Question before the Board | Failure Description |
1 - 3, 250 | The Dean of Xenotheology is eager to get back to her own research – but not so eager that she will put up with your follies and misguided proposals. |
4 - 5, 7, 9 | "One doesn't feel quite right proposing such a dangerous route," […] "Though the University does sometimes permit students to undertake quite unsafe courses of study, there, of course, there is at least the pursuit of knowledge to justify..." […] |
10 - 16, 18 - 24, 26 - 29, 31 - 33, 35, 37 | "But should we really be kicking anyone out?" the Dean asks. "It is so difficult to persuade people to serve on a committee in the first place. I think we should try to make the best of the contributions we have." |
30 | "Our colleague is a distinguished and illustrious scholar in her own right and also formidably gifted as an administrator and manager of people," […] "And it would be a travesty to remove her from the board when she is so obviously […] capable." |
100, 105, 115 - 170, 181 - 187 | "I don't know much on the topic, […] But I have heard my colleagues on the Buildings and Estates committee say it is crucial to review the foundations […]"
A 'no,' it appears, until the Dean understands how the building compares to others. |
200 | "Capital improvements always require new investment," says the Dean, with the certain air of someone who has heard a lot of academic gossip. "We should invite a named donor to sponsor […]. Perhaps put a commemorative plaque on the guard-car." |
205 | "Capital improvements always require new investment," says the Dean, with the certain air of someone who has heard a lot of academic gossip. "Perhaps we could induce a maker of bespoke luggage to provide funds." |
210 | "Luxuries […] rank […] behind the rigour of the curriculum and the advancement of research." […] in this analogy […] the train's regular adherence to schedule and progress on its intended course represent "curriculum" and "research advancement." |
220 - 280 | "I doubt whether this is the best use of our capital," says the Dean. She proposes several other uses for it, […]. The conversation remains in the realm of the theoretical, since (by her own admission) she has no head for accountancy […]. |
300, 310, 340 | "The Statement of Purpose should not be rushed," says the Dean, in a reverent voice. "Consider how long the Council of Nicaea devoted to developing its Creed." |
400 | The Dean has difficulty concentrating on the topic of money. Generally speaking, one leaves that to other committees – the ones she isn't on. |
500 | The Dean is very interested in mounting an expedition to Parabola and exploring the place thoroughly. She is less interested in putting any immediate effort into applying that research […] after ten or perhaps twenty years of study […] |
510 | "The concept is of course very appealing," […] There's a general sigh from the rest of the table. This […] means that she is going to vote 'no' but that she is going to spend the next fifteen minutes expressing sympathy for the other side […] |
520 - 523, 525, 527 - 529 | "We could do it that way," says the Dean thoughtfully. "But there might be other approaches that would be more informative and leave more learning to posterity." |
700 - 720 | "I am not sure that this Castellan would be concerned for the best interests of the region," says the Dean of Xenotheology. She goes on in this hesitant vein for at least five minutes: a no, but with plenty of frills. |
800 | "I do not have the impression that he reads," says the Dean, and this is the most blighting possible indictment. |
850 | "His palaeontological interests are commendable," says the Dean. "But I have some doubts about his morals." |
910 | "I'm sorry I just think he's of more use here. You evidently thought the same about me, after all," she says, giving you a long stare. |
931, 933, 934, 940 - 941 | The Dean spends a great deal of time listing out the numerous pros and cons of the proposal. "...and on balance, I vote nay," she concludes. |
932 | "This proposal is half-cooked," the Dean notes. "I would not approve a grant." |
1000 - 1020 | […] "I want to speak with it," she says. "There are so many questions – even down to its physical extent! Is it just the tower, or does it have other parts? […] I'm sorry, I get distracted. I do not have faith in this particular approach," […] |
1100 - 1110 | The Dean frowns. "I think the risks outweigh the benefits here. We know that we can go to Parabola with our trains, and indeed we do. I'm not sure what more there is to be learned on this front." |
1200 | The Dean frowns. She would like to visit the place, especially given the intriguing whispers […] about cult practices springing up ex nihilo in the area. But isn't there a risk that joining the place to the railway might extinguish those practices […]? |