By: Elisabetta Bianchini, Ieva Lucs and Brandon Choghri
A Humber College professor has been released on bail after police arrested him Monday on charges related to child pornography.
Gregory William Dennis, 59, has been charged with two counts of possession, as well as access to and distribution of child pornography. According to Toronto Police, the alias associated with the online material was “Williegeedee.”
The part-time journalism and public relations teacher was well respected at Humber College. Students at the school say they are saddened and shocked, and express concern about their former instructor’s alleged actions.
“He was one of my favorite teachers and I respected him,” Brett McGarry, second year journalism student at Humber College said. “When the news broke, I was filled with disbelief and anger and sadness.”
“It’s shocking information to hear, to go to the school and have him as my professor,” Shaunte Sterling, third year print and journalism student said. “It’s a great program and we don’t want it to be over-shone by a situation with a professor.”
Humber College released a statement Tuesday indicating that Dennis is not currently teaching at the school.
“We are deeply disturbed by the situation,” the statement said. “While the individual is a contract instructor, we have taken the necessary steps to ensure that he will not be teaching at the college while the matter is being investigated.”
Dennis was unable to comment as the matter is before the courts. No aspect of the charges has any connection with his duties at Humber College.
Prof. David MacAlister, director of the School of Criminology at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, B.C., said even though the police have laid charges, there is still a charge review by the crown attorney. This is an assessment to see if the case will move forward or not.
According to MacAlister, the arrest would only take place if there were a strong reason for it in the first place.
“In cases like this police have to have reasonable grounds to believe there has been criminal activity. They would have access to some solid evidence,” said MacAlister.
The last few months have been tumultuous ones for Humber, with an outbreak of the norovirus at the North campus in January, and fears about food safety after a video went viral that seemed to show a cockroach in the school cafeteria. This is another unexpected twist for students to weather.
“It is sad, and it’s why I haven’t told my mom yet,” Sanzana Syed, second year journalism student at Humber said. “It’s been an eventful year for journalists at Humber College. I think a lot of parents who know probably have major concerns for their kids now.”
“This is pretty alarming to us in the journalism newsroom and we just have to see how it goes,” Krystal Mohan, a third year journalism student said.
A contract instructor with the Humber College School of Media Studies and Information Technology, Dennis taught several journalism and public relations courses since 2015. He was also a longtime employee of Global TV.
He is due back in court on April 25.