Lap dances in class - MSNewsNow.com - Jackson, MS

Lap dances in class

La Salle University has launched an investigation into a teacher accused of hiring strippers to perform lap dances during a symposium for students.

The professor, known for using "real life applications" in his classes, allegedly used the lap dancers as a teaching tool on business ethics.

"I think it was supposed to be something about the strippers really control the person who's paying for what they're getting versus you're paying and you're in control," said Fran Maxwell, a La Salle student who'd heard about the symposium.

Jack Rappaport, known as "Jack Rap" on campus, is an assistant professor of management who teaches course in statistics, problem solving and operations management.

He held a March 21 symposium in which participants paid $150 to attend. The students who attended also earned credits for their participation. At the conference, three strippers gave lap dances to Rappaport and to students who agreed to it.

The symposium was stopped when School of Business Dean Paul Brazina stepped into the room.

In addition to his teaching duties, Rappaport serves on the university's committee on academic integrity, according to his online profile.

"I try to enrich my teaching by using interesting real life applications such as the use of the horse race betting market in the teaching of statistics," Rappaport writes on his university profile page.

La Salle's Director of Media Relations Jon Caroulis sent NBC News a statement saying the school is "very concerned" about the reported incident and it is launching a "full-scale investigation."

"Until the investigation has been completed, it would be unfair to those involved to disclose any further information, let alone suspicions or allegations," the statement says.