Intoxicated prof. arrested
A California State University, Fresno mathematics professor was arrested last week for public intoxication while on campus, a university police official said Thursday. 


Police picked up Robert “Bob” Musselman, 59, at Shaw and Barton avenues last Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 3:30 p.m. following a complaint from a citizen who reported seeing a possibly intoxicated male. According to police reports, officers detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from Musselman.
Musselman, who teaches in the mathematics department and conducts courses for Fresno State’s digital campus, has no previous record with the University Police Department, according to the university’s public information officer, Amy Armstrong. Additionally, Armstrong said that Musselman was cooperative with arresting officers.
Musselman was booked and taken to the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department where he was held in jail for five hours and then later released, Fresno County Deputy Christian Curtice said.
Musselman did not return multiple phone calls at his home from The Collegian seeking comment. Musselman’s office phone is now answered by mathematics faculty member Bill Regonini.
The Collegian inquired with multiple university sources about Musselman’s employment status and his classes. Both the chair of the mathematics department, Stefaan Delcroix, and university spokesperson Shirley Melikian Armbruster refused to comment. Both stated that the university does not discuss personnel matters.
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The Collegian should have been more careful in how this was reported.
Dr. Musselman was not “arrested” for public intoxication. Section 647(f) of the Penal Code was changed many years ago from a criminal arrest to “protective custody”. The professor was detained for his own protection until he was either “sober” or could be released to a relative. Typically, the jail holds people for 4-5 hours and then sends them on their way. The Fresno police has the Rescue Mission handle people detained by them instead of the jail–it’s cheaper and since it’s not really a criminal matter, it can be handled that way. The campus police used to have holding cells, bu too many people excaped.
The Collegian should have been more careful in how this was reported.
Dr. Musselman was not “arrested” for public intoxication. Section 647(f) of the Penal Code was changed many years ago from a criminal arrest to “protective custody”. The professor was detained for his own protection until he was either “sober” or could be released to a relative. Typically, the jail holds people for 4-5 hours and then sends them on their way. The Fresno police has the Rescue Mission handle people detained by them instead of the jail–it’s cheaper and since it’s not really a criminal matter, it can be handled that way. The campus police used to have holding cells, bu too many people excaped.
Oh great here we go another lawsuit coming for deformation of character
Oh great here we go another lawsuit coming for deformation of character
Although your spelling is atrocious Jared, you hit the nail on the head. Most reputable newspapers no longer report public intoxication incidents precisely for that reason: It’s not a criminal matter (it’s been that way for 30 years). Unless it involves a public figure (e.g. a politician)–and even then most media will tread pretty carefully–it’s considered invasion of privacy. By no stretch of the imagination could the professor be considered a public figure under libel law, so I’d say the Collegian is out on a limb if the instructor wanted to take legal action against the paper (and the campus PD).
When I wrote for the Collegian 20 years ago, we did not report public intoxication incidents. The policy was there had to be more to the story, like: professor gets drunk, slams car into tree (drunk driving, which is a criminal matter) before we’d write it.
Although your spelling is atrocious Jared, you hit the nail on the head. Most reputable newspapers no longer report public intoxication incidents precisely for that reason: It’s not a criminal matter (it’s been that way for 30 years). Unless it involves a public figure (e.g. a politician)–and even then most media will tread pretty carefully–it’s considered invasion of privacy. By no stretch of the imagination could the professor be considered a public figure under libel law, so I’d say the Collegian is out on a limb if the instructor wanted to take legal action against the paper (and the campus PD).
When I wrote for the Collegian 20 years ago, we did not report public intoxication incidents. The policy was there had to be more to the story, like: professor gets drunk, slams car into tree (drunk driving, which is a criminal matter) before we’d write it.
Yeah my spelling is horrible, i tend to just type and hit “submit commnet”
Well what you say DW is refreshing. I just wonder what the whole motive was behind the person who wrote the piece on Musselman. The writer should do a bit more investigative research. Please not another lawsuit, please, please, please, our students cant afford the rising costs of education and all the high premiums of insurance rates.
Irresponsible journalism like this is precisely why I left the newspaper business. And written by the Editor-in-Chief? You should be ashamed. The Collegian is looking more and more like a cheap tabloid.
Irresponsible journalism like this is precisely why I left the newspaper business. And written by the Editor-in-Chief? You should be ashamed. The Collegian is looking more and more like a cheap tabloid.
Brian Maxey might have posted libel here—–or is it slander? He should know if he’s enrolled in our great journalist program—–but he also might be target of a lawsuit if the right honorable prof is paying attention. This is very irresponsible of the campus paper. Brian is making the mistake of print first answer questions later. Public intoxication not resulting in violence or attempted violence is NOT an arrest——You’re toast, Mr. Maxey–mmm’kay
Brian Maxey might have posted libel here—–or is it slander? He should know if he’s enrolled in our great journalist program—–but he also might be target of a lawsuit if the right honorable prof is paying attention. This is very irresponsible of the campus paper. Brian is making the mistake of print first answer questions later. Public intoxication not resulting in violence or attempted violence is NOT an arrest——You’re toast, Mr. Maxey–mmm’kay
Karen, Jared and Umi–precisely. Mr. Maxey stuck his foot in it–he thought this to be a sensational story–professor found smelling of alcohol–and ran with it. Given the borderline hysterics on this campus about booze (the great anti-alcohol campaign Dr. Welty champions) sooner or later a story like this was going to happen, considering the amateurs who run the Collegian.
The problems with reporting public intoxication incidents are many-fold. First of all, it’s not a criminal matter–it is “protective custody.” Second, the officer’s decision to detain is entirely subjective–no blood/breath tests are done. It’s purely one cop deciding that an individual has been drinking and can’t take care of himself or others. Lastly, excessive alcohol use by anyone is deemed to be a medical problem. That’s why all but the most backward newspapers stopped reporting these incidents unless they involve public figures (and even then most editors tread carefully) or a clearcut criminal act (e.g. drunk driving) was involved.
Dr, Musselman probably has a case for libel here. He’s not a public figure in the sense of the libel law and he has been defamed by the story. I hope Mr. Maxey publishes a retraction and learns from this that not all titterating (pardon my spelling) stories are newsworthy.
Karen, Jared and Umi–precisely. Mr. Maxey stuck his foot in it–he thought this to be a sensational story–professor found smelling of alcohol–and ran with it. Given the borderline hysterics on this campus about booze (the great anti-alcohol campaign Dr. Welty champions) sooner or later a story like this was going to happen, considering the amateurs who run the Collegian.
The problems with reporting public intoxication incidents are many-fold. First of all, it’s not a criminal matter–it is “protective custody.” Second, the officer’s decision to detain is entirely subjective–no blood/breath tests are done. It’s purely one cop deciding that an individual has been drinking and can’t take care of himself or others. Lastly, excessive alcohol use by anyone is deemed to be a medical problem. That’s why all but the most backward newspapers stopped reporting these incidents unless they involve public figures (and even then most editors tread carefully) or a clearcut criminal act (e.g. drunk driving) was involved.
Dr, Musselman probably has a case for libel here. He’s not a public figure in the sense of the libel law and he has been defamed by the story. I hope Mr. Maxey publishes a retraction and learns from this that not all titterating (pardon my spelling) stories are newsworthy.
THAT’S MY TEACHER!!!!
THAT’S MY TEACHER!!!!
Dear Brian Maxey,
please for the sake of yourself and the students….issue out an apology on the Collegian before we ask, in terms of Mackee Masons term in office with the 1509 “WHY” another lawsuit, please redeem yourself with a simple apology.
Dear Brian Maxey,
please for the sake of yourself and the students….issue out an apology on the Collegian before we ask, in terms of Mackee Masons term in office with the 1509 “WHY” another lawsuit, please redeem yourself with a simple apology.
There is no need. I was a former student of Musselman and this is wrong of the person who wrote this. I have already forwarded the story to him and his email. Hope Mr. Baxley got the facts straight.
There is no need. I was a former student of Musselman and this is wrong of the person who wrote this. I have already forwarded the story to him and his email. Hope Mr. Baxley got the facts straight.
**Correction Mr. Maxey
**Correction Mr. Maxey
Yeah my spelling is horrible, i tend to just type and hit “submit commnet”
Well what you say DW is refreshing. I just wonder what the whole motive was behind the person who wrote the piece on Musselman. The writer should do a bit more investigative research. Please not another lawsuit, please, please, please, our students cant afford the rising costs of education and all the high premiums of insurance rates.