Students of former assistant professor Robert J. Thaler said they were shocked to discover he had been charged with possession of nine counts of child pornography.
A university statement said, “In late January 2012, SVSU became aware of apparent wrongdoing involving the misuse of a university computer by a faculty member.”
The university began an investigation and contacted the Saginaw Country Prosecutor’s Office.
Thaler has been placed on unpaid suspension since April 2012, remaining in effect pending the outcome of any criminal proceedings. He is banned from being present on campus.
“I’m shocked by the news and saddened by it,” political science senior Anthony Kirk said. “It’s impossible to judge someone based on the way they teach and how they present themselves in class, and there is no way anyone could’ve expected this.”
Kirk took a sociology course with Thaler before his April 2012 suspension.
“In his class, he was very direct and straightforward,” he said. “I learned a lot from him.”
Thaler, a professor at the university since 1974, taught introduction to anthropology, introduction to sociology and sociology of education courses.
Assistant professors at the university earn about $50,000 to $80,000 in annual salaries and wages, according to the university’s website.
In the Fall 2010 edition of Reflections magazine, a university publication, Thaler said he thought he had taught an average of 300 students each year.
According to the publication, many alumni could recall “Professor T’s ‘Tips for College Success'” that includes considerations to “have a sense of personal integrity and standards” and to “be wary of making life-altering mistakes.”
“I still remember the majority of them,” chemistry alumni Tyler Beyett said.
Beyett took Sociology 111 and 112 with Thaler his freshman year.
Beyett said the tips for success were on some of Thaler’s tests as extra credit.
“He was one of the most memorable professors I’ve had,” Beyett said. “I’ve recommended him to friends who took his classes and enjoyed them.”
“I’ve seen a little on Facebook that he was a little bit odd, but a lot of professors are like that,” Beyett said. “He was just so into his field that he developed interesting habits.”
The majority of students who commented about Thaler on Rate My Professor, which is an online rating system of teaching professionals, said his classes were easy and that he was an excellent professor.
In addition to teaching at the university, Thaler served as immediate past president of the Kiwanis of Saginaw, according to information on the Kiwanis of Saginaw website.
A preliminary hearing in Saginaw Country District Court is set for next week.
