UND began building its case for firing an assistant music professor Monday by producing a laundry list of deficiencies, most of them relating to a European choir tour.

Anthony Reeves has maintained that his dismissal is because he's gay. But his attorney, Henry Howe, didn't present that argument in his opening remarks.

"We're not saying that Dr. Reeves' sexual preference is a direct reason for being dismissed," Howe said later. "But it's an undercurrent in this case.

The sexuality issue hasn't been raised because UND was just starting with the second of its 13 witnesses when the hearing closed after six hours. Most of the six hours were consumed by the testimony of Affirmative Action Officer Sally Page and the repeated and bitter sparring sessions between Howe and UND attorney Julie Evans.

"Prior to leaving on tour, he made it clear that this was a vacation for him and he accepted no responsibility other than the musical performances," Page said. "The students were left to manage the rest of the trip.

Reeves and his same-sex partner explored the possibility of adopting Philip Letvin, a 20-year-old UND student. Letvin said he wants Reeves and his partner to adopt him because they feel like a family. A judge denied the adoption petition in October.

In Music Department Chairman Gary Towne's brief time on the witness stand, he said Reeves had two unauthorized charges on a UND credit card, including $2,665 for an unnamed UND student to go on the tour.

Also, a UND student on the tour lost her purse, including her money, credit cards and passport. The only assistance Reeves offered was cab fare for the student to go to the U.S. embassy to get a new passport, Page said.

"When we're done, the picture will be presented of a creative, intelligent, talented music professor," Howe said. "Until the summer of 2005, there were no complaints against him. They took the choir trip to Europe and had a good time. To many students, the trip was a success."

Specifics of the charges - and of the rebuttals - will begin developing today. Students' names were not used in the discussion Monday because their rights are protected by the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA). However, when they choose to testify, they waive that right.

"So much of what they say seems like they're making mountains out of molehills," Howe said. "What claims there are will be diminished in size and scope."

The five-person Standing Committee on Faculty Rights will make a recommendation to UND President Charles Kupchella, but he is not bound by that decision. It's only the third time in his 10 years on the committee, chairman Douglas Munski said, that the process has reached the hearing stage.

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