Iowa State police arrested a lecturer for public intoxication after receiving an anonymous call that he was slurring his words during class at 10:20 a.m., according to Police Chief Michael Newton. 

Gordon Knight, 56, a lecturer in philosophy and religious studies, was arrested and charged with public intoxication second offense just before 11 a.m. Knight also plead guilty to his first offense in November 2016.

“Folks were concerned about his behaviors. In the classroom, he was slurring his speech and was stumbling, so they were concerned about his welfare. So we were asked to do a welfare check on him and found that he was actually intoxicated,” Newton said.

Newton has been at Iowa State for under a year, but said officers at the station could not recall another time Iowa State faculty or staff were arrested during work hours. 

Provost Jonathon Wickert sent out a statement regarding the arrest: 

“We are aware of the incident that occurred this morning with an instructor in a Philosophy and Religious Studies class,” the emailed statement read. “The behavior in question, if confirmed, is highly unprofessional and inappropriate, and does not reflect the high standard of ethical conduct to which all Iowa State faculty should be held.”

“We will be working closely with the Department of Public Safety, as well as the academic department and college, to gather the relevant facts and determine what additional disciplinary actions may be necessary.”

The Provost’s Office was not available to answer any follow up questions as they continue to gather relevant facts and determine what their next steps should be, Rob Schweers, the Provost’s Office’s director of communications, wrote through email.