USU reassigns piano professor while sexual assault investigation pending

Update Sept. 28

It has been confirmed that Jason Hardink, a former visiting professor in Utah State’s piano program, resigned Tuesday stating in his resignation letter that he “cannot support an institution that is unwilling to publicly demonstrate a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual assault.”

Utah State Today

Dr. Jason Hardink, former visiting piano professor at Utah State, resigned Tuesday.

“I offer this resignation with sadness and hope that one day soon the USU piano area can be considered a safe environment for students and faculty,” Hardink stated in the letter.

Tim Vitale, spokesperson for the university, said Hardink’s resignation is “unfortunate” and it is “regrettable that he chose to leave [his students] when they are already in a difficult situation.”

Vitale said Hardink was hired to help “stabilize” the situation and “help students get through this hard time.”

The university does in fact have a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual assault but the university also owes Dennis Hirst “due process” while the open investigation is under way, Vitale said.

“It’s an extremely complicated and difficult situation,” Vitale said.

Vitale said the music department has been “scrambling” to find replacements for Hardink and Hirst.

Hardink explained his resignation in an interview with The Utah Statesman.

“At the time of my resignation the environment in the music school was emotionally and psychologically toxic for students,” he said. “Not being able to justify and explain that to students – with no end in sight – I resigned.” 

There were no plans discussed with him and other music faculty, Hardink said, and he felt students were put in a questionable situation.

“For me and for the music faculty – there were no plans relayed to us,” Hardink said. “It seemed to us that the university wanted to clear the investigation before taking any action and it put students in this situation that seemed ethically unjustifiable.”

Hardink said he believes in “everyone’s rights to due process and fair treatment in a situation like this,” but said he felt the university response came too late.  

“The response on Wednesday was what I believe the response should’ve been the moment the news of the lawsuit broke,” Hardink said. “It was the right response but I just think it was too late and it put the students in an awkward situation at best and, at worst, a dangerous situation for a week.” 

Hardink said he didn’t see his resignation as leaving students in their time of need – as the university said – but rather as standing up for them.

“I hope that my students saw my resignation as standing up for them – standing up for their rights to a safe and supportive learning environment,” Hardink said. 

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Utah State University announced further details regarding the ongoing investigation into Dennis Hirst, a professor in the piano program, after allegations of sexual assault came to light when a former student filed a civil lawsuit against Hirst.

In an email sent to all piano students, faculty and staff, USU President Noelle Cockett said Hirst’s teaching assignments have been “reassigned” for the remainder of the semester.

A letter to Hirst from Cindy Dewey, the head of the music department in the Caine College of the Arts, stated “the change is neither a sanction nor a punitive action.”  

The university is working with an outside law firm for the investigation and a finding is expected in four to six weeks.

Hirst has been reassigned to work for the Wassermann Festival and Fry Street Quartet Summer Chamber Music Festival and will no longer be located at his office in the music department, but will work from home.

“Please know that USU takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously,” the statement read.

Alison Berg contributed to this story.
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