In another memo circulated to several people inthe office, Schopf refers to a required proseminarfrom which she had excused Battenfield. Shewrites, "Dodge forced me to give Delise a waiverfor the proseminar."

But these memos, which appeared to come withoutwarning or explanation, do not square withSchopf's previous correspondence. In a 1990 memoto Fernald, Schopf writes that "in light of[Battenfield's] work over the last year I wouldmost certainly be willing to grant her theproseminar waiver."

In fact, Shinagel urged Battenfield to takeanother course instead of the proseminar,according to the court documents.

But after hearing Schopf's disparaging remarksabout Battenfield, Fernald based Schopf.

"I never imagined that anyone could feel quiteso resentful and not decide to speak contructivelyabout the problem at a much earlier date," Fernaldwrites in another internal memo.

Other members of the office, however, supportedSchopf. and Shinagel began the May 14 beganmeeting by soliciting comments about Battenfield'sperformance.

Shinagel also told Fernald that Battenfield hadpoor research skills compared to other master'scandidates and that Battenfield's performanceevaluation should be lowered in light of Schopf'sattack, according to court documents.

Battenfield Falls III

The criticism voiced at the May 14 meeting sodevastated Battenfield that, according touniversity Health services (UHS) records, shebegan suffering from severe stomach problems. Shesoon became too sick to work and May 20 turned outto be her last day on the job.

UHS's Stillman Infirmary admitted her on May21. She remained there for three days. Dr. WaseemaSheikh observed in a written summary ofBattenfield's stay that "she is under extremestress at work because of a very demandingsupervisor." And the doctor's handwritten notes,field May 29, show that Battenfield's conditionwas not temporary.

"Patient looks very anxious,' the notes say."She is still very upset with her dean at work andthe situations which have led to [high]stress andabdominal symptoms, etc."

The medical records appear to indicate that theMay 14 meeting either prompted Battenfield's illhealth or exacerbated some other medical problem.

"She has been under a lot of stress at work,particularly around the May 14 meeting at work,"says a report by Dr. Paul B. Lesser on June 18."About 5 days before the meeting, [symptomsbegan]."

Her symptoms subsided with treatment, but theyrecurred about a month later when the ExtensionSchool began to advertise her position, accordingto a July 10 report by Dr. Irving M. Allen of theUHS mental health services.

"She looked depleted, depressed, beaten down,"Allen writes. "She went into the office to find afew things and discovered that she had beencleaned out. there had been no warning. In apitiful phone call Monday, it sounded as thoughshe was utterly devastated. Her bowel is actingup..."