Former Ohio State University band director Jonathan Waters was never accused of sexual assault, but he was fired for it anyway.

Last year, Waters was fired after an internal investigation (which conveniently coincided with an investigation by the Department of Education for Title IX investigations) revealed a "sexualized" culture within the band that Waters failed to adequately stop. Complaints included hazing of new band members (that only a small percentage of the 225-member band found objectionable), an unofficial songbook containing vulgar lyrics for OSU fight songs and an allegedly mishandled sexual assault accusation.

The hazing and other traditions predated Waters, but in the current environment of Title IX witch hunts, someone had to be held accountable. Waters says that OSU officials told him he would be allowed to keep his job if he adopted a "zero-tolerance" policy. Then, two weeks later, he was fired. Shortly thereafter, the Department of Education ended its investigation into OSU, even citing the firing as one reason.

Waters sued the school, alleging a lack of due process before he was fired and discrimination due to his gender.

A U.S. district judge ruled on April 24 that Waters couldn't sue over a lack of due process, but allowed the lawsuit to proceed on the discrimination claim.

Waters alleged in his lawsuit that female OSU employees in similar situations were allowed to keep their jobs and correct any concerns the school had. That wasn't the case for Waters, he believes, because of his gender.

"As for Mr. Waters' sole remaining claim, that he was terminated because he is a man, we look forward to providing the factual support to enable early dismissal of that claim as well at the next opportunity presented by the proceedings," OSU spokesman Chris Davey told the Associated Press.

Waters' attorney, David Axelrod (not that David Axelrod), said he was "pleased" with the judge's decision to allow the lawsuit to proceed.

"We've said all along that Jon was treated very unfairly by Ohio State, and we're anxious to start talking to the witnesses and getting to the truth," Axelrod told the AP.

Waters revolutionized the OSU band after he was hired in 2012, creating incredible routines involving dance members forming images on the field as they played popular songs. The videos have gained hundreds of thousands of views each on Youtube, and the band was even featured in an Apple iPad commercial.