Cost was 4.10 Euro / ca. 5.50 USD for a one way ticket.

The hotel is a walk of fifteen to twenty minutes from the S-Bahn station and generally very centrally located. It is housed in a villa and overlooks the Kur Park and is only five minutes walk to the city center.

When entering the lobby, the reception is to the left, while Charly's Lobby Bar and Charly's Bistro are off to the right. The lobby is large and airy with a lot of natural day light filtering through the large windows.
There is also a small library, a business center and a breakfast restaurant on the first floor.

The Steigenberger has a small fitness center, solarium, steam room and sauna on the top floor.

Our check in was quick and smooth. We arrived before the check in time. Our room was ready. We took the elevator to our floor and soon stood in front of it, but were confused, because there was a sign hanging outside stating please make up room. We didn't want to barge into a room that was still occupied. Thank goodness cleaning staff was at hand. The manager checked if somebody else was staying in "our" room. It seemed so. He accompanied us back to reception and explained the situation. The receptionist was surprised herself, looked for a new room immediately and apologized. We were handed new keys for a room on the same floor.

Our room was spacious with Art Deco elements, high ceilings, air conditioning, a table, two chairs, writing desk, king sized bed, an flat screen TV (It had a good regional and international channel selection, though), fully stocked mini bar, free water (only the bottle on the day of arrival, no replacement), a wardrobe and hooks for the jackets.  The color scheme was green, brown and white.

The bath room was large, too. It had a bath tub and shower combination, toilet, sink, enough storage space for our beauty products and dispensers for bath gel and shampoo. There was a small soap, body lotion in a little bottle and again liquid soap in a dispenser.

My opinion in regards to dispensers? I don't mind using them, but don't expect them necessarily in a four or five star hotel. I think it takes away a bit from the luxury experience and leaves no chance to nab the toiletries.
On the other hand I also know hotels have cost pressures and that dispensers are more environmental friendly than small individual bottles, so it is acceptable as long as the content is good.

Back to the room. The two windows were larger than usual thanks to the high ceiling and allowed the sun to flood light the room. The air-condition was fast and efficient.
It is also recommended to leave the curtains drawn, because otherwise the room is going to be heated up by the sun.

During our two night stay we once went to the bar for a cocktail and Champagne. Normally it was always quiet, but on this evening it was full with interesting dressed customers. The fellow patrons weren't very loud, so the atmosphere was very good. Unfortunately we couldn't choose the space we had originally planned to sit at. The other guests belonged to the Krimi Dinner, an event held at one of the hotel's meeting rooms. It included a dinner, where somebody is "murdered" and the diners must solve the crime. When they left, while we were still enjoying our drinks, peace returned.
Even if it was busy, service was attentive and efficient.

We had also in room breakfast for one person, because it was big enough to share. We had coffee, orange juice, scrambled eggs, a cheese plate, fruits, jams, bread, butter, honey and much more. There is a fifteen minute time frame in which the breakfast is going to be delivered, i.e. 10.00 to 10.15 a.m. Interesting enough during our stay it arrived at nearly the end of the time frame. At the Moevenpick Frankfurt, where we stayed three days later had a different policy and delivered at the beginning of the 15 minutes.

On one evening we went to Charly's Bistro. The restaurant is lavishly decorated with French/Parisian memorabilia, and the Art Deco theme continues. It feels really like a bistro in the swinging 20thies of Paris. The menu is diverse and there was also a set menu for asparagus lovers.

We had a large bottle of still water, two glasses of red wine, Wiener Schnitzel, sea bass and two desserts. It was delectable and very upscale. The bill came in at around 80 Euro / ca. 105 USD.

Check out was busy. We had to wait a short time. When it was our turn it was efficient and friendly.

Overall we had a good stay and would return again.

©2012

The Hearing - Part 11

CASE HEARING RACISM

Chair:                           Professor Deltdrick Ross, Head of Electrical Engineering

Department

Committee Members:   Professor Floyd Bohrer, Architecture

                                    Professor Elena O’Brien, Civil Engineering

                                    Professor Moses Fogel, Mineral and Mining Engineering

Witnesses:                    Delbert Ballas, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Frank Covington Posey, Electrical Engineering student

Agnes Davis, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Carlo Erickson, Electrical Engineering student

                                    John Martin, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Yolanda Miller, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Angeline O’Connell, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Jennifer Wallace, Electrical Engineering student

Logan Wittels, Electrical Engineering student

Professor Phyllis Bligh, Electrical Engineering

Professor Richard Grant, Electrical Engineering

Victim:              Frieda Pianas, Electrical Engineering student

                                   

Accused:                      Jennifer Miller, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Dina Wise, Electrical Engineering student

 

DR:                              Okay, that leaves us with the two accused. I’d like to have Ms. Jennifer Miller in the witness stand first.

Jennifer Miller is white faced, when she takes a seat.

DR (very serious):         Ms. Miller, you are aware, why you are here today?

Jennifer Miller (JM, sighs): Yes.

DR:                              Do you deny the allegations?

JM:                              No.

Loud murmur erupts from the crowd. Nobody was expecting this.

DR (puzzled):               You are admitting you told racist jokes, made racist comments and attacked Ms. Pianas?

JM (her body shakes slightly): Yes. I told the jokes and complained about spending too much time with chili dippers and that I couldn’t wait until we graduated. I was talking bad about Frieda behind her back, accusing her of being an illegal immigrant, that the Porsche she owns was stolen and that her fiancé didn’t exist.

                                    She confronted us, but didn’t loose her temper.

                                    The next day Dina and I found out somebody had gone to our Professors and told them about the jokes.

                                    I incited Dina to scratch one side of Frieda’s Porsche. It was part of our revenge as well as attacking her, because she went to Professor Bligh. I wanted to teach her a lesson.

DR:                              Did you do any of these things, because Ms. Pianas offended you?

JM (shakes her head): No, it was general frustration, having to do with Hispanics for years. It’s hard to see those bastards achieving so much, when they should be in their own country.

DR (angry):                  Ms. Miller, please be careful with you wording.

JM:                              Yes, sir. Anyhow I was jealous, because the better I knew Frieda I realized she is much more talented than I’m ever going to be.

DR (stern):                   Ms. Miller, this is no reason to behave the way you did! If you have problems with people from different backgrounds, you shouldn’t have accepted a place at this college! As you know the majority of the student body is Hispanic American. I’m very ashamed, and I’m going to pass on your case to our dean, giving our recommendation how you should be punished. You are dismissed!

Professor Deltdrick Ross sighs deeply.

DR:                              Alright. Let’s hear what Ms. Dina Wise has to say.

Dina Wise shuffles in and takes a seat.

DR:                              Do you know what you are accused of?

Dina Wise (DW):          Yes, I admit I encouraged Ms. Miller to tell another racist joke, used derogatory terms for people with Hispanic background including Ms. Pianas, scratched her car and watched out for potential witnesses while Ms. Miller pushed Ms. Pianas and pulled at her hair.

DR:                              Why did you do this?

DW:                             I hate Hispanics! They should go home to their countries, where they belong to.

EOB:                            Please explain why Ms. Miller and you befriended Ms. Pianas, when her heritage was clear.

DW (smiles ironic):       We wanted to see how the “other half lives”.

EOB:                            Satisfied with what you found out?

DW:                             No. They have it far too good here! I still can’t explain how Ms. Pianas can afford to have an old timer Porsche. A brand new one is expensive enough. Or how other wetbacks can finance to study. Their parents are here anyway illegal and are doing only manual jobs. It shouldn’t be allowed.

DR:                              Ms. Wise, we don’t accept racism here! Watch your mouth and don’t try do dig a deeper grave for yourself!

DW:                             I have a right to give my opinion.

EOB:                            You can give your opinion, but it shouldn’t be done in this manner.

DR:                              I have enough heard! I’m going to refer your case to the dean as well and the committee will give a recommendation what punishment you should receive. You can leave.

The next day the dean Frances Gallici made her decision. She read the transcript of the

hearing and listened to the recommendation Professors Ross, O’Brien, Fogel and Bohrer 

made. She reprimanded Ms. Miller and Wise and expelled them.

©2012

The Hearing - Part 10

CASE HEARING RACISM

Chair:                           Professor Deltdrick Ross, Head of Electrical Engineering

Department

Committee Members:   Professor Floyd Bohrer, Architecture

                                    Professor Elena O’Brien, Civil Engineering

                                    Professor Moses Fogel, Mineral and Mining Engineering

Witnesses:                    Delbert Ballas, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Frank Covington Posey, Electrical Engineering student

Agnes Davis, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Carlo Erickson, Electrical Engineering student

                                    John Martin, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Yolanda Miller, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Angeline O’Connell, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Jennifer Wallace, Electrical Engineering student

Logan Wittels, Electrical Engineering student

Professor Phyllis Bligh, Electrical Engineering

Professor Richard Grant, Electrical Engineering

Victim:                         Frieda Pianas, Electrical Engineering student

                                   

Accused:                      Jennifer Miller, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Dina Wise, Electrical Engineering student

 

DR:                              We have heard all the witnesses. Can we please have Frieda D. Pianas, the victim?

Frieda Pianas enters the room. She holds her head high.

DR:                              Welcome, Ms. Pianas, please take a seat.

Frieda Pianas (FP):       Thank you, Professor Ross.

DR:                              Can you tell us what happened during the last few weeks and please leave nothing out.

FP (looks self assured): Of course. It all started three weeks ago. I was running a bit late, because of bad traffic. When I entered the class room a small circle of my fellow students surrounded my friends Jennifer Miller and Dina Wise. They were laughing. When I came nearer I heard Jennifer telling a joke about Hispanics and their hatred for swans. Dina asked Jennifer to tell another joke before Professor Bligh arrived. Again the joke was about minorities. Nearly everyone in the circle seemed to enjoy what they were hearing. They laughed.

EOB:                            How did you feel about the situation?

FP:                               I didn’t mind the other students so much. I was more hurt about Dina’s and Jennifer’s behavior, because I thought we were friends and felt like I had been stabbed in the back by them.

EOB:                            Thank you, Ms. Pianas. Did you confront them?

FP:                               I wanted to – badly in fact. I restrained myself, though, and planned to wait for a private moment and when I was calmer. I was unconcentrated and looking forward to my lunch break. I didn’t spend it with my friends. When I returned I had to go to the rest room. I was in one of the cubicles, when others entered. I was surprised to hear Jennifer and Dina complain of having spent too much time with chili dippers and couldn’t wait until they graduated. They started to discuss how so many Hispanics could afford to study, including me and used a few more derogatory terms, like spic and much more. Dina and Jennifer were gossiping about me, concluding my car was stolen, my fiancé a creation, and my parents were illegal immigrants. I didn’t intend to eavesdrop, but since I still had to use the toilet I couldn’t avoid it. I was fuming, and when I finally was able to leave the cubicle, I opened the door with a crash, getting the attention of my former friends. I told them how disappointed I was and that in future I wouldn’t bother them. They looked ashamed, and I left it at that.

EOB:                            Were your troubles over?

FP:                               No. It was a week later, when I was at that rest room again, washing my hands, when I was suddenly pushed and bumped against the sink. Jennifer was standing behind me and grabbed my hair, and pulled it. Jennifer believed I had gone to Professor Bligh, telling her about the jokes. When my denial wasn’t satisfactory to her, Jennifer increased the pull on my hair. Dina was keeping an eye out and warned Jennifer somebody was approaching. The grip on my hair loosened. I freed myself and pushed Jennifer, so that I had a chance to escape. I ran towards the door and nearly collided with Agnes Davis, who wanted to enter. She had been looking for me. I was very upset and went straight to Professor Bligh. I didn’t like being threatened and called names.

EOB:                            What did Professor Bligh do?

FP:                               She sent me home and promised to deal with my former friends. I was glad, when I heard a day or so later they were suspended.

EOB:                            Ms. Davis also mentioned your car was scratched. Do you think it has something to do with the first two incidents?

FP (frowns):                 I don’t want to speculate.

EOB:                            Let’s phrase it differently: Do you believe one or both of them are capable of damaging your car?

FP:                               I guess if they are angry enough…

EOB:                            Did the situation have any impact on you?

FP:                               I had a bruise on my hip from the bang against the sink. The psychological impact was more traumatic. I didn’t want to go to college, felt down and had nightmares.

EOB:                            Thank you, Ms. Pianas.

MF:                              Before all this happened, did you have an argument with Ms. Miller and/or Ms. Wise?

FP:                               No. That’s why their behavior came as a total surprise.

MF:                              Did you offend them maybe?

FP (keeps her emotion under control):  Not that I’m aware of.

FB:                               I have a question. Why didn’t you go to one of your teachers or Professor Ross, when Ms. Miller was telling jokes? I’m sure they would have appreciated the information.

FP:                               Originally I wanted to talk with Jennifer and Dina about what they did, but when I overheard their conversation at the rest room, I told them clearly how I felt and that I didn’t want any contact with them in future. I truly believed it was over.

FB:                               You are aware your word stands against Ms. Miller’s and Ms. Wise’s word. There are no other witnesses to confirm what you overheard or what happened in the ladies bath room. Did you try to take revenge for the jokes by lying about the two other incidents?

FP (blushes and takes a deep breath before answering. Her eyes are blazing): Everyone who knows me is going to tell you I’m pretty straight forward and not vengeful. As I explained earlier of course I was angry and hurt, but it never occurred to me to take revenge. For me it was clear I was going to ignore my former friends and get on with my life. I have better things to do than execute a plan of how to damage Dina’s and Jennifer’s reputation or get rid of them.

FB (smiles):                  I’m sorry. We just had to cover all eventualities.

FP (her skin color has returned to its normal tone, and she is calm again): I understand.

DR:                              Ms. Pianas, how should Ms. Wise and Ms. Miller be punished?

FP:                               I’d like to say I’d be happy if they were suspended for a while. Unfortunately I believe what they have done was too severe, their return would seriously hamper my own ability to study, because I would fear an attack or to be undermined by them. There is also the problem that they might do the same to another student from a minority. I think they should be expelled.

DR:                              Has anyone questions left?

The rest of the committee didn’t, so Frieda Pianas was allowed to leave.

 

©2012

The Hearing - Part 9

CASE HEARING RACISM

Chair:                           Professor Deltdrick Ross, Head of Electrical Engineering

Department

Committee Members:   Professor Floyd Bohrer, Architecture

                                    Professor Elena O’Brien, Civil Engineering

                                    Professor Moses Fogel, Mineral and Mining Engineering

Witnesses:                    Delbert Ballas, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Frank Covington Posey, Electrical Engineering student

Agnes Davis, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Carlo Erickson, Electrical Engineering student

                                    John Martin, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Yolanda Miller, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Angeline O’Connell, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Jennifer Wallace, Electrical Engineering student

Logan Wittels, Electrical Engineering student

Professor Phyllis Bligh, Electrical Engineering

Professor Richard Grant, Electrical Engineering

Victim:              Frieda Pianas, Electrical Engineering student

                                   

Accused:                      Jennifer Miller, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Dina Wise, Electrical Engineering student

DR:                              Professor Phyllis Bligh, please.

Phyllis Bligh is composed, when she takes a seat.

DR:                              Professor Bligh, please tell us what happened in the last three weeks.

Phyllis Bligh (PB):         Three weeks ago Mr. Wittles came to me and told me what he and his girlfriend Ms. Davis had heard. It seems Ms. Jennifer Miller decided to tell some unfortunate, racist jokes.

DR:                              How did you react?

PB:                               Since Professor Grant and I spend most of the time with the students and know them for nearly five years – most of them at least, I decided to provide him with the information regarding the incident. I wanted to discuss how to proceed. We agreed to show a united front the next morning and confront the behavior.

DR:                              Was this the end?

PB:                               Well, I was surprised to see Ms. Frieda Pianas around a week later in my office. She was visible shaken after being attacked by Ms. Jennifer Miller.

DR:                              Attacked?

PB:                               Yes. It seems Ms. Miller was waiting for Ms. Pianas at the ladies restroom, and first pushed Ms. Pianas and then pulled Ms. Pianas’ hair and yanked at it. For some reason Ms. Miller believed Ms. Pianas had been the culprit, who had told me about the jokes. As we all know it wasn’t her. Ms. Wise was in the same room and warned Ms. Miller that somebody was approaching. Ms. Pianas used the chance to free herself. She headed to my office immediately after the attack. She was clearly shaken. I listened to what she had to tell me and also asked Ms. Davis, what she had seen. I then sent Ms. Pianas home and promised to deal with Ms. Wise and Miller.

DR:                              Thank you very much for your time, Professor Bligh. Our last witness is Professor Richard Grant.

The two professors exchange a quick glance, when they pass each other. Professor Grant

was relaxed.

DR:                              Professor Grant, thank you for coming.

Richard Grant (RG):     You’re welcome.

MF:                              Professor Grant, what happened around three weeks ago?

RG:                              Precisely three weeks ago, Professor Bligh came to my office and telling me about racist jokes a student had told. We both agreed racism wasn’t acceptable, and we were going to warn the class, where this had happened, there would be consequences, if the behavior continued. So the next day we showed up at the class together and issued the warning.

MF:                              Did it help?

RG:                              To my great disappointment I heard later that Ms. Wise and Ms. Miller had been suspended and a hearing was going to be held, because they had behaved badly towards a fellow student from upstate New York.

MF:                              How would you describe Ms. Wise and Ms. Miller?

RG:                              Ms. Miller is the boss in the relationship. Ms. Wise follows blindly what ever Ms. Miller orders.

MF:                              Thank you, Professor. I don’t have any further questions.

The rest of the committee is satisfied, so Professor Grant is released.

©2012

The Hearing - Part 8

CASE HEARING RACISM

Chair:                           Professor Deltdrick Ross, Head of Electrical Engineering

Department

Committee Members:   Professor Floyd Bohrer, Architecture

                                    Professor Elena O’Brien, Civil Engineering

                                    Professor Moses Fogel, Mineral and Mining Engineering

Witnesses:                    Delbert Ballas, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Frank Covington Posey, Electrical Engineering student

Agnes Davis, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Carlo Erickson, Electrical Engineering student

                                    John Martin, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Yolanda Miller, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Angeline O’Connell, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Jennifer Wallace, Electrical Engineering student

Logan Wittels, Electrical Engineering student

Professor Phyllis Bligh, Electrical Engineering

Professor Richard Grant, Electrical Engineering

Victim:                         Frieda Pianas, Electrical Engineering student

                                   

Accused:                      Jennifer Miller, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Dina Wise, Electrical Engineering student

 

Professor Ross nods and concentrates on the paper in front of him.

DR:                              Jennifer Wallace is next.

Jennifer Wallace seems to be determined and defiant.

DR:                              Please describe what happened three weeks ago.

Jennifer Wallace (JW): I don’t remember.

Professor Ross struggles with his temper. He has enough of students, who claim not to

remember what was going on at the time. Professor Fogel takes over.

MF:                              Let’s juggle your memory a bit. Ms. Miller seemed to have entertained part of your class…

JW (nonchalant):           Oh, you mean the jokes she told.

MF (smiling wry):         Exactly.

JW:                              What do you want to know?

MF:                              Describe in your own words what happened.

JW:                              I think she told two jokes. They made me laugh hard.

MF:                              What were they about?

JW:                              One was that Hispanics don’t like swans, because they are more beautiful. The swans that is. The other was about a shoot out in a bar. The American showed the chili… I mean the Colombian and the Saudi who is the master…

There is a loud murmur in the crowd. The committee is shocked.

MF:                              What was that, Ms. Wallace?

JW:                              Nothing.

MF (persists):               You started a word with chili. What did you want to say in all honesty?

JW (suddenly interested in the wall across the room): I didn’t want to say anything.

MF (keeps his temper under check): Ms. Wallace I know exactly what word you wanted to use. It’s a derogatory term of somebody from Latin America. Spill it!

JW:                              Okay, okay. I nearly said chili dipper.

MF (suddenly very serious): Ms. Wallace, this is unacceptable! I’m very ashamed a student at our college would take such a word in her mouth. This has consequences!

JW (with head bowed): Yes, sir.

DR:                              Professor Fogel is absolutely right! I’ll expect you tomorrow at

                                    08.00 a.m. sharp in my office. We are going to discuss your disgraceful behavior then.

JW (by now red faced): Yes, sir.

DR:                              Leave!

After forcing him to calm down, Professor Ross suggests to go on lunch break before

hearing the last three witnesses.

DR:                              The hearing is adjourned until 14.00 hours.

After the break Professor Ross invites the next witness.

DR:                              Logan Z. Wittels, please.

Logan Wittels takes a seat. He is a bit tense.

DR:                              Same question to you, Mr. Wittels. What did you witness three weeks ago?

Logan Wittels (LG):      Ms. Miller told a racist joke and was then encouraged by Ms. Wise in words and by the rest surrounding her, when they laughed, to tell another.

FB:                               What were the jokes about?

LG:                              I didn’t listen to the first one. I was preparing mentally for the class. The second got my attention, because it was extreme, in my opinion.

FB:                               What was so extreme about the last one?

LG:                              It described in detail what happens if a racist fellow citizen is going to a bar and encounters a Hispanic and a person from the Middle East. They end up dead, because the American believes they are illegal immigrants.

FB:                               What did you do next?

LG:                              I kept quiet, but was fuming. I thought I better didn’t interfere with so many people involved, but wanted to discuss the situation with my girl friend, Ms. Davis. I also saw Ms. Pianas entering, when Ms. Miller, until then one of her best friends, told the first joke. Ms. Pianas was hurt and angry. She kept her composure and even though, it had upset her, behaved more or less normal. She was maybe a bit distracted during the day.

FB:                               What did Ms. Davis and you decide to do?

LG:                              We decided to offer Ms. Pianas our friendship. She might have been isolated and lonely, if we didn’t. I also bet she didn’t want to sit beside Ms. Miller and Ms. Wise, so I left it to Ms. Davis to deal with Ms. Pianas. I said I was going to talk to one of our professors, because racism has to be stopped in its tracks. I wasn’t able to catch Professor Grant. Professor Bligh on the other side had time and listened. She promised to take care of the problem.

FB:                               What happened next?

LG:                              Professor Bligh and Grant arrived at the next class together and asked what racism was. They also made it clear there would be consequences if one of the students behaved racist.

FB:                               Was this the end of it?

LG:                              I don’t know. I only know around a week later Professor Bligh sent Ms. Pianas home and asked my girl friend to take care of her. I’m unaware of the reason, though.

FB:                               Thank you for your openness, Mr. Wittels, and for doing the right thing. It was important you informed us.

Logan Wittels leaves.

©2012

The Hearing - Part 7

 

CASE HEARING RACISM

Chair:                           Professor Deltdrick Ross, Head of Electrical Engineering

Department

Committee Members:   Professor Floyd Bohrer, Architecture

                                    Professor Elena O’Brien, Civil Engineering

                                    Professor Moses Fogel, Mineral and Mining Engineering

Witnesses:                    Delbert Ballas, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Frank Covington Posey, Electrical Engineering student

Agnes Davis, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Carlo Erickson, Electrical Engineering student

                                    John Martin, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Yolanda Miller, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Angeline O’Connell, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Jennifer Wallace, Electrical Engineering student

Logan Wittels, Electrical Engineering student

Professor Phyllis Bligh, Electrical Engineering

Professor Richard Grant, Electrical Engineering

Victim:                         Frieda Pianas, Electrical Engineering student

                                   

Accused:                      Jennifer Miller, Electrical Engineering student

                                    Dina Wise, Electrical Engineering student

While Yolanda leaves, fights back her tears, Professor Ross looks up the next person.

DR:                              Could we have Angeline O’Connell, please?

Angeline O’Connell seems to be calm and collected. She takes her seat, her blue eyes

are alert.

DR:                              Please tell us about what you witnessed three weeks ago.

Angeline O’Connell (AOC): I heard Jennifer M. tell something. It looked like the others around her were having a good time, so I went also to see what was going on.

DR:                              And what was going on?

AOC (fidgets on her chair): Well. If you don’t mind, I don’t want to repeat it.

DR (tries to keep his impatient under check): Why wouldn’t you want to repeat it?

AOC:                           It’s racist.

DR (angry):                  It seemed you didn’t mind at the time. You laughed at whatever Ms. Miller was saying – based on what I have heard from the other witnesses - so please repeat what she was saying.

AOC (blanches):          I… I…

DR (impatient by now): We don’t have all day, Ms. O’Connell.

AOC:                           Basically she told a joke. It was about some guys meeting at a bar. I think one was Mexican or something and the other from Iraq … Maybe. The last was American and in the end shoots the other two, because he believes the US has too many illegal immigrants, and it doesn’t matter if two are missing.

DR (stern):                   Is that funny, Ms. O’Connell.

AOC (lowers her eyelids and looks embarrassed): No. It’s not.

DR:                              Out of interest: Why did you laugh?

AOC:                           I… I guess I didn’t think. It was just stupid.

DR:                              That’s all, Ms. O’Connell. You can go.

AOC (relieved):            Thanks, Professor Ross.

 

©2012