In early winter quarter, Pierre was moved (suddenly, from most residents' viewpoints) to another dorm, a decision made not by us but by University authorities. Under the current rules at Stanford, all details of judicial affairs cases are confidential, so the residence staff had our hands tied about what we could and couldn't communicate to the dorm, especially through any public medium such as house meetings or the dorm e-mail list. Indeed, the Resident Fellows (my wife Roni and I) had several drafts of proposed messages to the e-mail list (and proposed verbal explanations for house meetings), explaining the situation to residents, rejected by the University's lawyers who were consulting on the case. Residents were free to ask the principal parties about the situation (though they were advised not to expect details), however, and it became widely known that a female resident in the dorm (who did not participate in this study) had lodged a sexual harassment charge against Pierre. There was some considerable tension in the dorm over this affair and the lack of information surrounding it, and in particular there was a widespread feeling that Pierre had been effectively found guilty by being forced to leave without "due process."
These tensions first appeared on the e-mail list in a three-word anonymous posting from "Dummy" ("Where is Pierre.......") with the subject line "Fairness&Justice." Pierre himself, who remained on the Rinconada e-mail list throughout the year, replied that he appreciated the comment and that the "bad guy" was not the female resident by "the system." Several other residents -- including Adelle, Gregory, the anonymous "Karina Luevano," Hillary, Meg -- responded to "Dummy's" prompt too. Gregory and Meg were the most articulate in expressing widespread frustrations:
Gregory: "I really don't think it is appropriate that it was done so clandestinely and that the basic facts of the issue weren't shared with the dorm.... This is not a good thing for an open learning community."Meg: "As a dorm, we deserve to have been told that Pierre left and where he was going, if not the reasons that he left. Also, I agree with Hillary that this is something that should be discussed in person, as well as on email.... I think that its often easier to discuss big issues that you're somewhat distant from than to write about something happening right here."
This was a community that already, by the beginning of winter quarter, had developed tight bonds, widespread openness of communication, and a great deal of sophistication in using the dorm e-mail list to promote those bonds and that openness (e.g., Meg's urging her dormmates "to write about something happening right here"). For the residence staff, it was very frustrating not being able to respond to these reasonable desires and frustrations.
By this time, we finally got permission from University authorities to explain the situation in general terms to individual residents, though we still were proscribed from making any general announcements. We quickly had a number of one on one conversations with residents, clarifying the limitations of what we as the staff could do and suggesting what the University's rationale for removing Pierre might be (including the protection of his rights). Following these conversations, Marvin's e-mail helped calm the frustrations -- at least the yearning for an "official announcement." Pierre had been advised not to try his case on the e-mail list, and he wisely (I think) refrained from further online comments about it.
Where is Pierre.......
hi. it's me. just letting you know I appreciate your commment. I don't know who you are, but thanks.
I'm still on the rinclist.
but please don't let her feel like she is the bad guy. The system is. But only she can stop this system.
Fellow Rinsters,
There have been some interesting e-mails the last few days. Of course AIDS is important, but there are some other issues that should maybe be discussed. Of course, you may all think that the Pierre issue is of little significance, or taboo. If any one cares to respond (with their name attached)...
-Adelle
I think the reason that no one speaks of Pierre's leaving us is because no one knows enough about the case. the facts as I know them are that he stands accused of harrasment. I'm not sure if it's sexual or not but the school policy is that he has to live under a different roof while the school investigates. I really don't think it is appropriate that it was done so clandestinely and that the basic facts of the issue weren't shared with the dorm. It has been a week and a half since he left and that is too long. I don't think that anyone involved had to say anything but some official announcement would have been fair. As it stands, we are unaware of the process and what we could possibly do if we feel strongly one way or another. I feel that when that type of mystery shrouds a topic that affects us all, the issue gains a "whisper in the hall" type of quality. This is not a good thing for an open learning community.
I don't really want to discuss the sexual harassment issue. I just think that the way it was handled leaves something to be desired.
Innocent until proven guilty,
Gregory
Oh were oh were has our Pierre gone oh were oh were can he be?????
The poor guy's in B.F.E.
Hey guys I agree with Adelle - this issue is significant and should be discussed. What do you think. Do people want to discuss over e-mail. I personally think we should meet as a dorm. Wadda ya think? -Hillary
On Fri, 16 Feb 1996, Adelle X_____ wrote:
[...Text of Adelle's message follows....]
Fellow Rincsters,
I totally agree with Adelle's and Hillary's emails about Pierre leaving. I think that Pierre's leaving wasn't handled in the best way. There should have been some "official" announcement when Pierre left, so that his leaving wouldn't simply have been the subject of rumors and gossip. I feel that right now his leaving has been kind of covered up by everyone, and that many people aren't exactly sure what is happening. As a dorm, we deserve to have been told that Pierre left and where he was going, if not the reasons that he left. Also, I agree with Hillary that this is something that should be discussed in person, as well as on email.
I really respect Adelle, and whoever sent those fairness and justice emails for bringing this up on email; I think that its often easier to discuss big issues that you're somewhat distant from than to write about something happening right here.
-Meg
Hey rincsters, there are some complications about the Pierre issue. It is not as simple as what is being conveyed. Also, it is not a thing that should be discussed over a group e-mail, for many reasons. We should not be complaining about a lack of "official response" before we know if it is even POSSIBLE for an official response to be made. There are rights involved that must be upheld.
We may have deserved, as a dorm, to have been told something about the entire deal, but that also may not have been legally possible.
Think about it.
(If anyone wants to talk to me about this, I would be glad to.)
--thanks.
--Marvin x.
::p.s. no offense to Meg, she is absolutely right. We do, as a dorm, deserve to know what is going on. but an "official announcement" may not be the way to find out.