UND choir
director resigns

An openly gay University of North Dakota choir director who fought the school to keep his job now says it's time to move on. Anthony Reeves said he will resign on May 15, when his contract as a nontenured assistant music professor expires. Reeves made the announcement Tuesday afternoon from UND's Memorial Union and sent a three-page resignation letter to President Charles Kupchella's office. "For my students, this has been a very, very trying time for them," Reeves said. "I'm recognizing that the best thing for me to do to enable all of us to move on is for me to leave UND." Reeves, an assistant professor, has contended that the school was firing him because he is gay and because he and his partner tried to adopt a 19-year-old student. University officials denied that. Reeves was accused of unprofessional conduct and neglect of duty. His resignation coincides with a recommendation made by a five-member faculty committee that Reeves be fired but remain on administrative leave with pay through May. Kupchella had not taken any action on Tuesday, said UND spokesman Peter Johnson. Kupchella is reviewing the committee's recommendation, which was made after more than 70 hours of testimony in an appeal hearing. Reeves said he and Kupchella met last week to discuss a solution. Reeves said he appreciates Kupchella's concern that Reeves be able to move on with his career. Reeves has been on paid administrative leave since last fall when he learned of the music department's intent to fire him. The university says Reeves acted inappropriately with students, damaged UND's reputation, and hurt the music department's recruitment abilities. Reeves said he hasn't decided what he will do next. He continues to direct two choirs that students started, independent of UND, after Reeves was placed on administrative leave. His attorney, Henry Howe, said Reeves's appeal hearing could have been avoided if the university had taken steps earlier to resolve personnel issues. "I think the outcome is extremely sad for everyone, certainly for the university and certainly for Dr. Reeves," Howe said. (AP)