Andrew McShane

Disclaimer: While place descriptions and news events may coincide with the real world, all characters and the plot are fictional.
== Biography ==
=== Early Life ===
At 22, Andrew McShane tried breakdancing.
Rita Morales describes McShane as having been a 'young civil rights firebrand'. 
=== Education ===
Andrew McShane has a doctorate is in biochemistry, and during his time as Provost of Portland State University occasionally runs a course in Ethics in Biochemistry.
=== Portland State University ===
===== Provost =====
In May 2020, Andrew McShane is Provost of Portland State University. His office has real wood bookcases, an antique rug from his sabbatical in Turkey, and an impressive high-gloss wood desk. His secretary has a desk outside his door. 
====== Book 1: Stories We Tell ======
When the governor of Oregon issues a stay-at-home order for COVID-19 in March 2020, Portland State University announces the spring term will be offered online. the leadership of Eyewitness News decide that EWN should be viewed as an essential service and allowed to stay in operation. At a PSU Cabinet meeting, Provost McShane asks John Cooper if he will allow students to risk their lives for a television broadcast, and asks Michelle Stewart if the decision is supported by the Media Board. When they both support the decision, McShane asks when the next editor selection will be. Ryan Matthews assures McShane that all COVID protections recommended by PSU are being followed by EWN staff, and that advertising revenue is continuing to be received. Later in the meeting, McShane moves for EWN to be shut down. Ryan informs him that the PSU Cabinet doesn't have the authority to do that, they would have to file a lawsuit for a court order. McShane's prime concern is for the lives of the student journalists.
On Thursday afternoon, June 4, Provost McShane summons Ryan Matthews to come to a meeting in his office at 5pm. Cage Washington and Emily Andersen follow in support of Ryan, but arrive too late to join the meeting. McShane questions Ryan about new advertising revenue from Alumni Affairs, but Ryan assures him they have a signed contract in place. McShane threatens to shut down EWN, and takes Ryan's response as a personal threat, asking if Ryan plans to blackmail him. Ryan says that as the Board of Trustees would have to approve a change to the charter. and student control of content means the university is protected from liability, he's just speaking common sense - not blackmail. Ryan assures him that he will never tell of McShane's private life. McShane agrees to present the proposed broadcast extension to President Byrd at the 8am Cabinet meeting the following day with his approval as Provost. They walk out of the Provost's office together, encountering Cage and Emily standing outside.
====== Book 2: Choose ======
At 9am on Friday October 16, 2020 Provost McShane calls EWN, and speaks to Will Bristol. McShane says he's been fielding calls from national media all morning about the attempted newsroom raid by a group of men claiming to be law enforcement. John Cooper hasn't returned his calls, and he wants to know if there is new information. Will tells him Rep. Sarah Gilligan is getting involved, as her child is one of the people the men were hunting the previous night. McShane asks if Carroll is a student, as he doesn't see a Carroll Gilligan on his system. Will says Carroll was with EWN videographers earlier in the evening. McShane says he has told the media that PSU stood by EWN and are proud that they upheld the principles of journalism in covering the story thoroughly and fairly. He is appalled at the actions of unidentified men purporting to be law enforcement attempting a midnight raid on a campus newsroom. PSU is calling for an investigation into the identity of the men, and their authorization for carrying out an illegal act. McShane tells Will to tell Ryan and Cooper to keep him in the loop, he doesn't like being blindsided by national media.
====== Book 3: Don't Go ======
Around 8pm on Tuesday, October 20, 2020 Prof Cooper calls Provost McShane and asks him to come to EWN for a meeting with the EIC. EWN have received a call from ICE and want a conversation urgently, as ICE could jeopardize the future of a lot of PSU students, and possibly PSU itself. 
When McShane arrives at 9pm, Ryan Matthews shows him into the ground floor conference room. McShane asks if he's not trusted to be in the newsroom, and Ryan offers him a tour someday, explaining there are no private spaces to talk there, and he thinks their conversation needs to be private. Prof Cooper arrives and says even his own office is a glass box, so they go elsewhere for confidential meetings. Ryan tells them that ICE called wanting the whereabouts of a former student who worked at EWN four years earlier. Ryan was alarmed that they called just three hours after she dropped by EWN for a visit. McShane asks if EWN has undocumented students writing for them, and Ryan says no one on the payroll is undocumented, but doesn't know if there may be a volunteer, or a student in the News 101 class - McShane would know that better than them. When Teresa was on staff, she was paid, had a social security card, and proof of birth; Miguel Garcia is Hispano; Joe Castro is 3rd-generation. McShane asks how ICE knew Teresa was there, and Ryan says that's why he's so concerned. Ryan says that he and Teresa had been a couple while she was at EWN, and she had come by to introduce him to his son. He tells them of the immigration status of Teresa and her family. He fears that ICE may not accept their denial of knowing her current whereabouts, and put pressure on the university or EWN. For example, they may audit the university's enrollment and student employment. McShane agrees it would be time consuming, but PSU should be well within tolerance. Ryan says that if Teresa had been aware she was undocumented, she would have applied for DACA while she was at PSU. McShane thanks Ryan for alerting him, and tells him that if ICE contact again, not to answer any questions, but have them call McShane, and tell them that any interview will need to be conducted in the presence of the university attorney.
On Thursday, October 22 Provost McShane joins Ryan as he walks to his first class of the day. McShane tells him he is proud of what Ryan has accomplished, the Honors College thinks highly of his scholarship, and his leadership at EWN has been exemplary. So he's giving Ryan a heads-up that Professor Black will return to teaching in Winter term, and has already opened his office on campus.
McShane phones Ryan on Friday, October 23, 2020 shortly after receiving from him a recording of a conversation between Ryan and Ian Black. Ryan asks about the events on the night of November 24, 2017 and McShane says he'll drop by to discuss that in person. When McShane arrives, he and Ryan go into the EIC's office to talk. Ryan asks what really happened that night. McShane says Black brought Ryan to a party that night, and expected Ryan to die of an overdose there. Black intended to use it to expose McShane for his participation in BDSM and put him out of his job as revenge. McShane had blocked Black's promotion to full professor. A complaint of sex discrimination had been filed against Black which McShane thought had merit, but it was dismissed when the student didn't return in Fall 2017. Ryan tells McShane of his relationship with Teresa, and Rafael.
On Monday, October 26, 2020, McShane receives a call just after 2pm from Ryan Matthews, who is meeting with his attorneys about Teresa Valdez' immigration issues. The attorneys have information about Ian Black. McShane agrees to come immediately to talk to the attorneys in person.
McShane is already waiting in the firm's conference room when Ryan and his attorneys enter at 3pm, and Ryan briefs him on what he's learned. McShane produces the 2017 toxicology lab reports from Dr Clarke, and they conclude that while someone did indeed attempt to kill Ryan, his testimony would not hold up in court. Ryan's migraine increases, and he takes medication. Ryan Matthews receives a call from Emily Andersen, saying she'd had a weird call from Professor Ian Black, and thought Ryan should know. Ryan places the call on speaker for his attorneys and McShane. Emily says Black wanted to know if Ryan had assigned the 'feature piece' he'd discussed with Ryan. Emily told Black that Ryan had not talked to her about a feature, but she has found a press release about Black's new book, and that would be assigning a reporter to interview him about it. She said Black got hostile, saying Ryan should know better than to play games with him. Ryan asks Emily for the title of the book, and she says 'Fertility Symbols in Pre-Colonial Mexico'. Ryan asks her to send someone to University Relations for a review copy, and then to go to Ryan's office computer, search for 'fertility', and email him the file as an attachment. Emily says she'll send J.J. for the book, and then he can take it home to Ryan that night. Ryan tells Emily that if Black calls again, she should refer Black to him. McShane asks incredulously if Black's book plagarizes an undergraduate thesis? Ryan prints the email attachment, and gives it to McShane. When Ryan's migraine hits again, McShane asks for permission to touch him, then performs acupressure at the base of Ryan's skull. It provides almost immediate relief. McShane comments that his wife gets migraines, refers Ryan to her acupuncturist, and comments that Ryan has been under a lot of stress. Vic Ruiz asks if Black's book is similar to Ryan's paper, and McShane agrees it is, and asks Ryan to make a formal complaint. Ryan tells his attorneys to get things started, as he wants to go after Teresa as soon as they think he can, and they say it will take a couple of days to set things up. The receptionist comes in and tells them that ICE agents have arrived, and are asking to speak to the senior partner about a possible breach of ethics. Mr Ruiz tells her to take the agents into his office, and Vic to escort McShane and Ryan out the back way. Vic leads them to the end of a back alley.
Around 10pm on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 McShane receives a call from Cage Washington, saying that Ian Black is threatening Ryan Matthews outside EWN. McShane arrives to see Black raise a 9mm snub-nosed handgun to shoot Ryan, and shoots and kills Black. Ryan says Black had tried to run him off the road earlier that afternoon, and was getting more and more desperate. He waves off someone atop a nearby apartment building. McShane says now he's got all this paperwork to do unnecessarily. Ryan says that's why McShane gets paid the big buck, and he hopes Cage gets the cops there quickly. McShane says it was Cage who called him, but he'll call the cops. Cage appears and says he'll take Ryan home. McShane agrees that will make the story simpler. He gets death threats, and he has a concealed-carry permit on file with Campus Security. Black had fired first, and as he's dead he doesn't get to rebut that.
McShane walks into the Provost's office on the morning of Friday November 6, 2020. The DA has decided there will be no charges in the death of Black, and the case is closed. McShane has tried to put it behind him, but it bothers him that he couldn't see any other way of it ending given Black was obsessed, angry and losing control more each day. He wonders who had been sitting on top of the building that Matthews had waved off, and concludes he wasn't the only person who had seen Black's death as the likely ending. His secretary, Elizabeth, brings in his mail, telling him she's put a postcard on the top that he'll want to see. He picks it up and smiles, a bit wistful as Ryan reminds him so much of himself. In tiny print in one corner it says to give Ryan's love to Ruby, and McShane laughs and says he'll just do that.
====== Book 4: Hold Me ======
* Tuesday December 1, 2020 - 11:15am? McShane receives a call from Cage Washington, telling him that this is a heads-up that one of the EWN advertising reps tested positive for COVID that morning, and that they'll be inviting him to a formal Zoom meeting shortly to discuss what EWN needs to do moving forward. McShane tells him they can speak bluntly rather than formally. Cage says they have about 10 people who have been exposed, but Health Services says they don't have enough tests for them, so they're just anxiously waiting to see if they develop symptoms. It's not acceptable, and they also need to start contact tracing immediately. McShane agrees that they are short on test kits, and that he doesn't know what the Health Services director was thinking, they should have kits stockpiled. The only people getting tested are those with symptoms. Cage says but they know, or can guess, that those people are sick, wouldn't it be more useful to test those who were exposed but aren't yet symptomatic, so they can quarantine and stop the spread? McShane asks how many tests they need, and Cage asks for a dozen. McShane says he'll get someone over to test the advertising staff, hopefully with a lab result by the end of the day. He asks if they have anywhere for people who test positive to quarantine, and Cage says they do. Cage tells McShane the tester should ask for Gregory Washington, the advertising manager.
* At 3pm on December 1, 2020 Andrew McShane is appointed acting president of Portland State University. President Kenton Byrd has contracted COVID and been placed on a respirator at OHSU. 
==== Interim President ====
===== Book 4: Hold Me =====
* Tuesday December 1, 2020 - 3:30pm: Andrew McShane joins a Zoom meeting of EWN department heads and Prof Cooper. Emily Andersen informs them of the numbers from The Oregonian but says she doesn't know how many are PSU students. She gives the floor to McShane, who says they don't know either, but PSU had gone back to a residential campus as of 8am that day. About 2000 students showed up in person and were sent home, but online classes attendance was only 80% leaving about 3000 students unaccounted for. Of the 424 people who travelled to Boise, 240 have tested positive, and there are at least 45 reported second-generation positives. Emily says that includes their ad rep Brandon, and the sports copyeditor, and she tells McShane that a second ad rep had tested positive, apparently being infected by Brandon. McShane says it's traveling fast, and Will says it may be a mutated strain. Ben Waters asks if PSU took the virus to Boise, or if their team was infected after arriving. McShane says the assistant coaches are arguing about it - the senior coach is in ICU in Boise. Emily says they can provide quarantine for their own staff, and have decided to broadcast on-the-hour updates over the Public Access channel, as well as adding a 6pm news broadcast to keep people informed. Their intent is to inform and help calm people. Emily says that if The Oregonian's numbers are correct, the outbreak started in Portland on Thanksgiving Day, so why did the team go to Boise for the weekend tournament? McShane replies that some influential members of the Alumni Association Board went to the PSU president and threatened to withdraw funding for the athletics program if the teams were not allow to continue competing. Unaware of the outbreak, President Byrd overruled McShane and allowed the team to compete. Cage Washington asks why McShane is being very open with them, and McShane says that as of 3pm he became acting president of PSU, as the president was on a respirator at OHSU. Will presses McShane to answer Ben's question about the source of the outbreak, and McShane reluctantly says there was a party. The teams were all supposed to be quarantined for 14days before tournaments, and the PSU team had been in quarantine since the start of the season. There was a party for the teams and cheerleaders of the 8 competing schools, which may have been a superspreader event. Or it could have started at the Boise Booster Club event for all the visiting club members and team coaches, though McShane says he doesn't want to be quoted on that. Ben asks what the other schools are reporting, and McShane says about the same as PSU, not counting fans who travelled independently. PSU had one plane with university people - staff, coaches, players, media etc. The alumni chartered a second plane. There were 7000 people at the final game. McShane says he had been told that no fans would attend, it would be virtual fans only. Cage asks if there's anything else McShane can tell them, or that he'd like EWN to relay to viewers. McShane says: stay calm; stay home; call a health service if symptoms appear; quarantine in place until experiencing breathing distress. Sarah asks about options for students in the residence halls that will be closing in 12 days. McShane swears and says he'll get them answers on that, he has health professionals at OHSU who will work with them to get out solid information. Cage thanks him, and McShane leaves the meeting. 
* Wednesday December 2, 2020:
** 4pm: Dr McShane joins the EWN editors Zoom meeting chaired by Emily Andersen. Doug Williams presents the offer from Hewlett Packard's civic engagement office, to underwrite expanded programming at EWN in order to reach the 20 to 30-year-old market segment. Doug says that they need two things from McShane: help with the legal and financial aspects of the contract, and approval for the supply of a mid-afternoon meal for staff and those quarantining onsite. McShane asks Emily for further information on the quarantine aspect. Emily reminds him that the previous day they had requested a nurse to test staff, and reveals that EWN has had access to the university storage on the 3rd floor through the flow-through elevator door for 4 years, and a space about 30ft deep has been used for a variety of purposes. Most recently, it has been used to create a quarantine space in consultation with the clinic nurse. McShane is incredulous that this has been achieved in the past 48hours, but Cage Washington assures him that it has been done with the help of of alumni. McShane tells them that in 48hours they have been able to do more than the Health Center has done in 9 months, and asks for a tour that evening. Emily also tells McShane that they are using their News101 students to do contact tracing. They contact their own staff, but other names are sent to the Health Center for follow up. After Will presents his findings on Health Center funding, and on students' alternate health cover through their parents' insurance plans, McShane is clearly angered. McShane informs them that the residence halls will remain open over the Christmas break for those who need to stay, and that PSU is also looking at opening some of their excess residential capacity to the homeless as part of their own civic engagement.
He also negotiates opening up some excess residence capacity to the homeless, in collaboration with the We Help charity run by Martha Washington. The Board of Trustees calls for an emergency meeting on December 7, and Andrew McShane is voted in 5-1-1 as interim president.
On December 24, 2020 Andrew McShane gives a press conference on the steps of Multnomah County Courthouse, together with the leaders of two other universities, the symphony, the ballet, and other civic leaders. His message is that societal change can't be left to politicians and the government, it's up to all civic leaders to make change happen.
On January 9, 2021 Andrew McShane joins the EWN march to their newsroom. He is the first to speak on the soapbox outside. As he finishes his speech, Randy Daily attempts to shoot him, but fortunately Ryan Matthews catches a glint from the gun and orders McShane to get down, and the shot misses. Ryan feeds him brandy, ibuprofen, and coffee for the shock, calls Abigail, and drives him home in McShane's car.
== Physical Appearance ==
Andrew McShane is nearly 60, fit and good-looking. He is about 6-foot tall, with broad shoulders, clean-shaven, with greying dark hair that is expensively-cut, dark eyes, and strong even features. 
As Provost, he is the face of the university. Cameras like him and he comes across as reassuring and smart. He is well-groomed, and given to wearing impeccable tailored dark gray suits, with white shirts. 
He has a concealed-carry permit, even though he doesn't routinely carry a gun. 
== Personality ==
Despite a cold, controlled manner, Andrew McShane is always courteous, always well-spoken. There is a compelling sense of leashed power, as if he is holding back. Most people with any sense avoid antagonizing him, other than Ryan who considers it a win when he can push the man that far. Nevertheless, McShane has Ryan's respect and admiration
=== Book 1: Stories We Tell ===
Emily Andersen finds Provost McShane "terrifying", even though she covered the Faculty Senate for years before becoming news editor. She senses she "shouldn't prod the sleeping tiger". Meeting McShane's eyes when he is angry is impossible for most, but Ryan doesn't seem to have a problem.
=== Book 2: Choose ===
Will Bristol has interviewed McShane many times and respects him.
== Relationships ==
=== Marriage ===
In 2012 he has been married to Abigail McShane for over 30 years. They have daughters, and grandchildren. His 18-year-old blonde granddaughter, Rochelle, who is a student at Portland State University is best friends with Kenton Byrd's brunette goddaughter. Rochelle is as wild as her mother, and for that matter, her grandmother. 
=== BSDM ===
In the BDSM lifestyle, McShane is known as 'Master A', a dominant heterosexual who acts as voyeur and protector for Ruby. Ryan has fragmented memories of Master A watching him, although Ryan doesn't know why. Master A had never approached Ryan - Ryan had heard Master A 'didn't like them young', and was 'as straight as they came' in the night world. Also, his play is always consensual.
=== Other Characters ===
==== Ryan Matthews ====
Ryan Matthews reminds Andrew McShane of himself.
== Possessions ==
=== Residence ===
Andrew McShane lives with his wife in the Eastmoreland neighborhood, near Reed College. Their house is a large, three-story colonial, painted gray with white trim, on a large lot. The interior has oak floors and wood trim, furnished in a modern comfortable style, There is a sun-room at the back of the house. 
=== Vehicle ===
Dr McShane drives a BMW.