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

Case Materials

"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

"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