Admitted abuser college prof to perform in Carnegie Hall with teens

Admitted abuser college prof to perform in Carnegie Hall with teens

MI College didn’t tell high school, churches about prof's past

“Adrian College duped production company and high school choir,” group says

A Michigan music professor who admitted to sexually molesting two teens while he was a teacher in California will be taking his choirs to Carnegie Hall in March, where they will be performing with a high school choir and four other groups. 

SNAP, the Survivors Network (SNAPNetwork.org), believes that the neither the touring company, Mid-America Productions, based in New York City, Link: http://midamerica-music.com/concerts-2018-2/, nor any of the churches, colleges, or the high school involved, were warned about the Adrian College professor, Dr. Thomas Hodgman. 

Hodgman has been in the local Michigan and national press as recently as this fall. One of his victims, who settled a civil sex and cover-up lawsuit for the abuse, has been working to get him removed from his job. Link: https://jezebel.com/a-prominent-sex-abuse-survivor-hopes-metoo-finally-get-1821200664

In a letter addressed to all of the groups and the touring company, SNAP is informing all of the participants of the March 19 concert—and Carnegie Hall—of Hodgman’s past and the risk he poses to high school students and those sensitive to the needs of victims of sexual assault. SNAP also urges Mid-America Productions to sever all ties with Adrian College until Hodgman is fired.

“This is insane,” said Claudia Vercellotti, SNAP Toledo Leader. “First, Adrian refuses to remove Hodgman. Then, they say nothing when he takes his choirs on tour with high schoolers. Those kids' parents and the school have a right to know and to demand that he be removed. Does Jeffrey Docking simply not care about the safety of these kids?”

SNAP hopes that the letter prompts quick action.

"We hope that neither Mid-America Productions nor Carnegie Hall support men who admit to sexually assaulting teens or the colleges that employ them—putting other youth and adults at direct risk,” the letter says.

The letter states that there are other conductors at Adrian who are qualified to direct the choirs, and have not admitted to molesting students. 

Link to Adrian College spring schedule, stating that Hodgman is leading the tour.: http://adrian.edu/uploads/files/2018_Spring_Undergraduate_schedule.pdf

Contact: 

Claudia Vercellotti, SNAP Toledo Leader, [email protected], (419) 345-9291

Barbara Dorris, SNAP Executive Director, [email protected], 314-503-0003

The letter to Mid-America Productions, Carnegie Hall, and the participating choirs is below:

SNAP

PO Box 56539

Saint Louis, MO 63156

January 8, 2018

Joseph J. Bill

Mid-America Productions

Peter Tiboris

Mid-America Productions

Joyce Howard-Brazel

Mid-America Productions

Samuella Becker

Mid-America Productions

Dr. Jennifer Davis

St. Clair High School

Christi Gentilli

St. Clair High School

James Arnn

First Presbyterian Church

Timothy Sexton

East Central College Choir

Adam Stich

ProMusica Arizona Chorale

Roger Wesby 

Wagner College Choir

Media Relations

Carnegie Hall

Everyone:

We are members of SNAP, the Survivors Network (SNAPNetwork.org), the nation’s largest support network for men and women sexually assaulted in institutional settings.

We are writing because Adrian College's choir director Thomas Hodgman—who admitted to molesting teens when he was a high school teacher—will be joining you on your upcoming trip to Carnegie Hall.

In this age of transparency when it comes to sexual assault, we believe you deserve to know the full truth.

Thomas Hodgman has admitted to molesting two of his teenage students while he was their teacher at Mater Dei High School in California. Court documents show that one of them says she became pregnant and he gave her a sexually transmitted disease. It was in the national media as late as this past month. Link: https://jezebel.com/a-prominent-sex-abuse-survivor-hopes-metoo-finally-get-1821200664

Adrian College has known about Hodgman since 2003 and said in a statement this fall that “numerous individuals and groups” have asked Adrian administration to fire Hodgman. Link: http://adrian.edu/uploads/files/Statement_regarding_Professor_Thomas_Hodgeman.pdf

The school refuses to fire him, citing his status as a tenured faculty member of the union. In response, this past fall, human rights groups in Adrian gathered to have a candlelight vigil in support of Hodgman’s victim. http://www.lenconnect.com/news/20171121/advocates-college-prof-accused-in-sex-case-must-go

According to media reports, some students are uncomfortable around him and are upset at the school for not disclosing Hodgman’s past. http://www.toledoblade.com/State/2017/11/10/Woman-renews-push-to-have-Adrian-choir-director-fired.html

This, however, means little to nothing when it comes to the reputation of Mid-American Productions and safety the members of participating choirs, especially HIGH SCHOOL CHOIRS, other choristers and directors who are sensitive to the needs of victims of sexual assault. We assume that Adrian College did not warn any of you about Thomas Hodgman’s past, the allegations and lawsuit against him, the court documents available online, or the fact that Adrian College employs other, fully qualified and capable choral conductors—such as Dr. Kristin Boggs Clark—who do not have past histories of sexual assault and can lead the groups in New York.

We urge you to demand that Adrian College president Jeffrey Docking ([email protected]) remove Thomas Hodgman immediately and replace him with Dr. Clark or another qualified conductor. We also hope that Mid-American Productions considers severing ties with the college completely until Thomas Hodgman is removed from his job.

We hope that neither Mid-America Productions nor Carnegie Hall support men who admit to sexually assaulting teens or the colleges that employ them—putting other youth and adults at direct risk.

Sincerely,

Claudia Vercellotti, SNAP Toledo Leader, [email protected], (419) 345-9291

Barbara Dorris, SNAP Executive Director, [email protected], 314-503-0003