San José/Evergreen Community College District: Professor Fired for Protected Classroom Speech

Case Materials

"Complaint filed by June Sheldon against the San José/Evergreen Community College District et al.," July 15, 2008
"Community College Fires Professor for Discussing ‘Nature versus Nurture’ in Classroom," FIRE Press Release, February 22, 2008: A community college in California has fired a professor for leading a brief discussion on the controversial "nature versus nurture" debate regarding sexual orientation during her Human Heredity course. After a student complained that the discussion had been "offensive," the San José/Evergreen Community College District terminated Professor June Sheldon without a proper hearing. She contacted FIRE for help.
"Professor June Sheldon’s Defense Statement," February 12, 2008
"FIRE’s Letter to Former SJCC Board of Trustees President Richard K. Tanaka," February 6, 2008
"Letter of Termination from Vice Chancellor Anita Morris to Professor June Sheldon," December 17, 2007
"Conclusion of SJCC Dean Leandra Martin’s Investigation into Professor June Sheldon," December 6, 2007
"Student Complaint Against SJCC Professor June Sheldon," July 25, 2007

"Weekly Media Round-up: Student Journalists Take the Reins at IUPUI," Peter Bonilla, July 25, 2008
"Lawsuit Filed by Professor Fired by San José City College in Nature/Nurture Case," Adam Kissel, July 21, 2008: The Alliance Defense Fund and Pacific Justice Institute have filed a lawsuit on behalf of June Sheldon, a San José City College biologist who was fired after she briefly discussed aspects of the nature-versus-nurture debate regarding sexual orientation and a student complained. Although Sheldon denied having said the wild things the student had accused her of saying, a weak investigation by her dean (without a proper hearing) led the dean to declare that Sheldon had not been teaching “science,” which led to Sheldon being fired. The lawsuit cites FIRE’s February 8 letter to the San José/Evergreen Community College District and emphasizes the district’s violations of Sheldon’s constitutional rights. Thanks to the ADF and PJI for taking up Sheldon’s case and defending academic freedom.
"Lawsuit Filed by Professor Fired by San José City College in Nature/Nurture Case," Adam Kissel, July 18, 2008

"Professor fired over sexual orientation debate," Joe Murray, The Bulletin, February 27, 2008
"Adjunct dismissal questioned," Scott Jaschik and Doug Lederman, Inside Higher Ed, February 25, 2008
"Teacher fired over sexual orientation talk," Lyanne Melendez, ABC7 KGO San Francisco, February 22, 2008