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Korte’s film classes still offered after his arrest

Students react to charges against professor for child pornography possession

<p>Korte is currently being&nbsp;held in the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional&nbsp;Jail without bond.&nbsp;</p>

Korte is currently being held in the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail without bond. 

Students are expressing shock and disbelief following news that Associate Prof. Walter Francis Korte Jr. was charged with two counts of possession of child pornography earlier this month.

Currently held at the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail without bond, the 72-year-old professor is on administrative leave, University Spokesperson Anthony de Bruyn said.

“The University is working to minimize any disruption that will result from this situation until it is resolved,” de Bruyn said in an email statement.

The University Police Department charged and arrested Korte Aug. 2 following an investigation that began July 29 and included searches at his Albemarle County residence and University office.

Prof. Korte was supposed to teach “Cinema as an Art Form,” “Film Aesthetics,” and “History of Film” for the fall 2016 semester, according to Course Forum.

“Cinema as an Art Form” and “Film Aesthetics” are now being taught by Drama Dept. Prof. Matthew Marshall. The class “History of Film” is not currently listed on Student Information Services.

Second-year Engineering student Ethan Trinh took “Cinema as an Art Form” as an elective class with Korte this past spring. Trinh expressed disbelief at the news.

“I mean I was just shocked because I enjoyed his class,” Trinh said. “I didn’t think he would be that kind of person.”

Third-year College student Lucia Tian was looking forward to taking “Cinema as an Art Form” with Korte this semester before his arrest.

“[I] in fact emailed him about class signups several days before his arrest,” Tian said in an email.

Tian had heard about the class from positive reviews.

“I’m glad they didn’t cancel the course, because it was on my list of classes to take before graduation,” Tian said. “You never expect these things from people you know, or almost know.”

Hannah Mussi, a third-year College student, took “Cinema as an Art Form” the second semester of her first year.

“I thought he was great. I really respected him, really admired him. He was so passionate about film, and he taught our whole class so much that you can’t learn by yourself,” Mussi said.

Mussi mentioned how much Korte enjoyed teaching the class and that his dedication was apparent.

“I took the class on a whim, but everyone I talked to who needed course recommendations, I always recommended this class,” Mussi said.

Mussi said her mother showed her an article concerning Korte’s arrest published earlier in August.

“I was so devastated,” Mussi said. “I was trying to see if there was any way this could have been a misunderstanding, and it was really shocking and just not what I expected at all.”

Korte’s trial will be at the Albemarle Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court Sept. 26 at 11 a.m.

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