UNC theater professor arrested for child pornography

July 7, 2:07 PMDenver Theater ExaminerDeb Flomberg

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Vance Fulkerson, from his Facebook Profile

The University of Northern Colorado is still reeling today due to the news of theatre professor Vance Fulkerson being arrested on charges of sexually exploiting children and unlawful sexual contact. According to the arrest affidavit that was released today by the Greeley Police, Fulkerson secretly videotaped guests who used his home bathroom and he also kept child pornography locked in a safe in his bedroom.

There are many people throughout the Denver theatre community who have studied under Fulkerson, and this news has many people throughout the community and the country angry and frustrated with the image it gives to the theatre community. 9News.com reported, "According to the affidavit, '...one of Fulkerson's teaching methods was to send his students into the bathroom to urinate and at the same time sing or work on voice exercises." The affidavit states that police found 29 pornographic photographs of boys as young as 5 years old. Messages left for Fulkerson were not returned.

This is not the first time a theatre director was arrested for this type of thing. Back in November, Littleton Director Jerry Schell was arrested  for internet exploitation of a child in a sting set up by the Parker Police Department. The question is, what is this doing to the public image of theatre? Theatre is a safe place for everyone to go and create something meaningful and beautiful. A chance for children to learn and to create. Certainly the theatre community is upset by this news, and rightfully so. What are your thoughts?

For more info: 
9News reports: UNC Professor had Child Pornography
Denver Post reports