College Must Answer for Mishandling Sexual Misconduct Allegations Against Theatre Professor
by Chris Peterson
There is a difference between protecting education and protecting the institution. When a college chooses the latter, when it values its image over the safety of its students, it becomes part of the harm it was supposed to prevent.
Mesa Community College now finds itself in that exact position. Multiple students and former students have accused drama professor Mace Archer of inappropriate and coercive conduct. The allegations are serious. They span decades, multiple institutions, and now demand more than the college’s standard language about internal investigations.
Allegations That Cannot Be Ignored
Archer joined MCC in 2021 as co-director of theatre. Since then, students say he used his position to create an unsafe environment in the classroom. They allege that he pressured female students, including teenagers, to undress as part of so-called fear exercises. According to reports, these activities were conducted in silence, during required midterms, with no script and no content warning. Some students say they stripped down to lingerie. Others say they were completely nude.
Students also allege that Archer showed pornographic videos in class, simulated sexual acts as part of demonstrations, straddled students during rehearsals, and repeatedly probed for personal trauma under the guise of deepening performance. These behaviors, they say, were normalized in the name of art.
Some students felt they had no choice but to go along with it. Others reported feeling humiliated, manipulated, and unsafe.
The Timeline That Raises Questions
This is not a matter of hearsay. Here is what has been confirmed through reporting:
February 2025: At least one student filed a formal complaint with MCC administrators, alleging a two-year pattern of inappropriate conduct. That complaint led to a vague acknowledgment from the school that it would review course objectives, but no disciplinary action was taken at the time.
March 18 to 20, 2025: Students in Archer’s Acting 2 course participated in a midterm risk assignment. According to multiple accounts, three women removed their clothes as part of the exercise. At least one student performed nude. Attendance was required.
May 30, 2025: After months of inaction, People magazine published a report detailing the allegations. That story prompted a public response from the Maricopa County Community College District. Archer was placed on administrative leave, and the district confirmed that an internal investigation was underway.
June and July 2025: Former students from Archer’s previous teaching roles in New Mexico and Washington State came forward with similar accounts to the Arizona Republic. They described comparable exercises and inappropriate behavior dating back years. These reports suggest a longstanding pattern that extended across state lines and multiple institutions.
This timeline tells a disturbing story. Complaints were raised in February. The most egregious midterm exercises happened in March. The school said nothing until May when the media got involved.
Why Did the School Not Act Sooner?
Mesa Community College had time to step in. They had a warning. Instead, they waited. And while they waited, students were placed in situations they never should have been exposed to.
What did the district do between February and May? What did the administration tell students who came forward? Were instructors warned? Was oversight increased? As of now, we do not know. All we have are generic public statements and promises that appropriate action will follow.
That is not enough.
When young people speak up about misconduct, they deserve more than form letters and silence. They deserve to be believed, protected, and taken seriously the first time.
The Culture That Allows This to Happen
This kind of behavior does not thrive by accident. It thrives in environments where charisma is rewarded, where pushing boundaries is applauded, and where institutions prioritize artistic reputation over basic safety.
Theater programs can be especially vulnerable to this. There is still a lingering myth in arts education that real acting must come from real suffering. That vulnerability must be forced. That comfort zones must be destroyed. It is an excuse that predators use to justify control.
But let us be clear. There is no version of education that requires nudity to pass a midterm. There is no curriculum that demands silence, fear, or shame. Students should never be manipulated into confusing abuse for artistic growth.
What Needs to Happen Now
Mesa Community College and the Maricopa District have a responsibility to act decisively and transparently. That means:
Releasing a detailed timeline of complaints, internal responses, and actions taken
Hiring an independent third-party investigator to review the case and the institution’s policies
Providing support for affected students, including counseling and academic options
Establishing clear, enforceable classroom policies around consent, content, and personal boundaries
Requiring faculty-wide training on trauma-informed teaching and power dynamics
These actions will not undo the harm, but they are necessary steps toward repairing trust.