In the article “What Cost Chris Dussold His Dream Job,” the author, Thomas Bartlett, examines the potency of rumors, specifically in the case of Chris Dussold. Dussold, a well-educated professor at an average Illinois college, enjoyed his job and the location. In the fall semester of 2003, he heard a rumor about himself: he was sleeping with one of the university’s students. Bartlett says that at first, Dussold was fairly unconcerned, as he knew the rumor was untrue and had not had much contact with Jennifer Peyla, the woman he was accused to be sleeping with. Despite his innocence being documented by many colleagues and students, the rumor relentlessly stuck around, and he was investigated by the university. While this was happening, Peyla