Two days before the incident on Jan. 7, Mikhail Molchanov received news that his mother had become paralyzed and left without medical support in Sochi, Russia.
A family member, who spoke on the promise of anonymity, said Molchanov’s daughter had also just been diagnosed with a severe mental disability, including episodes.
Going into that comparative politics class the first week of school, Molchanov was not himself. He was in a very depressed state, according to the family.
“He did not mean any offense to students with mental illnesses, especially because of his daughter’s recent diagnosis,” confirmed a family member.
The political science professor has been removed from teaching for the term after a confrontation with a disabled student in the classroom.
After speaking with family members, the Aquinian was directed to Molchanov’s sister, Vera Molchanova, who lives in Russia with their mother.
Vera Molchanova does not want to excuse the professor’s behaviour but wants to give students some perspective.
“What he said or perceived being said is traumatic to the students, but if we think that if he was in a traumatic situation after his daughter was diagnosed and his mother went from bad to worse with her health – could the students find a morsel of compassion for him too?”
The political science professor used to work in the former Soviet Union. He was investigated by the KGB for speaking out against tyranny, arrested, beaten and more, according to the family.
Molchanov also went to Ukraine and Russia six years ago with his wife to speak about the human rights of disabled students, their right to pursue higher education and having those issues included in postgraduate studies.
Since STU administration’s investigation of the incident, Molchanov has been instructed not to talk to the press.
“This is why he is not defending himself or saying something which will communicate to the student and his classmates, who have been affected and upset, how sorry he is and if they could forgive him, give him a chance to show that he is not as bad as they perceived,” she said.
In comments on news stories and Facebook posts, many students have described Molchanov as an old-school strict professor. Many said they were afraid to approach him. But Anu Thomas thinks otherwise.
After hearing about the recent incident, the St. Thomas alumna wanted to express her support for Molchanov.
“While as an international student at St. Thomas University, I had the pleasure of having Dr. Molchanov as one of my professors. I have found Dr. Molchanov to not only appreciate, but welcome different backgrounds,” said Thomas.
Thomas said she also worked as a note-taker for students with special needs in Molchanov’s class.
“I remember him as having been very considerate and understanding of the dynamics involved in helping students with special needs,” said the 2011 graduate.
Molchanov’s sister also wanted to support him by telling his story.
“Molchanov has been affected by these awful stories that make him seem like such a villain – I want to help him. I’m concerned the students will hold a grudge,” she said.
“I am begging students to…understand that professors are humans too and something at their backgrounds and mental conditions could bring them to such reactions as have happened…Again he is sorry and asks students’ forgiveness.”
