Posted on Aug 8, 2023
After singer David Daniels' guilty plea, the victim speaks out
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https://www.npr.org/2023/08/07/ [login to see] /opera-singer-david-daniels-guilty-plea-victim-speaks
When Samuel Schultz walked into a courthouse in Houston, Texas, last Friday morning, he expected that he would be testifying against David Daniels — a man once revered by the opera world as one of its finest singers — and Daniels' husband, Scott Walters.
Five years ago this month, Schultz had come forward to accuse Daniels and Walters of drugging and raping him in 2010, when he was a graduate student at Rice University. After meeting through a mutual friend at a party following one of Daniels' performances at Houston Grand Opera, the couple invited Schultz, who is also an opera singer, back to the apartment where they were staying.
Schultz, a baritone singer who is now 36, had been looking forward to networking with Daniels, a noted countertenor who then regularly performed on many of the world's top stages. At the apartment, Schultz unknowingly took a spiked drink from the couple, blacked out, and was sexually assaulted.
When Samuel Schultz walked into a courthouse in Houston, Texas, last Friday morning, he expected that he would be testifying against David Daniels — a man once revered by the opera world as one of its finest singers — and Daniels' husband, Scott Walters.
Five years ago this month, Schultz had come forward to accuse Daniels and Walters of drugging and raping him in 2010, when he was a graduate student at Rice University. After meeting through a mutual friend at a party following one of Daniels' performances at Houston Grand Opera, the couple invited Schultz, who is also an opera singer, back to the apartment where they were staying.
Schultz, a baritone singer who is now 36, had been looking forward to networking with Daniels, a noted countertenor who then regularly performed on many of the world's top stages. At the apartment, Schultz unknowingly took a spiked drink from the couple, blacked out, and was sexually assaulted.
After singer David Daniels' guilty plea, the victim speaks out
Posted from npr.org
Sexual Assault
Singing
Houston
Rice University
Crime
Posted 10 mo ago
Responses: 1
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
...""We have systems within institutions that are based on centuries of tradition," Schultz says emphatically. "As a result, we accept certain norms — the sweeping under the rug of the powerful's sometimes egregious behavior. I would hope that within conservatories, young artist programs, universities, and public institutions, we start to examine processes we've accepted as normal. Let's get back to the basics of how we recognize human dignity despite status, despite fame, and despite money. I know that's going to take a long time, but I hope this is a big nudge to engage in that work."
Schultz says that despite the pain of the past several years, he's tried to keep other victims front of mind "as an opportunity to speak for those who haven't felt that they have a voice, to use the experience I've endured to help bring about an understanding and empathy — and maybe even some systemic changes, so this road is a little bit easier for those who come behind me."
...""We have systems within institutions that are based on centuries of tradition," Schultz says emphatically. "As a result, we accept certain norms — the sweeping under the rug of the powerful's sometimes egregious behavior. I would hope that within conservatories, young artist programs, universities, and public institutions, we start to examine processes we've accepted as normal. Let's get back to the basics of how we recognize human dignity despite status, despite fame, and despite money. I know that's going to take a long time, but I hope this is a big nudge to engage in that work."
Schultz says that despite the pain of the past several years, he's tried to keep other victims front of mind "as an opportunity to speak for those who haven't felt that they have a voice, to use the experience I've endured to help bring about an understanding and empathy — and maybe even some systemic changes, so this road is a little bit easier for those who come behind me."
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