Written by Dallas Hyland
Last week, The Spectrum was on their game.
The local paper reported that Dixie State University professor Varlo Davenport had been officially charged with a Class B misdemeanor assault charge in the embattled incident where he was terminated. The City of St. George has decided to proceed with the charge and proceedings are reported to be set to begin in June of this year.
Shortly after the report came DSU’s now seemingly conservative press release stating in essence, “See, we told you so.”
So far so good right?
Curious to note in this little deuce of events, however, was who was unaware that the charge had been filed. Neither Davenport nor his attorney knew of it at the time of the report. They found out the same way many people did, through The Spectrum’s article.
Anyone else but me find that interesting?
The Spectrum’s report reads like a press release, going as far as to imply in the title, albeit a sentiment from DSU, that the school had made the right decision.
Says who?
Furthermore, the article goes on to continue to repeat DSU president Biff Williams’ staunch maintaining that Davenports rights were not violated. He says that DSU followed its policies and procedures in firing Davenport.
That is actually a patent lie and some simple research on the matter, like say, reading the policies, reveals that. Additionally, it should be noted that if any written policies are in violation of state or federal laws, they are arguably illegal. A read of DSU’s policies reveals at least the possibility of the documents being glaringly lacking in articulating rights of the accused in its proceedings.
But for the moment, I digress.
And I assert this: St. George City better get a conviction on this because if they don’t this situation is going to get really interesting because the appearance that someone or someone’s are working double-time behind the scenes to protect the fledgling school and a select few of its employees at any and all costs will turn out to be the nail in the proverbial coffin.
Likened to Biff telling everyone that when all the information came forth, the colleges decision would be understood, (it’s not by the way) DSU is in the somewhat ironic position of now facing the scenario where “more information” is coming out everyday revealing just how egregious of an injustice it has perpetrated upon not only Davenport, but this entire community, including the academic community at large.
It will be interesting to see what happens when Davenports attorney brings the witnesses to the alleged assault into these proceedings to testify. Because according to some sources, no one on the “investigation” side of this shit-show thinks their input is pertinent enough to consider.
With four federal lawsuits against it now and the possibility of more coming, DSU, and Biff in particular, are in a rather precarious position. Hopefully, the president is being judicious in being sure that the “right people are on the bus” to carry them through this legal storm.
The Spectrum’s article, perhaps well-intentioned, came off like a press release for the college who impetuously awaited the revelation of the ominous “unknown to the public circumstances” which they mistakenly believed would justify their actions.
First, everyone already knew. And second, the ends will not justify the means; but it will take a federal court proceeding to sort that out.
Keep a close eye on this folks. It has far reaching implications.
See you out there.
Dallas Hyland is a freelance writer, award-winning photographer, and documentary filmmaker with three films currently under his belt. The opinion editor of The Independent, Hyland’s investigative journalism and opinion columns have ranged in topics from local political and environmental issues, to drug trafficking in Utah, as well as the international front, covering issues such as human trafficking in Colombia. On his rare off-days, he can be found with his family and friends exploring the pristine outdoors. Listen to him live as a regular guest co-host on the Perspectives talk show on Fox News 1450 AM 93.1 FM in southern Utah.
