The University of Michigan Board of Regents Thursday voted unanimously to fire a prominent tenured professor accused of sexual misconduct.
David Daniels is a renowned opera singer and was a professor in the U of M School of Music, Theatre and Dance.
An internal university investigation concluded Daniels harassed 20 students, including soliciting sex and nude photos. Daniels has denied the allegations.
University Pres. Mark Schlissel called for Daniels dismissal during a meeting of the Board of Regents that had to be held online due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
“I’ve determined that Prof. Daniels’ conduct is inconsistent with the character of tenure at the University of Michigan,” Schlissel told the Board.
Three of Daniels’ colleagues in the opera world spoke up in his defense.
Opera singer and University of Michigan alumni Nicholas Phan accused the university of homophobia and imposing a double standard against Daniels.
“Lesbian, gay and transgender professors have had to fear for their jobs through a long and shameful history of scaremongering against us,” Phan told the regents.
Along with firing Daniels, the regents also agreed to deny him severance pay.
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