Sophia checked the numbered folders in her briefcase. Nervous? Yes. Good. Maya looked at her.
Good? It means you understand the stakes. The doors opened. A board staff member motioned them inside. The room was colder than Maya expected.
A long mahogany table stretched beneath recessed lights. Tall windows overlooked the wet courtyard. Margaret Sutton 61 chair of the board of trustees sat at the center. Catherine Hayes was on one side. Thomas Whitmore sat beside an attorney on the other.
Ryan, Chase, and Emily occupied chairs along the wall. Marcus, Evelyn, Maria, and Owen waited behind Sophia. Maya noticed one empty chair, her father's. Margaret Sutton opened the hearing. We are here to address two connected matters.
The student conduct incident involving Maya Carter and the unauthorized disclosure of confidential university records. Thomas Whitmore leaned forward. With respect, Madam Chair, those matters became connected only after Miss Carter began using her relationship with the university president to pursue students she disliked. Maya felt Sophia's hand touch the folder beside her. Wait.
Thomas continued calmly. My family has supported Crown Bridge for decades. We care deeply about institutional stability. There was no shouting, no threat. That made him more effective than Ryan.
He spoke as though protecting his son and protecting Crown Bridge were the same thing. Hayes followed. Our concern from the beginning has been fairness. Maya almost flinched at the word. Hayes continued.
Miss Carter was offered a path toward informal resolution. She declined. The dispute escalated publicly. She then participated in archive research with individuals who had access to sensitive records. Sophia finally spoke.
Did Miss Carter access any confidential electronic student file? Hayes paused. The investigation remains incomplete. "That wasn't my question." No confirmed evidence has established direct electronic access by Miss Carter.
Did Marcus read? No confirmed evidence. Evelyn Brooks? Hayes' jaw tightened. Again, the investigation, so the three people publicly connected to the breach have not been shown to have accessed the leaked files.
Thomas' attorney interrupted. Counsel is oversimplifying. Sophia nodded. Then let's make it complicated. She opened the first folder.
The fountain camera footage played on a wall monitor. Nobody spoke while Ryan blocked Maya. Nobody spoke while Chase moved behind her. When his fist rose, Margaret Sutton leaned forward. Emily looked down.
The video continued until Daniel entered the courtyard. Sophia stopped it. Ms. Collins' viral edit removed the blocking, the raised fist, and the surrounding witnesses. Emily's attorney said, editing a video is not evidence of a data breach. Correct.
Sophia changed files. That is why we brought more. The maintenance log appeared. 9.03 AM Main Courtyard Camera Manually Disabled. 9.27 AM Restored.
Marcus explained the system in plain language. Someone used a supervisor-level terminal. The action was not an equipment failure. Hayes said, but you cannot identify the person. No.
Marcus looked directly at her. I can identify the lie. The camera did not malfunction. The room went quiet. Sophia moved to Evelyn's handwritten ledger.