Cynematik • Cyndi Greening

It’s done. It’s finally done. Well, at least the “hearing” part of the hearing is done. The three-member faculty committee now has a two week respite. In the interim, they get to go back to their classes to work with the people who need them even more than I do — their students! I’m sure it’s been very challenging for them to have this sort of thing taking over the beginning of their semester. I felt bad for them and their students. It’s no fun to get behind before you even get started.

People keep asking me how this whole process works. Basically, notice was served to me. Within five (5) days of getting the notice, I had to request a hearing (I did). A three-person faculty hearing committee was established. Exhibits were exchanged. The hearing stretched over FOUR days. Irony of ironies … the first day of the hearing was the DATE WE LEFT FOR ZAMBIA last year. The last day of the hearing was the exact date WE FINISHED FILMING. Come on, that is so weird. Serendipitous to say the very least. Anyway, the committe will reconvene September 14 to deliberate and prepare a non-binding recommendation report for the Chancellor. The Chancellor will read that report and offer his recommendation to the Governing Board at the next meeting (which looks to be 23 October). The Governing Board will decide at that point.

Some of the people who have been around for a lot of this have talked about how “fascinating” it all is … I think it’s a lot more fascinating if it isn’t your life. When your fate hangs in the balance, it’s a lot tougher to simply observe what is going on. I just know that I am so relieved to have it done. When we finished, I could feel the pressure coming off. I felt like a limp noodle. This weekend, I’m going to the wood to meditate on what comes next for me. I was given no classes this semester (yes, it made me sad). A little time in the pines should give me some clarity.

My thanks to everyone for your support, kindness and consideration. I sincerely want to thank all of the students, faculty and friends who wrote to me personally, commented on the Tribune site or called me. It was tough going the last month and every letter, every call, every kind comment made a difference. You all know who you are and you cannot even begin to imagine how meaningful it was to hear from you all!!! I truly am one of the luckiest people on Earth. And, to those of you who coached me, guided me and advised me, my thanks. I am deeply grateful to those who testified on my behalf (in person or on paper). Each of you made a difference.

Thanks to my attorney, Michael Pruitt. He took the time to really understand how the system works so he could better represent me and help people understand how the classes ran, the students were served and the program managed. It was a lot of information to take in. It’s far more complex than most people understand. He was phenomenally committed to making sure I was well-represented and that I got to tell my side of the story. I owe him a huge debt of gratitude (and a boatload of money).

Thanks to the members of the FilmZambia crew who came to the hearing and helped record the proceedings. Jeniece, Nick, Mike and Jared were all on-call and helped tremendously. Jeniece and Nick single-handedly did the last three days … and it was a big job! Their professionalism and technical skills were top-notch. Even nicer was just the experience of having them there. As it said in the piece Jeniece edited, “I discovered my students were my teachers. They were my friends.” Perhaps it’s being on another continent for over a month with one another, I don’t know for sure, I just know that the FilmZambia crew are not just “fair weather” friends. I can count on them. I hope they know they can count on me, too. I’m looking forward to the future collaborations.

And, last but certainly not least, my thanks to my very patient business partner who watched everything we worked on for months come to a grinding halt (just as we thought it was about to take off). I am certain there have been many days that she has been quite frustrated with all of this (because she TELLS ME she is quite frustrated with all of this). There are so many good things we were trying get launched. In spite of the painful — and costly — delay, she was unwavering in support and commitment to me as I went through these past few grueling months. She held the vision of what the future projects were that we could complete. Mulenga Kapwepwe said she was “the wings” of the operation. Her presence certainly lifted my spirits and gave me the strength to continue in the face of it all. I hope I can be worthy of such loyalty.

I don’t know how to repay everyone for everything. I am so grateful. Maybe after I sleep a few hours, I’ll have some ideas. In the meantime, thank you all!!