Physics students were shocked when they heard that authorities arrested instructor Kevin Coulombe for allegedly contacting a minor for sex last week.
“Everyone’s just trying to grapple with what’s going on,” said Sophia, a physics junior who requested that her full name not be used due to future privacy concerns.
Coulombe, 38, was also charged with allegedly arranging a meeting with a minor for sex.
He is listed as an instructional support technician for the physics department at Cal Poly, according to the physics department website. In the past, students said he taught Introductory Physics, PHYS 104, and Introduction to the Physics Major, PHYS 100.
He was one of the first faces that incoming physics students see, according to Sophia.
“I called my mom like, ‘Mom, this is like the first guy I met at Cal Poly. I’ve known him for three years,’” Sophia said. “He’s literally, one of the last people you’d think to be like that.”
READ MORE: Cal Poly employee arrested for allegedly contacting a minor for sex
Sophia said Coulombe’s mugshot specifically shocked her.
“This is not what he looks like. This is not how I’ve seen him,” Sophia said. “This is someone I don’t even recognize.”
Everett Van Til, a physics freshman, heard about Coulombe’s arrest from students in PHYS 123, College Physics III.
“It’s a pretty disgusting thing to do, and especially the fact that he had a history as a high school professor is pretty scary,” Van Til said.
Emma Osterink, a biological sciences senior who has taken the entire physics series, feels that instructors should be someone students can trust.
“You look up to them and you go to them for help,” Osterink said. “So that’s definitely shocking to hear.”
Alex Jannone, a physics senior, said he did not know Coulombe, but his group chats were filled with messages on the arrest.
“Everyone’s like ‘What the f—? Oh my gosh. Like, this is crazy,’” Jannone said. “People are pretty amped up about it.”
Coulombe’s arrest also brought online backlash on platforms like YikYak, Reddit and department Discords, according to students.
Coulombe’s page on PolyRatings, a Cal Poly professor rating website, includes several new comments regarding his arrest and charges. He formerly had the highest possible rating, which has since dropped to a 0.8 out of four.