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Judge: Ex-Ohio State Band Director Has 4 Months To Prove Claims

WOSU File Photo
Jon Waters appeared on All Sides with Ann Fisher last year.

A federal judge says an Ohio State University band director fired for turning a blind eye to a "sexualized culture" there has four months to gather evidence over his gender discrimination claim.

The federal judge's decision in the case of Jonathan Waters came at a hearing Friday.

The judge rejected Waters' due process arguments last week but is allowing a claim Waters was treated differently than a similarly situated female employee to proceed.

President Michael Drake fired Waters last year after an internal investigation concluded Waters ignored raunchy, suggestive and inappropriate band rituals and traditions. Waters disputes the findings.

After Ohio State's lawyer opposed any attempt at an expansive search of university records, Judge Graham limited initial discovery only to other employment decisions by Drake or within the School of Music.