Dr Adalberto Garcia, chair of the Foreign Languages department, is facing public lewdness charges after he was found engaging in sexual activity at Lucy Park Tuesday morning.
“This is a personnel matter,” MSU president Dr. Jesse Rogers said. “However, Dr. Garcia has been placed on administrative leave pending our full investigation on the matter.”
According to police reports, Garcia was observed by an officer having sex in the park bathroom with a man identified as Harold Jefferson.
Garcia, who became chair in 1999, was released from jail after posting a $1,500 bond.
The Harvard graduate has been teaching at Midwestern for 29 years, earning tenure in 1995.
If he is found guilty, Garcia could be terminated under policy 3.124 of the MSU policies and procedures manual for moral turpitude.
“We will have a plan set so students aren’t impacted by what has happened,” said Dr. Samuel Watson, dean of College of Human and Social Sciences.
lame • May 7, 2012 at 11:56 AM
I am aware of the TRN but this paper represents our University and my comment wasnt directed at the article it was directed at the indiviual (id: really?) who states that the Dr. should not be allowed to return. Im just stating that sure Dr. Garcia was wrong about the location of his acts but I dont think its cause for removal of his position….
junglecrazd1 • May 5, 2012 at 7:20 PM
This article is better written and less judgmental than the one in the Times Record News.
lame • May 3, 2012 at 10:28 AM
People are blowing this out of porportion, I agree with the act shouldnt of been done in a public place, but who gives you the right to say who can and cant work at this institution? Who gave you permission to decide who people make love too? If you dont like it, you dont have to take his class then. I guarantee the only reason that this is even in the paper is because he was having sex with another man. If it was a woman this story wouldnt of even been put in the press. So great job Wichitan and you conservatives, on prooving yet again, yall are unaccepting of indivudals life styles. I cant wait for the day someone blows the whistle on the Wichitan and they get first hand to be judged on the bad ethics that they promote.
Act like you've been here before • May 3, 2012 at 4:05 PM
It isn’t a matter of whether or not being gay is wrong. He did something illegal.
FormerGreekGirl • May 3, 2012 at 5:26 PM
lame, I agree with your view that this story is being sensationalized. However, “The Wichitan” isn’t being HALF as biased as the Times Record News. People on that comment section are saying far worse things than the Wichitan did. Also, Times Record News went on to describe just what KIND of sex Dr. Garcia was engaging in–which, in my opinion, is a form of homophobic discrimination. I don’t think that The Wichitan has done anything wrong; look at Times Record News and you’ll see what I mean!
Michael • May 3, 2012 at 6:43 PM
True that. It’s like the ‘Scarlet Letter’ over at the TRN. All the bigots and homophobes are out for blood. They seriously threw Dr. Garcia to the wolves. I mean, the dude made a mistake, but people are acting like he’s guilty of multiple homicide. It’s straight-up ridiculous. I swear–anything for a dollar.
james hensley • May 2, 2012 at 1:03 PM
I understand it’s a personnel matter, but I see it being more of a personal matter!
Really?! • May 2, 2012 at 9:19 PM
No… this is a personnel matter. Just because it was on your own time doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t affect your job. A man who is directly affiliated with our university should not be creating a bad image for it.
And even if he was allowed to come back (which I would not support), why would he want to?! Knowing that everyone knows about what you did would be awkward as hell.
Christine • May 2, 2012 at 6:36 AM
I’m glad you just said “sex” instead of describing it another way. It doesn’t matter who he had it with, only that he had it in public, and that is the issue.
james hensley • May 2, 2012 at 4:52 AM
personal matter–not personnel matter.