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Band Director Fired Unfairly - Needs Our Support

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Band Director Fired Unfairly - Needs Our Support

Band Director Fired Unfairly - Needs Our Support

I agree BMarkey about the difference in standards. That's why I mentioned the Green situation when he went to the NCAA tourney? His name literally popped up on NBA and college applications!

The band director was honest and open and looks like he's paying a steep price.
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Band Director Fired Unfairly - Needs Our Support

Didn't Angelos tell everyone he was entertaining an offer from BYU and actually fly out there to interview?
Owlcoholic might be right. There may be more than what we see on the surface. Although with all of the praise the band has been getting and all the good reports I have been reading about which includes this board who knows what else it could be.

I assume the firing was done by the dean of the school of music. Is that who the band director was reporting to? If that is the case you really can't expect Brogan to undermine the decision of one of his deans and hire the guy back. That would cause more problems.

I've seen this happen in the business world a few times where the boss found out an employee was looking and fired him/her. It certainly doesn't help the morale. It's not good business unless you think the employee is so unhappy they are going to keep looking until they find somewhere else to go. Who knows. We are on the outside looking in. If the university makes a statement, it will be written in such a way as to minimize the embarrasment for both the university and the band director. We may never know the real story.

FAU - THE REAL SLEEPING GIANT
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Band Director Fired Unfairly - Needs Our Support

Brogan had the band pose for his personal Christmas card. You'd think he'd care enough about this guy to keep him on staff.

Still, no response to my letter to the administrators. A raw form of the letter is at:

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Band Director Fired Unfairly - Needs Our Support

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/pbcsouth/content/local_news/epaper/2006/01/13/s1b_fauband_0113.html

The Palm Beach Post doesn't quote William Covino, dean of the college, as saying he didn't fire Chapman but quotes him "the university would not punish a faculty member for looking for other employment".

so what does that mean? was he fired or wasn't he?

FAU - THE REAL SLEEPING GIANT
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Band Director Fired Unfairly - Needs Our Support

BMarkey got his name in the article!!! 8-)

This remark from the Dean makes you wonder what actually transpired behind closed doors with all involved. Ultimatums? Threats? Or the age old "Oops! Did I really just say that?" You know the kind of things we say and realize that we can't take it back because of our pride.

Inquiring minds want to know.
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Band Director Fired Unfairly - Needs Our Support

The latest article in the newspaper said Chapman is resigning because So Florida is too expensive. What that says to me is he probably asked for more money and since it isn't in the budget he didn't get it.
As far as the rest of the story going around about being fired. Where did that start?

FAU - THE REAL SLEEPING GIANT
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Band Director Fired Unfairly - Needs Our Support

The Post did a typically poor job on the article. When its reporter couldn't contact the band director or any of the band members to confirm that the director told them he was fired (told to resign), it fell back on quoting me (my letter to Brogan). I did not hear the director say he was fired and it was inappropriate to use me as a source.

The Post article ran on Friday in the Boca area and today in the West Palm Beach area.

The Sun-Sentinel, wisely, held the story until it could speak to the director.

According to the S-S reporter, the director declined to comment on the means by which he was leaving. He just wanted to drop the issue. So the reporter did not focus on the controversy.

In a nutshell, this is what I believe happened.

The director applied for the Purdue job and then told his superiors. They told him to resign, effective at the end of the semester.

He told the band Monday night (immediately after the basketball game) that he had been fired/asked to resign because his superiors were upset with his application elsewhere. He said he applied at Purdue because it was a "dream job" for him, but didn't do it because he wanted to leave FAU.

After word got out (he told the band in a public place, while hundreds of fans were walking out of the gym), the school closed ranks.

An e-mail was sent to band members, allegedly from the director, asking them not to comment to the media about the subject. While it was written as if it came from the director, it was sent from the director's boss' e-mail address.

The school likely told him to take his medicine and benefit from using FAU as a reference for future jobs.

It's a shame. The school (band, too) and the director lose. But the band is hearty and will not falter. Look for a larger and better product next year.

I will let you know if I get a response to my letter to Brogan and his staff.

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Band Director Fired Unfairly - Needs Our Support

There's definitely something going on behind the scenes here. Chapman said it's in his "best interest" to look elsewhere, which to me is just code talk for "something going on behind the scenes that I don't want to be part of". Either that, or it's Chapman with something to hide. I just hope he didn't put a flute anywhere inappropriate.
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Band Director Fired Unfairly - Needs Our Support

He is very well thought of. The band respects and likes him.

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Band Director Fired Unfairly - Needs Our Support

Once...when I was in band camp..... LOL Had to do it...
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