The Recordings¶

Kevin Bass recorded. Texas is a one-party consent state. He asked permission anyway.

"I will actually thank you for asking me for my permission. I know in this state you don't need it, but I appreciate it. I appreciate the transparency."

— David Trotter, Student Conduct Administrator, October 4, 2023

Over September through November 2023, Kevin recorded approximately 25 hours of clinical interactions across pediatrics and family medicine rotations, plus every administrative meeting he attended. The recordings capture roughly 30-40 patient encounters and a dozen meetings with administrators, attorneys, and campus police.

The institution said Kevin "lacks basic social skills," was "incapable of remediating," and posed a threat requiring a BOLO poster and criminal trespass.

The recordings show something different.

What the Institution Claimed¶

The institution's official characterizations of Kevin Bass, drawn from their own documents:

What the Clinical Recordings Show¶

September 27 — The ADHD Follow-Up¶

Kevin's outpatient pediatrics rotation at DeSoto clinic. The patient is an 11-year-old boy with ADHD. His mother describes a child who doubts himself, compares himself unfavorably to his sisters, and says things like "just call me dumb."

Kevin spent an extended portion of the visit speaking directly to the patient:

This is the student the institution described as lacking basic social skills.

Earlier in the same visit, Kevin had taken a thorough ADHD medication history, asked age-appropriate questions about school performance, and recommended both a counselor referral and a psychiatry evaluation for medication optimization — clinical suggestions that were ultimately adopted.

September 27 – October 4 — "You're Doing Great"¶

Across six days of recorded outpatient pediatrics shifts, Kevin saw approximately 20 patients. The transcripts show:

• Proper patient introductions in every encounter ("I am a medical student. A third year medical student.")
• Age-appropriate humor with pediatric patients
• Empathetic validation of parental concerns
• Proactive feedback-seeking after encounters

Dr. DeSoto's end-of-day feedback on October 2: "You're doing great."

On September 29, DeSoto told Kevin: "You are my neuro information" — acknowledging his knowledge exceeded what was typical for a third-year student.

October 9 — The "Axe Murderer" Encounter¶

On Kevin's first night of inpatient pediatrics, he visited a patient's room to do rounding — a standard responsibility for the overnight team. A family member later filed a patient satisfaction complaint describing Kevin as giving off "axe murderer vibes."

The recording of that encounter exists. It shows a warm, thorough 20-minute clinical interaction. Kevin asked about the child's history, discussed the precipitating events, and checked on the EEG results.

The resident team's assessment afterward: "I think you did a good job reassuring them."

The complaint was forwarded to the conduct committee. It became one of the professionalism incidents cited in Kevin's file. (Complaint ¶¶142A)

October 9-11 — Inpatient Nights¶

Three nights of inpatient pediatrics, totaling approximately 10 hours of recording:

• Kevin collaborated naturally with residents, was greeted by name by staff
• On October 11, a senior resident stopped interjecting during Kevin's bedside family update: "I feel like I interject too much, so I think I'm just gonna wait"
• On October 10, a resident said of Kevin's clinical contribution: "I don't think I thought of anything" — meaning Kevin's workup was complete
• Kevin caught wheezes that a resident had missed during a physical exam

The same transcripts show Kevin documenting contradictory evaluation feedback in real time — being told to engage more, then evaluated as "doesn't look anything up by himself." (Complaint ¶142B)

November 1 — Family Medicine¶

Kevin's last recorded clinical day — approximately 5 hours of inpatient family medicine. The recording shows:

• Engaged, compassionate interactions with patients
• Normal collegial interactions with the medical team
• An attending complimented Kevin on his auscultation skills

Two days later, he posted a tweet. Three days later, he was removed from campus.

What the Administrative Recordings Show¶

October 4 — "Why Didn't People Just Tell Me?"¶

Kevin's meeting with David Trotter, the Student Conduct Administrator. Kevin asked permission to record. Trotter appreciated it.

Later in the same meeting, Kevin described what he was experiencing:

And Kevin's characterization of himself:

Trotter's own assessment of whether he had received administrative pressure:

October 13 — "I Don't Think It's Malicious"¶

Kevin met with Dr. Jennifer Wilson, Vice Dean for Medical Education and Pediatrics Clerkship Director, about the Wyatt patient complaint. Wilson reviewed the complaint with Kevin and offered her assessment:

Wilson acknowledged Kevin's strengths:

Kevin's own reflection in the same meeting:

Wilson forwarded the patient complaint to the conduct committee. She is a named defendant in the federal lawsuit. (Complaint ¶142A)

November 4 — The Criminal Trespass¶

The day after the tweet. Kevin had been called to the campus police office. His young daughter was with him.

After the officer left:

Kevin also noted to the officer: "This is the second time I've gotten this physical threat type stuff about me. And the first time, they withdrew it because it was bullshit."

November 9 — The Interim Suspension Appeal¶

Five days after the removal, Kevin appealed via Zoom. He was not represented by his attorney for purposes of argument — his attorney, Robert Hogan, was limited to an advisory role.

The appeal was denied. The emergency removal remained in effect through the hearing and dismissal.

November 16 — "The Tweet Is the Reason"¶

At the consolidated hearing discussion — a pre-hearing conference with attorneys present — Kevin's attorney asked the university's representative whether the tweet was still the basis for the campus exclusion.

The Two Faces¶

The recordings are consistent. Kevin is reflective, articulate, sometimes vulnerable, and always non-threatening. He asked for feedback and tried to act on it. He asked permission to record when the law didn't require it. He apologized to people who felt afraid of him even when he didn't understand why.

The institution's own actors — speaking to Kevin directly — said:

What 25 Hours Prove¶

Across approximately 25 hours of clinical recordings:

• Zero instances of socially abnormal behavior
• Zero threatening statements or actions
• Zero moments that would support "axe murderer vibes" or "lacks basic social skills"
• Multiple examples of clinical competence exceeding third-year expectations
• Consistent warmth, humor, and empathy with pediatric patients and their families
• Consistent professionalism and collaboration with residents and attendings

The institution dismissed Kevin for professionalism deficiencies and a perceived threat. The recordings — made during the exact period the institution was building its case — show a medical student who was good with patients, respected by the clinical team, and begging for simple feedback about what he was doing wrong.

Related Pages¶

• The Paper Trail — The institution's own emails, from "obviously protected speech" to emergency removal
• Building the Case — How the complaints were manufactured
• The Hearing — From emergency removal through the fourteen-hour hearing to dismissal
• The Squeeze: Documents — From $24K tuition balance to collection agency
• Court Filings — Download the complaint and response to motion to dismiss