Standing in front of Professor Gerald Goldhaber's political communications class Thursday, Dean of Informatics David Penniman said the class would continue without Goldhaber and that a decision will be made soon regarding the popular professor, who was arrested with two students Jan. 8 on drug charges in the Cayman Islands.
With Penniman was George Barnett, the chairman of the communication department, who told the class Goldhaber was "like a brother," but declined to comment further on the professor's status.
"I cannot talk about personnel decisions," said Penniman.
Whether UB decides to discipline Goldhaber, he said, would be up to President John Simpson.
Although the class will continue - possibly with Barnett as the new teacher - Goldhaber has chosen to step aside and stay out of the public eye for a while.
"I chose to take a short leave," Goldhaber said, in an interview with The Spectrum Friday. "And I'm sure you can understand why."
Goldhaber said he would "like a little time to reflect and just to be at peace for a while." He said he intends to be back at UB next fall at the latest.
In the meantime, Goldhaber said he would help Barnett behind the scenes if necessary in order to make sure the class runs smoothly.
The most important thing is that the students don't get the short end of the stick and that they continue to receive the high level of education they deserve, he said.
Some students who took the class because Goldhaber was teaching it, however, are now having second thoughts about the class without him, no matter how smoothly it runs.
"I took the class pretty much because he was teaching it and I'm a little disappointed because he's not," said Kellie Jackson, a senior communication major who has had Goldhaber as a professor in the past. "But on the other hand, I can understand why he's not."
Because she plans to graduate in the spring, Jackson decided to keep the class for its credits. But according to Penniman and Barnett, if Jackson or any other student had decided to drop the class because of Goldhaber, they would be allowed to do so without penalty.
Goldhaber said Barnett is "totally" qualified to teach the COM450 class and that the class is well structured enough for any new teacher to step in easily.
Still, several students are bracing for a bumpy transition.
"Obviously it's going to be a pretty major change," said Josh Colson, a freshman English major in the class, who said he is willing to be patient with the adjustment to a different teaching style. "I'm not going to just drop out of the class because Professor Goldhaber isn't there anymore, and I'm going to give the new professor a chance."
When told that a number of his students wanted to drop the class if he was not teaching it, Goldhaber said he appreciates their conviction.
"I have gratitude that the students have such faith in me, and I hope to regain to regain that faith and for them to be comfortable in taking my classes in the future," he said.
