Frequently Asked Questions
Who runs this site?
This site is run by We Track Foibles (WTF), a limited liability company founded by Monica Chew.
What is the standard for inclusion on this list?
This site is a database of publicly documented information. We do not publish original research. A person is included on this list when alleged sexual misconduct involving them has resulted in significant, publicly reported consequences for either the individual or an affiliated institution.
Our standard requires documentation from at least two reputable public sources (such as established news media or court filings) that report on actions such as:
- Professional Sanctions: Termination, suspension, or forced resignation from a position following an investigation into misconduct.
- Legal Action: The filing of formal criminal charges, an arrest in connection with allegations of sexual misconduct, or a civil lawsuit related to sexual harassment or assault.
- Public Acknowledgment: A settlement related to misconduct, or a public admission by the individual.
- Institutional Response: An institution publicly overhauls its safety and harassment policies, and reputable reporting contextualizes this reform as a direct response to investigations or public allegations concerning that individual.
Which affiliated institutions do you list for a given person?
To give a more complete picture of a person’s impact on the field, we endeavor to list prominent, long-held, and current affiliations regardless of when any alleged incidents occurred.
Why focus on classical music?
Classical music is incredibly powerful and we love it. Many organizations have the same issues. The highest level of the executive branch of the U.S. government has the same issue. It is a tremendous waste of goodwill, energy, and talent to accept this kind of behavior. If we can’t solve it for classical music, a niche field where many practitioners take pride in high-minded idealism, then what chance do we have of wiping it from the world stage?
Negativity is bad. Why should we dwell on this?
In many cases, we haven’t dwelt on this at all! See for example William Preucil who kept his position as concertmaster of Cleveland Orchestra for more than 11 years after the first publication detailing his bad behavior, or James Levine whose bad behavior was rumored for over 50 years before being publicized in national media. Pretending the problem doesn’t exist leads to extended periods of abuse with seeming impunity. By looking at common fact patterns across these many cases, it becomes easier to stop abuse sooner.
These people are tremendously talented. Don’t they deserve to keep their positions?
Classical music produces many more qualified people than there are jobs. No one, no matter how talented, has the right to abuse others. The real question is, who are we losing by protecting these abusers through inaction?