Month: April 2015

A criminal assault charge has been filed against former tenured theater professor Varlo Davenport because of an incident in his Acting I class in November. 

A class-B misdemeanor assault charge was filed by the St. George City prosecutor’s office against Davenport on April 21. Davenport’s first court appearance is scheduled for June 6.

A 17-year-old female student filed the complaints of assault in December, alleging Davenport pulled her hair and used physical resistance on her as part of an acting exercise.  

Dixie State University President Biff Williams made the decision to terminate Davenport Feb. 25. 

The case was subsequently sent to the Washington County prosecutor’s office, who in turn sent it to St. George City prosecutor’s office after failing to find evidence for a criminal charge within the scope of a felony or a class-A misdemeanor. 

St. George City Prosecutor Robert Cosson declined to comment on the charges until after the trial. 

DSU’s official statement on the case is: “DSU regrets that an alleged assault of a student took place on campus and in a classroom setting. The university administration took this incident very seriously and strongly believes the decision to terminate Professor Davenport was the correct decision.”

DSU administrators declined to comment further “out of respect for the ongoing investigation and pending criminal charges.”

Some students at DSU have protested Davenport’s termination and started a petition, claiming he was denied due process.   

Williams said he fired Davenport because he had a responsibility to protect the students at DSU. Williams said he followed all policy “with exactness” and ensured Davenport was given due process. 

“It’s a hard situation because it affected a student,” Williams said. “I don’t think [Davenport] had intent to hurt anyone. That said, it had been going on for a long time. I made the right decision in firing him.” 

Jeffrey Jarvis, dean of visual and performing arts, held a meeting Dec. 9 with theater students to answer questions about Davenport’s termination.

Erica Whalen, a sophomore theater major from Las Vegas, attended the meeting with Jarvis. 

According to Whalen, Jarvis said Williams made his decision to suspend Davenport in “10 seconds” after reading Jarvis’ report of the incident. 

Several other students, including Serena Dabney, a sophomore theater major from Las Vegas, were witnesses of Jarvis’ statements at the meeting.  

Jarvis now refuses to comment on the case. 

Dean of Students Del Beatty heard the complaint from the student first and supports Williams in his decision to terminate Davenport. 

“I can only speak for the student that came to me with the assault complaint [on Davenport], tears in her eyes,” Beatty said in a March interview. “Speaking as an advocate for all students at DSU, President Williams did make the right choice in firing Davenport. There is so much information that once it becomes public, everyone’s opinion will change.”

Davenport was planning on suing the university for wrongful termination before the charges were filed. He said he only found out charges had been filed against him when a reporter from The Spectrum texted him the news. 

Davenport said he plans on bringing the case to trial. 

“It has been such a bizarre experience for me,” Davenport said. “In some ways, I’m looking forward to fighting this in court. There is so much evidence that I believe will work in my favor when it’s all presented to the court. I have nothing to hide.” 

Davenport said as much as he loves teaching at DSU, his goals are simply to clear his name so he will be employable again elsewhere.

“President Williams has told me I will never teach at DSU again,” Davenport said. “I only want to have a clear record so I can go teach acting somewhere else. That’s my passion.”

This being his final column, the Album Analyzer says goodbye but leaves you with a parting gift: the 10 best albums released during his time at Dixie.

Here’s part two of the list, counting down from 10 to one.

10: “XXX” by Danny Brown (2011)

Brown debuted with 22 tracks of oddball stanzas and oftentimes even stranger instrumentals. “XXX,” song one and the title track, strikes listeners as ridiculous until every song thereafter features Brown rapping things most people wouldn’t think — let alone record on an album. Standout track: “Adderall Admiral”

9: “Acid Rap” by Chance the Rapper (2013)

Among its tales of adolescent strife and stellar guest appearances, Chance the Rapper’s “Acid Rap” possesses another quality that appeals to students: It’s free. From Chicago, Chance chronicles the troubles of his neighborhood through improvised chants and potent punch lines. Standout track: “Juice”

8: “Modern Vampires of the City” by Vampire Weekend (2013)

Vampire Weekend grew up with its third album, abandoning the irritating frat boy smugness exhibited on past projects, opting for lyrics that encompass post-coming of age distress and life’s mundane but important moments. “Hannah Hunt,” song six, best shows the band’s new, stellar direction. Standout track: “Ya Hey”

7: “pom pom” by Ariel Pink (2014)

Metal samples from 40 years ago, random key riffs and tracks too strange to fall under any category round out “pom pom.” Despite “pom pom’s” obvious obscure features, Pink stays accessible with catchy melodies and snippets of power pop from top-40 radio’s past. Standout track: “Sexual Athletics”

6: “Run the Jewels 2” by Run the Jewels (2014)

Sex and drugs are plentiful throughout Run the Jewels’ second album. But for each silly brag, El-P and Killer Mike add a complicated dimension like, “Who’s that voice on the side of the phone that shakes and rattles his bones? / Could it be the man behind the man behind the man behind the throne?” from “Lie, Cheat, Steal.” Standout track: “Oh My Darling Don’t Cry”

5: “To Pimp a Butterfly” by Kendrick Lamar (2015)

The only artist with more than a single  entry on this list, Lamar could have stuck to what made “good kid, m.A.A.d city” a landmark project; however, jazz and funk instrumentals push Lamar’s artistry further here. “These Walls’” rolling bass and Chic-like chords underscore the album’s mix of fun sounds and social awareness. Standout track: “King Kunta”

4: “Black Messiah” by D’Angelo and The Vanguard (2014)

Only an album this quality could meet the expectations 10-plus years of anticipation brings D’Angelo finally dropped his third LP last December, and each quality — lyrics, layered instrumentals — seems at least a decade in the making, somewhat justifying D’Angelo’s long absence. Standout track: “Ain’t That Easy”

3: “St. Vincent” by St. Vincent (2014)

Listeners hear snippets of Prince, Talking Heads and other notable ‘70s-‘80s acts throughout the 11-track “St. Vincent.” Lyrics like, “Digital witnesses, what’s the point of even sleeping / if I cant show it, if you can’t see me?” from “Digital Witness” highlight the songstress’s introspection. Standout track: “Huey Newton”

2: “The Electric Lady” by Janelle Monae (2013)

When Monae isn’t screaming over thick bass lines and power chords, she teams up with the likes of Prince, Miguel and Erykah Badu — creating a comprehensive overview of both past and present urban music. The album dips through numerous genres and tackles subjects like alienation and loneliness. Standout track: “Dance Apocalyptic”

1: “Lonerism” by Tame Impala (2012)

 The Album Analyzer’s most embarrassing mistake as the Sun’s music columnist came when he didn’t list “Lonerism” as a top album of 2012. Now, whenever he hears “Mind Mischief’s” seductive strings or “Keep on Lying’s” Beatle-esque rhythm, he concludes this: Not even the Album Analyzer gets everything right. Standout track: “Elephant”

I’ve logged more than 150 articles and 80,000 words for Dixie Sun News in seven semesters; however, another stat is on my mind as my time at DSN ends: one — the number of times I gave up student journalism. 

Frustrated with how journalism’s reality — scary interviews and quick deadlines — differed from common misconceptions, I quit DSN in winter 2012 after one semester on staff. Doing so meant avoiding the stress and conflict journalists on all levels face with every assignment, but my departure also prevented me from serving fellow Dixie State University students by covering the stories they care about.

So I came back.

Since returning, I’ve reported on campus happenings that appeal to me: DSU Student Association elections and students accomplishing great things stand out. Other times, my assignments meant nothing to me personally. (True Rebel Night and anything on campus that includes a “D” pun, anyone?)

But I’m a journalist, so regardless of my opinions, I’ve remained objective and sacrificed my personal life, time and, every now and then, sanity to get you — DSN’s readers — the story.

Here’s the best part: I’m not the only one.

I graduate at the semester’s end, but others who strive to make DSN the true “Voice of Dixie” remain.

In particular, next year’s editor-in-chief, News Editor Emily Havens, devotes her time at DSN to uncovering campus headlines the DSU community must know about. Leaving my position at the news organization I love upsets me, but knowing that Havens’ organization, work ethic and passion for student journalism will expand on DSN’s accomplishments makes the transition easier. 

For Havens and next year’s staff to give you the news you deserve, however, they need the cooperation and credit they deserve.

Students should put pressure on university administration and student leaders to speak to student reporters even when they’re on the defensive. For the Sun’s staffers to serve the DSU community like they hope, that same community must demand those who hold power on campus cooperate the media in both good and bad circumstances.

It might seem silly, but that whole giving credit part is important too.

At DSN, we’re not asking for an appreciation plaque or backstage passes whenever disc jockey Marcus Wing comes to DSU again (very soon, I’m sure,) but letting us know what we’re doing right is often as beneficial as pointing out our mistakes, something people show less hesitancy in doing.

So support student journalism at DSU by demanding transparency, giving DSN feedback and picking up the Sun’s weekly print edition and visiting DixieSunNews.com. I have great aspirations post-grad, but fulfilling the duties of a student journalist will always stand out.