Sunday, March 29, 2020

University of Michigan Fires David Daniels

From the NY Times, the opening paragraphs of an article about UMich firing countertenor David Daniels; emphasis is mine:
The University of Michigan on Thursday fired David Daniels, a professor of voice and one of the world’s leading countertenors, one year after he and his husband were charged with sexually assaulting another singer. 
It was the first time in more than 60 years that the university’s Board of Regents had voted to dismiss a tenured faculty member, according to the board chairman, Ron Weiser. The board also denied Mr. Daniels severance pay. 
“At the heart of every decision of the board is the safety and well-being of our students, and the integrity of the instruction to which our students are entitled,” Mr. Weiser said. “When the board sees this jeopardized by a tenured member of the faculty, we believe it is necessary to take the extreme action of dismissal.”
I'm certainly glad that Daniels is gone; other reports make it clear that he had a reputation at Michigan as a harasser. But I can guarantee you that there is zero chance that he was the first tenured professor in sixty years to commit academic fraud, harass or assault a student or  staff member or fellow faculty member, or emotionally abuse a student. Where the hell has Michigan been since 1960? Not looking out for the safety of people on campus.

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