Trey%Barnett% Response%to%Susan%Barrett’s%Formal%Complaint ...€¦ · same%policies%and%procedures%provided%me%protection%when%I%was%the%victim%of%rape% ... complaint%was%not

Trey%Barnett% Response%to%Susan%Barrett’s%Formal%Complaint%

% 1%

Dear%Senior%Vice%Provost%Tanaka,%

%

% Thank%you%for%taking%the%time%to%consider%my%response%in%this%matter.%I%have%

had%time%to%reflect%on%the%accusations%against%me.%At%any%point%in%my%college%career,%I%

have%not%wished%any%ill%will%toward%anyone,%faculty%or%student%in%the%Theater%

Department.%%

% I%respect%and%appreciate%the%University%of%Tulsa’s%polices%and%procedures%in%

place%to%protect%students%who%are%victims%of%harassment%and/or%sexual%assault.%The%

same%policies%and%procedures%provided%me%protection%when%I%was%the%victim%of%rape%

and%bullying%as%a%student%here.%Dean%Yolanda%Taylor%was%very%comforting%to%me%

during%these%difficult%times%in%my%life.%During%that%process,%it%meant%a%lot%to%me%to%

feel%like%the%University’s%staff%and%faculty%were%there%as%an%institution%and%

community%to%support%and%protect%me.%

% As%I%stand%here%accused%of%Conduct%Violations,%I%am%upset%that%the%proper%

procedures%were%not%followed%regarding%this%matter.%I%was%suspended%before%a%

formal%complaint%was%filed%and%sanction%was%taken%against%me%as%well.%According%to%

the%Harassment%Policy%a%formal%complaint%is%a%written,%signed%submission.%A%formal%

complaint%was%not%received%until%Friday,%October%3rd%but%I%had%been%suspended%

Tuesday,%September%30th.%%I%am%however%hopeful%and%optimistic%that,%after%reviewing%

the%evidence%in%this%matter,%you%come%to%the%conclusion%that%I%have%not%engaged%in%

prohibited%conduct%as%defined%by%the%University%Student%Conduct%Policies.%%

% The%complaint%filed%by%Professor%Barrett%accuses%me%of%making%four%online%

postings%that%violate%the%Student%Conduct%Policies.%Two%postings%were%posted%online%

under%the%name,%Chris%Blackstone.%A%third%posting%was%posted%under%the%name%

“John”%on%a%local%news%site.%And%a%fourth%posting%was%posted%under%the%name,%Chris%

Barnett.%I%agree%that%the%posts%are%crude%and%insulting.%I%do%not%agree%with%the%

content%of%the%posts%and%the%posts%were%not%appropriate%in%any%public%forum.%I%did%

NOT%make%any%of%the%online%posts,%directly%or%indirectly,%referenced%in%Professor%

Barrett’s%Complaint.%%

% Chris%Mangum%made%three%of%the%posts%at%issue.%Chris%is%my%fiancé%and%is%not%a%

student%at%the%University%of%Tulsa.%Chris%and%I%have%a%very%complicated%relationship.%

He%is%very%defensive%and%protective%of%me.%Chris%takes%medication%for%Rapid%BiUPolar%

Depression,%which%makes%him%speak%his%mind.%I%believe%he%posted%the%online%

comments%in%an%effort%to%point%out%flaws%in%the%Theater%Department.%I%have%

expressed%to%Chris%how%these%statements%are%harmful%to%others%and%how%they%are%

harmful%to%me.%After%discussions%about%the%comments,%Chris%has%taken%all%previous%

comments%down.%Chris%has%assured%me%that%he%will%not%make%any%more%posts,%or%

other%comments,%about%TU%or%people%related%to%TU.%%

% I%am%sorry%that%Chris%has%made%these%comments%against%my%classmates%and%

the%faculty%in%my%department.%I%do%not%share%the%opinions%that%Chris%has%posted%on%

Facebook.%I%have%not%been%involved,%directly%or%indirectly,%with%his%posting%on%social%

media,%nor%do%I%have%access%to%his%social%media%accounts%to%post%under%his%name.%

Attached%are%both%affidavits%drafted%and%executed%by%Chris%that%explains%the%

comments%were%his%and%his%alone.%See%Affidavit%of%Chris%Mangum.%


% 2%

% With%respect%tot%the%comment%posted%on%a%local%news%website%under%the%

name%“John”.%I%did%not%make%the%post.%Chris%has%denied%making%that%post%to%me%and%I%

do%not%know%who%made%the%post.%%

% I%have%written%apologies%to%both%Tara%Moses%and%Kimberly%Powers%expressing%

how%sorry%I%am%about%the%situation.%In%the%communications%with%them,%I%explained%

that%I%was%not%the%one%who%posted%the%comments.%See%attached%eUmails%“What’s%

happening”%and%“Talking”.%

% Below%are%specific%responses%that%I%believe%are%relevant%to%several%points%

raised%within%Professor%Barrett’s%Complaint%and%this%review%process.%%

• While%Professor%Dill%and%I%have%had%our%differences%during%the%Ireland%trip,%

our%issues%were%resolved%while%we%were%still%in%Ireland.%I%have%not%expressed%

any%animosity%towards%her%and%have%worked%with%her%on%productions%since%

Ireland.%%

• Professor%Barrett%states:%“These%postings%falsely%accused%Machele%Dill%and%

personally%attacked%Tara%Moses.”%

o While%I%did%not%make%the%postings,%Machele%Dill%was%not%mentioned%by%

name%in%the%post.%%

o John%had%informed%Chris%that%Tara%tried%to%convince%me%to%break%up%

with%him%and%was%saying%things%about%him%that%even%offended%John.%%

• Professor%Barrett%states:%“…%attacking%Kimberly%Powers%late%last%spring%in%

April%during%a%community%service%project%that%she%directed%at%Ziegler%Art%and%

Frame%for%Kendall%Whittier.”%

o While%I%did%not%make%the%postings,%Kimberly%Powers%was%not%

mentioned%by%name%in%the%post.%

• Professor%Barrett%claims:%“…%KTUL%website%concerning%the%Kendal%Whittier%

Project%under%the%name%‘John’%…%because%it%uses%the%same%language%and%same%

accusations%in%March.”%

o Professor%Barrett%was%the%person%who%informed%me%of%and%showed%me%

the%post%on%KTUL.%

o I%did%not%make%this%post%and%neither%did%Chris%to%my%knowledge.%%

• Professor%Barrett%claims:%“I%inadvertently%informed%him%that%the%posting%was%

no%longer%on%the%TU%Confessions%Website.”%

o Professor%Barrett%never%mention%the%post%was%gone.%

o During%the%referenced%conversation,%Professor%Barrett%called%to%inform%

me%that%the%matter%was%taken%out%of%her%hands%and%I%had%to%deal%with%

the%Vice%Provost.%%

o Professor%Barrett%said%she%understood%that%I%was%not%the%one%making%

the%statements%directly%or%indirectly.%

• Professor%Barrett%claims:%“We%are%both%surprised%it%was%taken%down.”%

o The%post%states,%“We’re%both%curious%how%it%disappeared%last%night.”%

o Chris%made%this%comment%on%my%Facebook%wall.%%

o I%had%not%seen%the%post%the%night%before.%%

o I%did%not%receive%any%update%or%notice%from%Facebook%that%someone%

had%posted%on%my%wall.%


% 3%

o Chris%posted%a%screenshot%of%the%post%to%my%wall%because%I%had%not%

seen%the%post.%%

• Professor%Barrett%claims:%“I%spoke%with%Trey%by%phone%as%soon%as%I%was%aware%

of%the%attacks%from%Ireland%urging%him%to%take%the%postings%down%and%in%

person%again%when%he%returned%to%Tulsa%from%Ireland.”%

o I%did%not%have%a%working%phone%while%in%Ireland.%

o I%was%the%person%who%informed%Professor%Barrett%of%the%problems%in%

Ireland.%See%attached%eUmail%“Problems”%

o I%never%had%a%meeting%with%Professor%Barrett%about%what%happened%in%

Ireland.%%

o Chris%had%taken%down%all%the%posts%while%we%were%still%in%Ireland%

because%the%school%was%starting%an%investigation%about%the%trip.%

• Professor%Barrett%claims:%“I%warned%him%that%these%kinds%of%derogatory%public%

attacks%must%cease.”%

o I%was%clear%with%Professor%Barrett%from%the%beginning%that%I%was%not%

directly%or%indirectly%involved%with%any%postings,%which%she%

understood.%

• Professor%Barrett%claims:%“…%the%Kendal%Whittier%posting%urging%him%to%take%

down%it%down%and%again%warned%him%to%cease%all%forms%of%this%activity.”%

o I%had%informed%her%that%neither%Chris%nor%I%had%any%involvement%with%

the%post.%

o I%had%no%control%over%taking%the%KTUL%post%down%as%I%did%not%post%it%

and%Chris%has%denied%posting%it.%

• Professor%Barrett%claims:%“Trey%seems%to%think%that,%as%long%as%he%can%claim,%

‘Chris%did%it,’%he%can%hide%behind%Chris%and%avoid%responsibility%for%these%

attacks%on%our%faculty%and%students.”%

o I%was%not%directly%or%indirectly%involved%with%any%of%the%postings.%

o See%Chris’%affidavit%

• Susan%Barrett%claims:%“Morale%and%relationships%in%our%Department%have%

been%harmed.”%

o As%a%student,%I%have%been%committed%to%increasing%morale%and%

relationships%in%the%department%through%my%actions%and%involvement.%

o I%received%an%award%for%“Excellence%in%Theater”%from%the%department%

for%my%participation%and%involvement.%

o I%have%documented%450%volunteer%hours%in%the%spring%of%2014.%I%have%

invested%a%lot%of%my%own%time%in%the%theater%department%above%and%

beyond%the%minimum%requirements%as%a%theater%major.%I%have%done%

this%because%I%love%theater%and%I%love%the%department.%I%have%a%lot%of%

pride%in%the%work%I%have%done%and%I%am%hopeful%more%than%anything%to%

graduate%with%a%degree%from%TU%in%theater.%%

o Professor%Barrett%continually%came%to%me%to%take%on%more%

responsibilities%in%productions%to%the%point%that%I%was%a%part%of%the%

design%team%for%every%production%last%school%year%and%was%asked%to%be%

a%designer%before%auditions%for%productions%this%semester.%%


% 4%

• The%Student%Conduct%Policies%do%not%contemplate%my%alleged%conduct%

(responsibility%for%a%third%party’s%online%behavior)%as%prohibited%in%the%

Harassment%Policy,%Sections%A%and%B.%

o I%understand%that%direct%comments%made%by%me%could%be%prohibited%

under%Sections%A%and%B.%The%Compliant%does%not%allege%that%I%made%

direct%comments,%but%Professor%Barrett%has%speculated%that%I%may%have%

made%the%comments%under%Chris’s%account.%I%have%consistently%denied%

making%the%posts%and%being%involved%in%the%posts%referenced%in%the%

Complaint.%%

o No%one%alleges%that%I%have%personally%and%directly%or%indirectly%

harassed%anyone%in%the%Theater%Department.%The%online%posts%were%

not%direct%eUmails%or%messages%to%any%individual.%%

o There%is%absolutely%no%proof%that%I%made%the%online%comments%because%

I%did%not%make%the%comments.%%

o To%the%extent%the%University%is%considering%that%I%may%be%responsible%

for%a%third%party’s%online%activities,%the%published%Student%Conduct%

Policies%do%not%specifically%address%this%conduct%(or%omission).%

o The%policies%state%that%“an%occasional%remark%or%act%which%my%hurt%

feelings,%or%otherwise%offend,%will%not%necessarily%rise%to%the%level%of%

Prohibited%Harassment%under%the%reasonable%person%standard,”%

Harassment%Policy,%Section%A%

o The%policies%state:%“the%standard%shall%be%the%perspective%of%a%

reasonable%person%similarly%situated.”%

I%assure%you,%Professor%Barrett,%and%everyone%in%the%Theater%Department%that%

I%will%do%my%best%going%forward%to%remain%positive%and%supportive%during%the%rest%of%

my%time%at%TU.%I%will%also%do%everything%I%can%to%make%sure%no%one%associated%with%

me%disparages%anyone%at%TU,%directly%or%indirectly.%I%am%now%aware%of%

correspondence%that%Chris%has%sent%to%you%directly.%I%am%sorry%for%that%and%I%hope%

that%you%can%understand%how%difficult%and%complicated%this%situation%is%for%me.%I%did%

not%know%about%these%communications%until%you%had%informed%me.%

I%am%very%sorry%for%the%negative%impact%this%has%had%on%my%fellow%classmates%

and%my%teachers.%My%main%goal%is%to%return%to%school%and%finish%the%few%credit%hours%

I%need%to%graduate.%I%request%that%I%be%fully%reinstated%immediately%at%the%Theater%

Department%so%that%I%may%make%up%any%lost%work%or%progress%in%those%courses.%I%also%

request%that%my%other%teachers%be%informed%of%what%has%happened%and%ask%that%they%

work%with%me%to%make%up%work%I%missed%due%to%depression,%and%anxiety%attacks%I%

had%while%dealing%with%this%issue.%I%have%gone%to%a%councilor%and%have%sought%help%for%

my%depression%and%anxiety.%Each%day%that%passes%causes%me%to%fall%behind%and%

jeopardizes%my%ability%to%graduate.%

%

Sincerely,%

Trey%Barnett%

Trey Barnett <[email protected]>

Talking1 message

Trey Barnett <[email protected]> Sun, Sep 28, 2014 at 1:10 PMTo: Kim Powers <[email protected]>

Can we meet and talk about the things that have been going on. I do not share the opinions that have been posted onFacebook by Chris. I have also talked to him and through logic explained to him how he is wrong and what is wrongabout it. I still do not believe that he was the person who attacked you last year because he would have told me andhe still denies it.

I have learned a lot from you over the past year and have been very glad that you joined our theater

Love,Trey B.


What's happening.1 message

Trey Barnett <[email protected]> Sun, Sep 28, 2014 at 1:20 PMTo: [email protected]

I am sorry for the things Chris has said about you. I do not share the opinions that have been posted on Facebook.You know if I had a problem with you, I would bring it up with you, or I would bring it up with Susan. I respect you andenjoy working with you. I know we make each other mad sometimes but I feel that we push each other to be better inour field of choice.

Love,Trey Barnett


Problems15 messages

Trey Barnett <[email protected]> Tue, Mar 18, 2014 at 4:08 PMTo: Susan Barrett <[email protected]>

I hope you are having a good break so far. I'm having a couple of issues with Machele and wanted to ask you what Ishould do. 1. I never got an email saying that I needed to help pay for the theater. Now that we are here, I'm being expected tohelp pay for it even though I volunteered to come here and didn't have to come and do the theater stuff too. I offeredmy services because I thought this would be a fun experience and I knew it would require very little time from me. 2. I was informed tonight after there rehearsal from John, that Machele was talking bad about me to all the studentsand then told them that they were not allowed to talk to me about the show or anything that she had said to themabout me.3. I'm being required to sit through most of the workshops and things even though there is absolutely nothing for me todo and has no relevance to what I have volunteered to do for the show.

I would appreciate some advise with how to deal with this. I know Chris (my bf) has contacted the dean of arts andscience with concerns about this trip and the fact that things have not been straight forward and never clear from thebeginning even when I've asked for a lot more detail. I wanted to tell you what's going on so that you heard it from mebefore anyone else.

Love,Trey B.

Trey Barnett <[email protected]> Wed, Mar 19, 2014 at 8:39 AMTo: [email protected]

This is the email I sent to Susan Barrett last night asking for how to deal with the problem while I am over here andanother issue that came up yesterday after we talked. I find it unprofessional and am now put in a citation were I don'tfeel comfortable going back to the theater to do what I came and volunteered for.

[Quoted text hidden]

Arrington, Rick <[email protected]> Wed, Mar 19, 2014 at 8:50 AMTo: Trey Barnett <[email protected]>

Thank&you,&Trey.&&Rick

&

!

!

!

RICK!ARRINGTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Assistant&Dean

&

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

!

Williams!Student!Services!Center

Helmerich!Hall!(Room!215)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The!University!of!Tulsa

800!S!Tucker!Drive

Tulsa!OK!74104!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PHONE:&&&&&918O631O2214&&&&&&&&FAX:&&&&&918O631O2142&&&&&&&&&&&

EMAIL:&&&&&&[email protected]&

& tu.rick !!

&"(A)!mind!stretched!to!a!new!idea!never!goes!back!to!its!original!dimensions."&&&Oliver'Wendell'Holmes

P Please consider whether it is necessary to print this email

&

From:&Trey&Barne6&[mailto:trey;[email protected]]&Sent:&Wednesday,&March&19,&2014&8:39&AMTo:&Arrington,&RickSubject:&Fwd:&Problems


Barrett, Susan <[email protected]> Wed, Mar 19, 2014 at 11:28 AMTo: Trey Barnett <[email protected]>

Trey, it seems like a communication problem, if you did not understand you would have to pay for the theatre and shedid not understand you were there to only do the lights for the show but nothing else - what is your status now? have you worked it out? It also seems to me that this could be negotiated. or have things evolved too far for thatnow?

Susan BarrettChair, Department of TheatreDesign & Production ManagementOffice: 918 631-3107 Cell: 918 [email protected]

From: Trey Barnett [[email protected]]Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 4:08 PMTo: Barrett, SusanSubject: Problems


Trey Barnett <[email protected]> Wed, Mar 19, 2014 at 11:46 AMTo: Susan Barrett <[email protected]>

I have been staying away especially after finding out about the trash talking to my peers about me.


Barrett, Susan <[email protected]> Wed, Mar 19, 2014 at 11:51 AMTo: Trey Barnett <[email protected]>

Is there any chance to reconcile this and do the work you came to do? Remember theatre people are the worsegossips in the world and even a hint is taken as from "the source" whether is was or not - is Tara on this trip???Would you like me to negotiate with Machele for you to do the work???


From: Trey Barnett [[email protected]]Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 11:46 AMTo: Barrett, SusanSubject: RE: Problems


Trey Barnett <[email protected]> Wed, Mar 19, 2014 at 12:10 PMTo: Susan Barrett <[email protected]>

Yes Tara's on the trip but from my understanding it is everyone who has turned against me and John is trying to stay"out of it" but won't really talk to me and I'm sharing a room with him. Out of all the people on the trip the only ones Icould probably go into the space with and not be hated now is Justin, John and Katie. Since we have been hereMachele has been making me feel uncomfortable before any of this happened. All the work that I really need to do is during the day of the performance and if I needed anything extra, I wouldn't get ittill the day of when the TD gets there.



John will only hint at things to me and then say go talk to Machele because Im not allowed to talk about it.


Barrett, Susan <[email protected]> Wed, Mar 19, 2014 at 12:58 PMTo: Trey Barnett <[email protected]>

let me know if there is anything I can do to help the situation


From: Trey Barnett [[email protected]]Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 12:13 PMTo: Barrett, SusanSubject: RE: Problems



I wanted to inform you about it because I'd rather you here it from me. Chris had emailed the school with his concernsabout this trip and i wanted to keep you informed about the problems ive been having so if they ask you, you wont beblind sided and he told me about it afterwards. I was hoping there was a simple solution but I know that can't alwaysbe once someone starts feeling uncomfortable.


Barrett, Susan <[email protected]> Thu, Mar 20, 2014 at 3:18 PMTo: Trey Barnett <[email protected]>

Are you planning on still doing the lighting?


From: Trey Barnett [[email protected]]Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 1:05 PM[Quoted text hidden]


Trey Barnett <[email protected]> Thu, Mar 20, 2014 at 3:23 PMTo: Susan Barrett <[email protected]>

I'm going to try. I'm going into the space to work before they get there and if I start feeling uncomfortable I'll leave for abit and then come back after a break and finish.


Barrett, Susan <[email protected]> Thu, Mar 20, 2014 at 4:06 PMTo: Trey Barnett <[email protected]>

would a conference call between you , Me and Machele help to clear the air?


From: Trey Barnett [[email protected]]Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2014 3:23 PM[Quoted text hidden]



I think it will be fine without one. She had emailed me earlier and I told her in my response that I had never gotten anemail about paying for the space and that I only volunteered to design and that was the only part I am here for thatdeals with them.



Never mind about me doing the lights. I've just been informed that they have done it all without me. So I'm going toenjoy my last day here tomorrow. The technician there had told me there was nothing I could do until Friday whenadding lights and I already had everything planned out and ready to go, I just needed a couple of minutes in the spaceto do it.


Documents

Trey%Barnett% Response%to%Susan%Barrett’s%Formal%Complaint ...€¦ · same%policies%and%procedures%provided%me%protection%when%I%was%the%victim%of%rape% ... complaint%was%not