ANN ARBOR, MI — The University of Michigan Board of Regents Thursday unanimously voted to remove opera professor David Daniels from his tenured position, as well as deny eligibility for severance pay.

UM President Mark Schlissel recommended Daniel’s firing, calling the renowned countertenor’s conduct “inconsistent with the character of tenure at the University of Michigan and therefore constitutes cause for dismissal.”

A number of former students have accused of Daniels of sexual harassment and abuse.

Regent Ron Weiser said it was the first time in 60 years that a faculty member’s tenure has been revoked.

“At the heart of every decision of the board is the safety and well being of our students,” Weiser said. “... When the board sees this jeopardized by a tenured member of the faculty, we believe it’s necessary to take extreme action or dismissal.”

A few public speakers opposed removing Daniels’ tenure, including two opera singers who said Daniels has helped many students further their opera careers, and called the recommendation to fire Daniels “ridiculous.”

Daniels was placed on paid leave in August 2018 after several sexually charged claims, including accusations that he solicited students online for sex, drugged and raped a Rice University student with his husband, William A. Scott Walters, and assaulted another student who is suing the university.

Daniels and Walters have denied the allegations.

Daniels was awarded tenure less than two months after UM received an anonymous complaint alleging he used the dating app Grindr to offer a student money in exchange for sex.

The regents unanimously approved tenure for Daniels in May 2018, based on multiple recommendations from students and faculty.

UM professor tenured weeks after complaint of Grindr proposition

Court documents filed last month showed faculty members at UM’s School of Music, Theatre and Dance expressed concern over the hiring of Daniels in 2015. One faculty member expressed a need to “tell him to keep his hands off” students.

The process to terminate Daniels was started by School of Music, Dance and Theatre Dean David Gier in 2019.

A hearing followed, resulting in Schlissel’s recommendation to fire the professor.

Daniels’ attorney Francyne Stacey earlier this week called Schlissel’s recommendation a mistake, but said "it’s not my decision to make.”

UM is currently investigating sexual misconduct allegations against late athletic doctor Robert Anderson and provost Martin Philbert. Jason Mars, an assistant professor of computer science at UM, is also being investigated for inappropriate behavior and resigned as CEO of Clinc, an AI startup based in Ann Arbor.

UM has not opened an investigation into Mars.

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