UG Arrest: University of Georgia Professor Arrested in Prostitution Sting

We often follow the trials and travails of academics, but few are quite so bizarre as the recent arrest of University of Georgia professor of German Max Roland Reinhart, 65. Reinhart is facing a prostitution charge after his arrest in drag in an alleged meeting for the purposes of prostitution.

Police allege that Reinhart agreed to 30 minutes of sexual service for $60 at the Guest House Inn in Norcross, Georgia. What is interesting is the second charge of keeping a place of prostitution even though Reinhart only rented a room and did not run the house. Police say that Reinhart had a website advertising escort services under the name Sasha.

Reinhart holds the the A.G. Steer Professorship in Goethe Studies as an expert on German poet and writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. He also teaches German music and literature.

Like many schools, Georgia can proceed with disciplinary measures before a conviction — though it is a preferred practice to wait for a conviction given the accused presumption of innocence. As a tenured professor, discipline normally requires first a vote to strip a professor of tenure and then a vote to fire the professor. Reinhart properly reported his arrest under school rules.

Here is the rule from the Georgia handbook for professors:

Academic Affairs Policy ManualSection 1: Faculty1.13 Suspension and Dismissal
The president of an institution may at any time remove any faculty member or other employee of an institution for cause. Cause shall include willful or intentional violation of the policies of the Board of Regents or the approved statutes of an institution. Further causes or grounds for dismissal are set forth in the tenure regulations of the policies of the Board of Regents and in the approved statutes or bylaws of an institution (BoR Minutes, 1974-75, pp. 304-313; 1982-83, p. 23).

When a faculty member of any USG institution is charged with the violation of a state or federal law, or is indicted for any such offense, a thorough review of the circumstances shall be carried out by the president.

In the event a faculty member is temporarily suspended, the administration shall immediately convene an ad hoc faculty committee or utilize the services of an appropriate existing faculty committee for the purpose of hearing an appeal by the faculty member. The appeal shall be submitted in writing in accordance with procedures to be established by the hearing committee, which shall render its decision within ten (10) days from the conclusion of the hearing. Thereafter, any further appeal by the faculty member shall be in accordance with the procedures set forth in Article VIII of the Bylaws of the Board of Regents (BoR Minutes, 1969-70, p. 394).

Source: Athens