The Campus Trilogy by Anonymous Page A

email. There was no response. In desperation, I wrote Jenny a letter. I emphasized that I had contacted her several times and that she had failed to respond. Although the book was available in the bookshop, I didn’t want students to feel they had to buy it. It was her job, I stated, to ensure that orders were filled promptly. The situation, I concluded, was becoming intolerable.
    The next day I saw Pilkington in the departmental office collecting his post. He looked grave when he saw me. “Harry,” he said, “are you free to come up to my room?” We walked up the stairs in silence. This was ominous. I wondered if Mr Gold was continuing his campaign. Pilkington hung up his coat on the back of his door. He sat down at his desk and gestured that I should sit opposite. He took a letter out of a folder on his desk and handed it to me. “I got this yesterday,” he said. It read:
    Dear Dr Pilkington,
    I have had a most upsetting letter from Professor Harry Gilbert. As you know, the library has beenextremely busy. We have just completed a major recataloguing of the books which took over three months of labour. The reading room was painted over the summer, and we had to remove all the books in the reference section. It is only now that we have been able to put them back on shelves. Five library staff were on leave for the summer, so we have had a particularly hectic time. Several weeks before the beginning of term, we ordered books for the new students. As you know, academic staff were asked over the summer if they would supply us with details of what would be needed.
    I had a recent request from Professor Gilbert to order copies of his introductory textbook on ethics. This order should have been sent in months ago when we sent out order forms to each teacher. Since I received his order, he has been sending me continual emails demanding a response. As I said, all the librarians are extremely busy at this time of the year, and we cannot be expected to jump to attention whenever an academic sends in an order, particularly when it is late. I regard his behaviour in this matter as both irritating and insensitive. Such an attitude is particularly unwelcome from someone who professes to be an expert on Christian ethics. When I received the enclosed letter, I was upset for nearly two hours. Professor Gilbert must understand that he cannot treat staff in such a fashion. Therefore I would like to make a formal complaint to you as his line manager.
    Yours sincerely,
    Jenny Sloth
    “I don’t understand what’s going on, Harry,” Pilkington said. “First it’s a student. Now, an assistant librarian. And she is the wife of the Registrar. The VC’s bound to hear about this.”
    “This is ridiculous, John,” I replied. “My student enrolment tripled in the first week of term, and I had to order more booksfor my class. It’s Jenny’s job to get them. I’m sure she’s very busy. But so am I. So is everybody. What was I supposed to do? The students were beginning to get upset. After all, you yourself are always talking about the importance of student satisfaction.”
    “That’s as may be,” said Pilkington magisterially, “but it doesn’t alter Jenny’s feelings. I cannot understand why you can’t be more tactful.”
    “There’s nothing to be tactful about. The books didn’t arrive, and that’s that. Jenny should have ordered them. That’s her responsibility. I can’t order them.”
    “Well, whatever the case, I now have to deal with this matter as a grievance. This morning I looked up the statutes. Staff grievances are dealt with under Provision l4. There will have to be a preliminary informal meeting, and you can bring a representative.”
    Once again, discipline was being invoked. Would this ever stop?
    Later in the afternoon I phoned Penelope to tell her about Jenny’s letter. She was in the middle of a tutorial and told me to ring later. When I eventually reached her, she was rushing off to a lecture.