BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) - Officials say a community college professor in Connecticut has been placed on leave after faculty members reported that he gave a Nazi salute during a meeting.

A spokesman for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system tells The Harford Courant that Houstatonic Community College Professor Charles Meyrick has been placed on paid leave, pending the outcome of an investigation.

Faculty members say during a recent meeting led by a CSCU administrator, Meyrick became agitated over efforts to eventually consolidate all 12 community colleges into a single statewide college.

They say Meyrick held his arm in a prolonged Nazi salute and stopped after campus police were called.

Mark Ojakian, president of the CSCU system, said reports of Meyrick's outburst are "appalling and unacceptable."

Meyrick declined to comment when reached at home Saturday.

Information from: Hartford Courant, http://www.courant.com

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