I reminded everyone in the Affairs Chamber tonight that the Third Level Society has an important system of checks and balances, known as the Statute of Principle, to prevent dangerous shifts in the balance of power, noting that Administrators that keep order are employed by a Dungeonmaster elected by the Caucus and also noting the recent case a couple of years ago regarding Carla Wright and the Prefects. I used this as a case to say that no organization at Cabotton University should be required to be led by a faculty member appointed by University Council or the Headmaster. It goes against the University principle of self-governance, and that every organization should be able to elect its own leader.

Zachary Landon took the stand and mentioned that last year's University Headmaster election had low voter turnout, and that even those who voted for Cross did not necessarily expect him to actually take this specific action against the Third Level Society.

Landon also asked: "Did every Member of the new University Council vote based on what his or her voter base wanted?" Landon also called for a reliable poll to be carried out on the entire student body of the University to hear their sentiment.

Landon also counter-argued that the pen-and-paper approach would not be appealing because it would not be pragmatic, unlike the use of a dymensional plane, which can achieve things that the "pen-and-paper" approach would not be able to achieve.

"The Third Level Society is not simply gameplay," Landon reminded the attendees.

Therefore, ending the Society would simply create incentive for the re-emergence of TableQuest in the black market, no matter the economic policies attempted by the Retunian government.

I ended the testimony with background on the Algorithms Book, which I had gotten from Ivella Ogden the previous night. Accordingly, Martin Cross and Thomas Snow, the previous Headmaster, were both roommates and colleagues at Cabotton University, then called the Westerhill Academy for Academic Rehabilitation. Both Snow and Cross joined Merlin Kent Ogden, Ivella Ogden's granduncle, and led a project developing a dymensional plane, which was simply known as "The Project." They used the Algorithms Book at that time, and were the first to start that book. The world they built would have looked quite unfamiliar to us, but would be edited by Ivella Ogden and her roommates some years later into the Arturian Realm used in that fateful TableQuest session seven years ago as well as the world we use in our Society today.

Aside from that, the "Project" was favored by the Institute's Headmaster at the time, Arnold Stone. However, being that the Republic of Retun did not yet exist but instead existed the authoritarian state of Combria, the Combrian state government sacked Headmaster Stone and replaced him with another authoritarian figure over the school, as they replaced all Administrative members of the school and forced the "Project" to terminate. This happened in 1231 and led the students to revolt and overthrow the Administration of the Institute, establishing in its place Cabotton University, by the principle of democratic self-governance.

This gave both Thomas Snow and Martin Cross a revered reputation for being leading founders in the establishment of the University, in other words.

"So what would Thomas Snow say to you today?" I asked Cross.

Cross actually seemed unfazed by our testimony, arguing how democratically-run organizations run without the guidance of the faculty is dangerous.

"There is, afterall, an age limit of no younger than 30 years to be qualified to accept a nomination for University Headmaster," Cross argued.

He then proceeded to argue how people would adjust to the "pen-and-paper" approach, and that the University Council, so the new Headmaster claims, votes on what is best for the University.

"As for the poll that all of you call for," Cross concluded. "Carry it out. We'll go with the numbers."

The Panel, at this point, determined that now was the time to have the Public Stand appoint a "speaker of influence," who could be anyone inside or outside of the University.