SLU Biology Professor Arrested
Students and Faculty React
New York State Police arrested Dr. Alexander Schreiber of Potsdam on Thursday, Nov. 13. Scheiber was a Professor of Biology at St. Lawrence University. According to Channel 7 News, Schreiber was charged with one count each of promoting an obscene sexual performance by a child, possessing an obscene sexual performance by a child, and possessing a sexual performance by a child. He was arraigned in the Potsdam Town Court and held in the St. Lawrence County Jail on a $10 thousand bail.
Vice President of Student Life Jon Duraj sent a campus-wide email in response to the announcement. He said that Schreiber “was immediately suspended, banned from campus, and barred from any contact with members of the St. Lawrence community.” He also said, “The University will cooperate with law enforcement and will take additional action as warranted.”
The Thelomathesian Executive Board later sent a statement of its own. “Thelmo is aware of the situation and is in communication with University leadership to ensure that students’ questions and concerns are heard,” the email read. Thelmo emphasized its priority of student safety and well-being, and encouraged “everyone not to speculate or spread unconfirmed information.”
Many SLU students were quick to take to social media, primarily YikYak and Instagram, to express their grievances and concerns. “I think it’s a very tricky situation right now and some of the things people were saying on YikYak I doubt they would ever say in person,” one anonymous student said. “If he actually did any of those things, then I would just be in disgust.”
An anonymous former student of Dr. Schreiber said, “I never would expect this from him. He’s always been an intelligent professor, and knowing how he is as a professor, I just can’t believe something like this. I was in shock when I found out. Campus has been very tense.”
Dr. Jennifer Hansen is a Professor of Philosophy at SLU. She and Schreiber were married, and they have a daughter together. In a statement to The Hill News, she said, “Due process requires that we treat the presumption of innocence seriously; absent a conviction, the admiration many of us have for Dr. Schreiber’s deep humanity and moral character–drawn from decades of personal interaction–should not be dismissed or second-guessed. Allegations are not proof.”
The investigation is ongoing. The Hill News will update this story as more information becomes available.