Attorney questions hearing process concerning termination of gay choir director

The attorney for a University of North Dakota choir director who claims he is being fired because he's gay wants a judge to stop an ongoing appeal hearing and start the process over.

Henry Howe's petition in district court argues that the hearing for assistant music professor Anthony Reeves is unfair and in violation of North Dakota Board of Higher Education policies. Howe said a committee of tenured faculty members who will make a recommendation to UND president Charles Kupchella are not trained in law and need a hearing officer to advise them. "I think we have to start over," Howe said. "The process has been so tainted at this point and so damaged, that we would literally have to recall every witness."

Howe said the committee relies too much on university lawyer Julie Evans for advice, creating a conflict of interest.

Committee chairman Doug Munski said the group has been "operating in good faith all along.... We are an advisory body. We favor neither the institution nor Dr. Reeves."

The hearing started last week and is continuing this week. It was scheduled to resume Friday night. More than 30 witnesses have yet to testify.

UND officials say Reeves demonstrated a pattern of unacceptable behavior, including failing to maintain boundaries with students. They also say Reeves violated the faculty harassment policy by making sexually based and demeaning comments to students and that he was inconsistent as a conductor and teacher.

Reeves denies the allegations and says he is being fired because he is gay and because of his attempt to adopt a 19-year-old gay student who was having problems.

Reeves is on administrative leave with pay while he appeals his possible termination. "I'm very saddened by a lot of the testimony I am hearing," he said after Tuesday's proceedings. "There is another side coming from eyewitnesses...who will refute all of these charges that have been leveled against us." (AP)

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

Be the first to comment on this story.

If you would like to submit a comment for posting, please fill out the form above.

All comments submitted via this form are subject to posting or publication. (To send a private letter to an Advocate editor or writer, please use the e-mail button at the top of the page, or use snail mail.) If you would like your comment considered for publication in The Advocate magazine, please include your full name, your city of residence, and a phone number where you can be reached during business hours so that we can confirm your identity. Your e-mail address and telephone number are strictly confidential and will not be shared or used for any purpose other than to contact you about your comment.

See the Contact page for sending comments for reasons other than responding to Advocate editorial and news stories.

Please note that comments sent by fax or snail mail are unlikely to be posted, although they will be considered for publication along with all letters received via e-mail or via this Web page. Comments that chiefly concern Advocate.com content will be considered for posting only on the Web site. The Advocate reserves the right to edit submitted comments for grammar, spelling, obscenities, or libel; we will, however, do our best to preserve the original comment's style and intent. Comments considered for publication in The Advocate magazine may also be edited for length.

More Exclusives

View From the Hill: The End of DADT?
Defense Secretary Robert Gates revealed that lawyers are exploring ways to ease enforcement of the military's gay ban, but cautioned that the law doesn't leave much wiggle room. He need look no further than DOD history for a lesson in altering the policy.

Hot Sheet: Week of July 5
When you get back from that big 4th of July barbecue, unwind with Sacha Baron Cohen's Bruno and your favorite B-movie-mocking, basic cable robots.

Hungry Like the Wolf
A master of viola, ukulele, piano, and harp, Patrick Wolf is a music prodigy -- one who, the night before this interview, spit on a cop and got himself arrested.

Soapside: Advocate's Guide to Daytime
Forbes March talks about playing gay, Otalia fans outraged, update on One Life to Live’s Patricia Maurceri’s firing over gay plot point, Phillip Chancellor III big reveal, and Erica Kane goes to Africa.

The Faces of Federal Prop. 8
With the federal challenge to Prop. 8 moving full speed ahead, Advocate.com sits down with the two couples named as plaintiffs in the suit.

Mommy, the Gays Are Coming
After a year of advancements and celebration for gay and lesbian Colombians, the community takes to the streets of Bogota for the country's biggest pride ever.

The Pride of Antwerp
Advocate.com hits the gay-friendly streets of Antwerp with openly gay police commissioner Serge Muyters.

Excerpt: Mean Little Deaf Queer
In an excerpt from her humorous and harrowing new memoir, Mean Little Deaf Queer, Terry Galloway recalls her early childhood, describing feelings of ugliness, confusion about gender, and being one of the boys.

Top Political Blogs
From Joe.My.God to The Daily Beast, Advocate.com spotlights a few of the best blogs that cover politics, inside and way outside the Beltway.

The Diva of French Television
A hot young screenwriter who has made gay OK for millions of French viewers, Nicolas Mercier sips champagne, dons a feathered hat, and says he wants to see Colin Farrell and Jude Law go at it.