ICArts Italy | International Center for the Arts Italy | David Voros

A guide to the Allegations, Legal Battles, Scrutiny, and working to Uncover the Truth about David Voros and ICArts in Umbria, Monte Castello di Vibio, Italy

David Voros and ICArts Italy Controversies

David Voros and ICArts Italy: A Career and LLC Under Scrutiny

David Voros, formerly a professor at the University of South Carolina (USC), has been involved in significant controversies that have impacted his career and raised questions about institutional responses to misconduct allegations. This detailed analysis covers the accusations against him, his artistic contributions, his legal battles, and the controversies surrounding his compensation. David Voros current spends half his time in Italy managing the International Center for the Arts Italy in Umbria, Monte Castello di Vibio, Italy (ICA / ICArts).

If you are considering a trip, internship, workshop, immersive program, residency program, study abroad, or any other type of work with ICArts Italy or any dealings with David Voros please read and review this site before you do!

✓ In-depth Analysis of

✓ Legal Battles and SCRUTINY

✓ Uncovering the TRUTH

David Voros: Personal Life and Background

Little is available online or known about David Voros’s childhood or early life. Pamela (Pam) Bowers and David Voros ended their relationship on December 5, 2016, and finalized their divorce on September 12, 2017. The breakup was influenced, at least partly, by Voros’s inappropriate sexual relationship with Alex Stasko, a former graduate student of SVAD. Voros admitted that Bowers had ended their romantic involvement when he received the divorce papers. After their separation, Bowers generally disregarded any personal messages from Voros. According to the records, there were numerous email exchanges between Voros and Bowers post-separation, many originating from Voros’s work email. The plaintiff had asked Voros to communicate via personal email for private matters, especially concerning their children. Voros later conceded that it would have been wiser not to use his work email for private communications.

David Voros: Professional Background and Career at USC

David Voros has had a substantial academic career at the University of South Carolina (USC), where he has been involved in teaching various courses in painting, from introductory to advanced levels. Voros has been a faculty member at USC since 2000, starting as an Associate Professor and later becoming a Full Professor (Sam Research).

His academic journey began with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1985, followed by a Master of Fine Arts from Indiana University in 1994, where he focused on painting (Sam Research). Voros’s professional background is also marked by his roles beyond USC, including positions in Italy and involvement in numerous international activities that span research, teaching, and creative endeavors across several countries (Sam Research).

David Voros: Artistic Contributions

Voros’s involvement in the art world primarily centered around his role as an educator, where he mentored emerging artists and imparted advanced skills in painting and studio arts. Unfortunately, his professional website, which would have offered more profound insights into his artistic works, is currently suspended, restricting access to his portfolio and further information about his art-related accomplishments.

David Voros: Allegations of Sexual Misconduct

Voros faced serious accusations that significantly impacted his career and reputation. The allegations include manipulating students under the guise of educational trips to Italy, where he allegedly created environments that were not only professionally inappropriate but also unsafe. His behavior led to multiple legal challenges and a public outcry for his dismissal from USC (Yahoo News – Latest News & Headlines) (Yahoo News – Latest News & Headlines) (FITSNews).

Multiple students and faculty members reported feeling endangered and unsupported by the university’s handling of their complaints, describing the institutional response as dismissive and insufficiently protective of students and staff (FITSNews) (Pacer Times). This has sparked significant activism within the university community, including protests and demands for systemic changes at USC to handle such complaints better and protect its community members (Campus Safety Magazine) (FITSNews).

David Voros: Legal and Institutional Repercussions

The allegations against Voros led to several lawsuits that spotlighted a systemic failure at USC to address sexual harassment adequately. More than 2,200 students have signed a petition saying the University of South Carolina has failed to protect them—and they want art professor David Voros to be fired.

Allison Dunavant accused Voros of deception during a 2016 trip, alleging poor living conditions and forced labor in exchange for food. She also claimed Voros offered to lessen her workload in return for sexual favors, similar to arrangements he had with another student. Despite complaints, USC did not respond. Last year, the university banned Voros from overseas student trips.

On social media, Dunavant expressed dissatisfaction with Voros’s suspension, arguing for his dismissal over safety concerns. USC has yet to respond to these allegations officially.

Additionally, two of Voros’s former colleagues, including his ex-wife Professor Pamela Bowers, have sued him. Bowers accused Voros of harassment and unwanted advances after their separation, leading her to take unpaid leave. Another colleague, Jaime Misenheimer, alleged that Voros harassed her and made inappropriate advances, including a disturbing incident involving confinement in a closet. Despite reporting, USC’s response was minimal, prompting Misenheimer to resign in 2019.

The university’s response—or the lack thereof—has been a focal point of widespread criticism, suggesting a protective stance towards Voros due to his tenure, seemingly at the expense of student and staff safety. One of these lawsuits detailed an instance where a USC officer reportedly minimized a harassment report, focusing on domestic issues rather than addressing professional misconduct.

Information about the lawsuits can be found at these links:

Case Updates in 2024: https://casetext.com/case/voros-v-the-mcclatchy-co
https://casetext.com/case/bowers-v-univ-of-sc
https://casetext.com/case/bowers-v-univ-of-sc-1
https://casetext.com/case/bowers-v-univ-of-sc-2
https://casetext.com/case/bowers-v-univ-of-sc-3
https://casetext.com/case/bowers-v-university-of-south-carolina
https://publicindex.sccourts.org/Richland/PublicIndex/PIImageDisplay.aspx?ctagency=40002&doctype=D&docid=1526400796661-951&HKey=8311911110476491171131056866515311783103121668348535690121120105788512157119886986121855611347811125152

ICArts: The International Center for the Arts (ICA / ICArts) and Related Controversies

Voros has been involved with the International Center for the Arts in Monte Castello di Vibio, Italy. This center is known for offering residencies and workshops that cater to a wide array of artistic disciplines. The center’s mission is to foster creative growth and cultural exchange in the inspiring and historically rich setting of an Italian village. The programs provide artists the space and time to develop their work while engaging with local and international artistic communities (Home | International Center for the Arts).

Contrary to how the center might sound, the International Center for the Arts in Monte Castello di Vibio (ICA / ICArts) is a for-profit LLC owned by David Voros:

https://businessfilings.sc.gov/BusinessFiling/Entity/Profile/c82a5d22-b6d1-4593-979c-bd676607887e
https://businessfilings.sc.gov/BusinessFiling/Entity/Profile/40dd8a8b-07e6-4545-bc41-2d91d7cdff82

David Voros is associated with the International Center for the Arts (ICA / ICArts) in Italy, which has been mentioned in complaints as a site where students allegedly faced risks. The controversies surrounding Voros have cast a shadow over the center, raising questions about the oversight of faculty-led programs abroad and student safety protocols. You will notice ICArts Italy website has been carefully scrubbed of David Voros name, we assume, so people don’t correctly correlate the organization with him. We found only a couple places on the entire site his name appeared.

The International Center for the Arts in Monte Castello di Vibio has also been controversial. Artists and students should be wary when approached by David Voros and ICArts. A former student, Allison Dunavant, told her story of harassment while on a study abroad program there. Allison Dunavant’s ordeal began with a traumatic study abroad trip to Italy in 2016, organized by University of South Carolina (USC) professor David Voros. The trip led to her harassment lawsuit against USC, in which she claimed Voros sexually harassed her and isolated her when she resisted his advances. Dunavant also criticized USC’s dismissive response to her complaints, which prolonged her distress and hindered her academic progress. Despite a settlement, she expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of accountability for those who enabled her harassment. Her story highlights systemic issues within USC and the broader legal framework regarding the handling of harassment complaints.

https://www.fitsnews.com/2020/12/09/former-student-who-sued-usc-system-for-harassment-complaints-revictimizes-the-victims/
https://archive.is/20220904001728/https://www.fitsnews.com/2020/12/09/former-student-who-sued-usc-system-for-harassment-complaints-revictimizes-the-victims/ – No Paywall
https://www.scribd.com/document/379403488/Allison-Dunavant-v-Usc

You can find and support Allison’s work and art here: https://www.allisondunavant.com/

David Voros: Financial Controversies and Institutional Response

Despite the controversies, Voros continued to receive a substantial salary from USC, which was reported to have increased to $91,923 in 2021, approximately $10,000 more than his salary during his previous sabbatical period. This salary adjustment occurred even as he transitioned to teaching online, which drew significant criticism from the university community, particularly as it was juxtaposed against the backdrop of the allegations and the subsequent institutional responses, which many found lacking.

David Voros and ICArts: Future Prospects and Current Standing

As of the latest updates, David Voros is no longer teaching at USC. Still, he continues to draw a salary from the university amid ongoing legal proceedings and investigations into the allegations against him. His case highlights significant challenges within academic institutions in handling misconduct accusations, particularly involving tenured faculty members (Carolina News and Reporter) (Pacer Times).

This situation remains a pivotal example of the complexities involved in managing faculty misconduct in higher education, balancing the rights of the accused with the safety and welfare of students and staff.