Two staff members of the University of the South, the Episcopal Church-related college in Sewanee, Tenn., have been arrested, in unrelated incidents two weeks apart, on charges involving sexual exploitation of minors.

Jeffrey Tassin, a tenured professor of chemistry who has been at the university for 16 years, was stopped at a routine drug checkpoint along Interstate Highway 75 near Cleveland, Tenn., July 12. Local news stories reported that police asked permission to search Prof. Tassin's car after a drug-sniffing dog located marijuana residue. Approximately 200 sexually-explicit pictures of children were discovered. A later search of his home revealed "thousands more pornographic photos of children."

Joe Romano, university public relations director, said the university had immediately moved to seal Prof. Tassin's office and change the locks. He confirmed that Prof. Tassin's computers and disks had been seized. "We were surprised and dismayed, of course. But we are going to do the right thing," Mr. Romano said.

The second incident involved an assistant forester recently hired by the college. Philip Harris was arrested at a Wal-Mart store in Kimball, when an employee recognized him from a security tape dating from a December accusation. At that time, an 8-year-old boy identified him as the man who had accosted him in a restroom.

According to the newspaper, Mr. Harris admitted the incident. Mr. Romano was unable to confirm that report. He said Mr. Harris had been incorrectly identified as an instructor in forestry. "He was signed in July; he hadn't taught yet. He would have this fall."

In each case, the university will conduct its own investigation. "The dean will make recommendations to the president, in Prof. Tassin's case," Mr. Romano said. "The department chair, in Mr. Harris'. Both have been suspended without pay."

Prof. Tassin spent a few days in jail, as bail was originally set at $150,000. Friends and co-workers testified as character witnesses and bail was reduced to $15,000. Robert Campbell, of the Franklin County sheriff's department, said charges had been filed in Bradley County, the location of the roadblock, and the matter was under investigation in Franklin County.

Mr. Harris was released under $25,000 bond. Mr. Campbell said Mr. Harris had been formally charged in Marion County, and that another incident, in another county, had been reported. Mr. Romano said both men had good records with the school. "There was no indication of any problem," he said. "Both were doing good jobs, we've had good reports from students and faculty, even people in the community."

In another incident, a Winchester, Tenn., newspaper reported on July 31 that Alex H. Standefer, managing editor of the Sewanee Review, faces charges of arson. Mr. Standefer allegedly threatened to light the gasoline he had poured through his house, following a quarrel with his wife. He reportedly has entered a treatment facility. Sewanee Review is a quarterly publication affiliated with the university.