Ohio State University鈥檚 School of Music director clarified the intent of a letter he wrote last year to the parents of fired band director Jon Waters.
In a statement released by the university, Richard Blatti said the letter was an attempt to console Waters鈥� parents, close family friends.
"I never expected my personal letter would be used by Mr. Waters in this manner," Blatti said.
In the letter to Waters鈥� parents, Blatti expressed his disappointment in the way the board of trustees handled Waters鈥� firing. Blatti now writes he has come to understand the process and reasoning behind Ohio State鈥檚 decision to terminate Waters.
Waters produced the letter in a court filing Wednesday. The letter was submitted to show the board of trustees was behind his firing.
The university said Blatti鈥檚 letter is 鈥渋rrelevant鈥� to Waters' lawsuit.
In its statement, OSU said, "Dr. Blatti鈥檚 letter only shows that he was a family friend of Mr. Waters and was reaching out to the Waters family as a friend."
Waters has four months to prove his gender discrimination claim in a federal civil-rights lawsuit. Waters' attorneys have sought a two-month extension to gather board-related information.
Waters has sought reinstatement and $1 million in damages.
OSU fired Waters for ignoring what it called a "sexualized culture" within the band.
