A Cast of Characters

(this page will be revised with time)

		Assyrian, Aram Azazel "Az"
		Reporter for the student newspaper who reports under the name "Az". Overheard a conversation between the former University President, Dr. James Fabricante, and the Dean of Medicine, Dr. Thomas Blacksmith, in which they conspire to mis-appropriate funds.    The forename is derived from the Hebrew, “exalted”. The surname is, in part, a reference to Eugene Aram, an English philologist who, in literature, is depicted as torn between violence and visionary ideals. The middle name, Azazel, from Hebrew, “one whom God strengthens”, ironically, a fallen angel whom God banished to the desert.
		Bader, Joan
		Editor of the student newspaper.    The name is homage to the U.S. Supreme Court Justice, The Honorable Ruth Joan Bader Ginsberg.
		Dr. Blacksmith, Thomas
		Dean of the Medical School. Conspired with former University President, Dr. James Fabricante, to misappropriate funds.    The name is homage to the characters of Thom Ferrier’s (Dr. Thomas Ferrier), comic strip, Shit Doctors. The initials T.B. play well, too, for a medical doctor in disrepute.
		Clement, Bertrand "BC"
		Married to Joscelyne Clement. A University benefactor and potential benefactor of the University Library.    The name is homage to Jean-Marie-Bernard Clément, one of history’s forgotten self-made men. A French philosophy teacher, critic and translator who launched a war of words against his better known contemporary, Voltaire.
		Clement, Joscelyne
		Come from naught and married to Bertrand Clement, a filthy rich University benefactor. Friend of Marie-Anne Twist.    The name is derived from that an up-market furniture store in the United Kingdom. It suggests a kind of reversal of fortunes.
		Coffee, Dominique Victoria
		Head University Librarian, hired by Dr. James Fabricante. Widely misunderstood, likely because she masks insecurity with an overwhelming need to control.    The forenames reflect these characteristics. The surname is homage to the one-time head librarian of a leading U.S. university library. Any similarity is a matter of coincidence. The surname, with a more archaic spelling, is derived from the Gaelic word, meaning “victorious in battle”. There is a definite redundancy in the name as a whole, something of a stutter.
		Condé-Vendôme, Louise
		Born, Louise Vendôme. Hyphenated her name upon marriage to mitigate her father's anger at the union. Mother of Philippe Condé-Vendôme.    The name is a perversion of that of Louis Joseph, the Duke of Vendôme, who married the daughter of the Prince of Condé.
		Condé-Vendôme, Philippe
		Personal Assistant to the University President, Dr. David Croeso.    The surname is a modern contrivance for Philippe I, the Duke d’Orléans.
		Condé-Vendôme, Philippe, Senior
		Born, Philippe Condé. Hyphenated his name upon marriage to a woman of higher state. Father of Philippe Condé-Vendôme.    The surname is a modern contrivance for Philippe I, the Duke d’Orléans.
		Co-Workers of Philippe Condé-Vendôme
		Common men who go by names like Bob, Tom, and Jake, representing an economy of thought.      You’ve got to love the fact that Bob reads correctly whether forward or backward — a nodding appreciation for the British “Yob”, meaning an anti-social young man. Yob is boy spelled backward.
		Dr. Croeso, David
		Also known as Daffyd Croeso, a Welsh immigrant who came to study and remained after. Acting University President. The only high-ranking University official not claimed by the scandal that ended the career of the former University President. Historian, by profession.    The English forename is translated from the Welsh. As a whole, Daffyd Croeso, literally means “welcome beloved”. The surname is an allusion to Robinson Crusoe.
		Croeso, Mitchell
		David's Dog. A character in his own right.    The name, Mitchell, is an English vernacular form of the name Michael, from the Hebrew, roughly meaning “Who is like God?” — a playful ruse: an incarnation of “God”, here in inverted spelling as a dog. (Another nodding tribute to the English “Yob”, meaning anti-social boy.)
		Dr. Fabricante, James
		The former University President. He resigned as the result of a scandal involving the misappropriation of funds. A dentist by training. Privately, insecure in his position as University President. Publicly, over-compensates as a result. Known among, despised by, students as "the mouth" and "the teeth" for his penchant to dictate to the student body.    The name is homage to a one-time university president at one of the USA largest universities. The surname is a translation.
		Fabricante, Jean-Anne
		Also known as Mrs. James Fabricante. Devoted wife and defender of the former University President. A plain-speaking woman who might have been a Tom-boy.    She no longer uses her maiden name, Besloten, from the Dutch word meaning “private”.
		Roberts, John
		Cartoonist for the student newspaper.    The name is homage to the U.S. Supreme Court Justice, The Honorable John Roberts.
		Scalia, Tanya
		Lawyer for the student newspaper.    The name is homage to the U.S. Supreme Court Justice, The Honorable Antonin Scalia. When you need advice on potential libel, you want a very conservative lawyer.
		Tiraz, Johnny (Jani)
		Rare Books Librarian at the University Library. Continued use of the diminutive name, Johnny — Jani, in Czech, well into his professional life is inappropriate, but Johnny continues to use it because his father is named Jan, or, John as well. He will continue to use it until his father dies, as would be culturally appropriate to his Czech heritage.    On a brighter note, Mr. Tiraz can thank his lucky stars that he wasn't born to a Turkish family with that name.  It would then be spelled "Can", which people would pronounce as can rather than Jon. The surname is from the Czech for “colophon”; also from Arabic to describe an inscribed textile usually given or worn as an honor.
		Twist, Marie-Anne
		Personal assistant to the Head Librarian, Dominique Victoria Coffee. Friend of Joscelyne Clement.    The name is derived from the Ukrainian word for “blossom”.  Marie-Anne is a blossom.
		Vendôme, Jean-Claude
		Uncle of Philippe Condé-Vendôme. Killed in the second World War.    The name? Why, simply because I love his YouTube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzxkNfOrYXY