had been.
“Mr. Parrish will see you now.”
Faith had no choice but to put the paper aside and see what the president wanted. She hoped he wasn’t dismayed about the article. Not having read the entire thing, she could hardly defend or deny the details.
She gathered her things and made her way into the large office. Mr. Parrish sat behind a massive oak desk. It was strikingly bare for a man who was in charge of an entire college.
Faith smiled. “Good morning, Mr. Parrish.”
His expression was stern. “Please be seated, Miss Kenner.”
She did as he asked and did her best to sound cheery. “How may I be of service?”
“I’m afraid this isn’t a pleasant meeting, Miss Kenner. In fact . . . well, that is to say . . .” His voice faded, and he got up from his chair. “This is the most unpleasant meeting I’ve ever had to hold.”
She felt her stomach clench. “I’m sorry. What’s going on?”
“I’m afraid that you have upset a great number of our donors.”
“Upset them? How?” She presumed this was about the lecture she’d given. She was even more certain that it had been instigated by Samuel Lakewood, but she wasn’t going to let Parrish off easy.
“You spoke to a group of people Friday evening.”
“Yes. We had arranged another speaker, but he had to cancel at the last minute, so I took the podium.”
“I believe your topic had to do with the Native people and raising money to provide them with medicine and other supplies.”
“Yes.” She hoped her one-word answers would give him no additional ammunition to use against her.
“Our donors believe this is uncalled for. It gives the supposition that the college is in support of the matter. They are threatening to withdraw their support for the medical college unless drastic measures are taken.”
“I suppose they hope to silence me, but I won’t be silenced. The reservations were hard hit by the storm, and the Native people there have a great need for help that the government will not supply. My fellow students and I believe it is our Christian responsibility to help those who cannot help themselves. What can your donors possibly take offense at, when we are following the Bible and caring for the poor and needy?”
“Miss Kenner, I personally have no argument against what you’ve done, but without donors, this college cannot continue to function.”
Faith saw the futility of arguing. “I presume your donors want my promise that I will never again lecture on such matters, but I cannot give them that promise. I believe in what I’m doing, Mr. Parrish. I also believe that this protest is mostly stirred up by Samuel Lakewood, who is a bigot and desires for only white people to live in Oregon.”
“They are not asking for your promise, Miss Kenner. The truth is, you are being expelled from the medical college.”
“For how long?” Faith was glad that most of her work had already been completed, including her required lecture attendance.
“I’m afraid for good.”
“What?” She hadn’t meant to raise her voice, but she couldn’t help it. “I’m to graduate in April. I’ve had perfect grades and positive comments from my professors. You cannot do this.”
“I’m sorry, Miss Kenner. I have no choice. You are dismissed, effective immediately.” He looked truly sorry, but that didn’t help Faith’s state of mind. This was Samuel Lakewood’s fault, and she had never been angrier at one particular person in all her life.
“This is not fair. Have I no recourse, no means of protesting this decision?”
“No, I’m sorry. You were a good student, but this is too big a matter to ignore.”
Faith got to her feet. “This isn’t the last you’ve heard from me, Mr. Parrish. You may have yielded to Mr. Lakewood and his friends, but I doubt very seriously they will be pleased when I next speak to a group of people and tell them of the unfairness of this college and of the donors’ prejudices in particular. Not only that, but my family has been a substantial donor to this university. Let’s see what happens when they withdraw their yearly support.”
“Miss Kenner, as I said, this isn’t my desire.”
“Then maybe you should have stood up to Samuel Lakewood instead of letting him scare you into expelling me.” She could see by the look on Parrish’s face that she’d hit upon the truth. “Good day, Mr. Parrish. My father—the lawyer and donor—will no doubt be in touch.”
She stormed from the room and away from the outer office. She