The experiences of the applicants extend from the very recent past to much older, ten years or even more, thus showing that the events were not random.
“Gaining experience in further studies in other higher education institutions, both in Latvia and abroad, I can conclude that the JVLMA Department of Ancient Music was ruled by the opinion of one person – head Mārs Kupčas. Communication with the head of the department was difficult, unclear, difficult to understand hints. The atmosphere in the department was rather students not only the direction of the program, but also the evaluation criteria were derogatory and unclear.”
This is an excerpt from one affidavit, which, along with 10 others, is attached to the joint submission. Respecting the wishes of the submitters, the quotes used in the program are anonymous. Other testimonial writers did not even agree to anonymous citation. In the last week of March, the application, which has the signatures of 28 current and former students and faculty members, was submitted to the Music Academy Council, the Ombudsman and the police.
“We have personally experienced or witnessed the mobbing and bossing, manipulative work style, unethical attitude, tactless (sexist, misogynistic, homophobic) comments, insults, humiliation and disparagement, psycho-emotional pressure and violence, favoritism, student and for ousting lecturers, for blackmail in order to achieve their personal goals, as well as for concentrating power in the hands of themselves and those close to them, making themselves an unquestioned authority in public,” reads a fragment of the joint submission.
The complaints of the applicants are about the behavior and work style of one lecturer – the former head of the Department of Ancient Music, Māras Kupčas.
Excerpt from another added testimony: “I have seen the concert [vieta]in which former students of Mara performed [nosaukums] and Māris has come with his associates to listen to the concert, but during the concert he openly laughs, mocks, comments and tries to adversely affect the performers.”
The submission states that its authors want to provide moral support to the victims, especially female students who suffered from sexual violence, as well as shed light on the environment in which it could have happened. Show the character and work style of lecturer Kupča with specific testimonies.
Excerpt from another testimony: “Has it been agreed with the academy and legally, that for these theoretical and practical lessons with Mārs Kupčs, you always had to go to the Society’s building, or later Kalķu iela, where the center of early music was located? Because this from all the isolated atmosphere and the very superior attitude of Mārs Kupča always created discomfort and ultimately a feeling of discouraging and often even humiliating learning.”
Two of the authors of the submission, who studied at the Department of Ancient Music, agreed to speak openly with “de facto”.
One of them, a JVLMA student, Jēkabs Bernāts, also a representative of the student self-government, told the “de facto” program: “We have all experienced the same things, and the text of the application shows it very well – we have all suffered from bossing, mobbing and favoritism. It was the way I feel, how my democratic vote can give another… Because I heard that there will be a lot of signatories, and that was another incentive to collect as many of these testimonies as possible to show that the situation is out of control.”
Former JVLMA student Sniedze Kanepe said: “As I mentioned before, I believe that Māris Kupčs is really a specialist in his field. But it’s not about that, it’s about his attitude. And that attitude that we, students and also educators , we hope to expect, is that we are respected and that we are allowed to express ourselves, and then our opinion is not belittled. Because I believe that every person has the right to make mistakes, but it should be settled in a humane way.”
“de facto” asked lecturer Kupča to give his opinion in an interview. In a telephone conversation, he also asked to get acquainted with the positive reviews of his work, but refused to give an interview and emphasized that he would do so after the trial.
The ombudsman’s office, where the application was received, first invites the academy itself to evaluate it, giving it a month’s time.
The answer from the academy is expected by May 4: “First of all, we are interested in the same procedure as they examine this issue. So – as the institution receives it – what happens next with this application. The ombudsman has also asked us to receive information both about the procedure and about the decision. So it is important that the institution reacts, how it happens in the institution, how many people are involved in it.”
The current rector, Guntars Prānis, who has been in the position for the past seven years, says that he has spoken with several lecturers and heads of departments, who have also been changed over the years. There have also been talks with Kupča, sometimes even harsh ones, but the replacement has not been made – there have been counter-arguments.
“From my side, there has been a very clear attitude that there are things that need to be changed. On the other hand, there have been not only commitments, but also a rather long description of events and activities – it has been shown that everyone is given opportunities and it is possible for every student to achieve the maximum, if he wants it,” said JVLMA rector Guntars Prānis.
Prānis resigned from his position, but this week the academy introduced the acting rector, former senate chairman Ilona Meija, who will take up her new position on May 1.
At her suggestion, the academy conducted a student survey at the beginning of the year, which revealed the extent of the problem, which was unexpected.
“I will say this – sudden and unexpected. That would be my correct answer. It is clear that some… In the environment of artists there are always some sympathies, antipathies, also bohemian, that is already true, but exactly what I saw in the questionnaires, it was shocking news to me,” May said.
After the scandal that broke out in mid-March about possible sexual harassment of female academy students, Kupča was suspended from his post for three months. After this deadline, the new management of JVLMA will have to decide on further working relations.
However, by then, the consideration of the mentioned application and possibly others will probably not be completed. The Academy Council submitted the application to the Ethics Commission, but several of its members have already informed that they do not want to continue working in the Commission. Therefore, May will first have to find who will work in the Ethics Commission.
“I can definitely see that there should be a professional psychologist involved and also trusted faculty,” May said.
JVLMA Council Chairman Timur Thomson said: “First of all, the Ethics Commission must consider this issue. I understand very well the colleagues who say that they do not want to be in the Ethics Commission anymore, because these issues are extremely difficult even for the colleagues themselves – to consider that kind of stuff, and they’re not simple questions, they’re pretty tough decisions that he has to make.”
Therefore, in the opinion of the chairman of the council, the review should not be rushed.
CONTEXT:
Since the “Kultūršoks” program of Latvian Television came to the disposal of seven JVLMA students’ testimonies about the behavior of individual lecturers, two JVLMA lecturers have been suspended for possible sexual harassment of female students.
The Academy has turned to the State Police in connection with the information broadcast in the program, and the Ministry of Culture has also invited Academy students who have suffered from sexual harassment by lecturers to submit whistleblower applications.
On March 11, the police received the application and started the official investigation, but a few days later the criminal proceedings were started.
On March 11, the JVLMA council expressed no confidence in JVLMA rector Guntars Prānis and called for his resignation. Later, the arbitration court judged the request of the Council of the Academy of Music to remove the rector as illegal. Initially, Prānis was not going to resign, but on April 15 he announced that he had decided to resign.
The Minister of Justice Inese Lībiņa-Egnere (“Jaunā Vienotība”) is proposing criminal liability for sexual harassment, thus allowing victims of violence to receive the necessary support and protection. Meanwhile, the Academy of Music, the Academy of Arts and the Academy of Culture are offered to form a joint ombudsman – a trusted person for students and teachers.
