Ex-professor sues San Jose City College in flap over class discussion on homosexuality

[pepperbear]

http://origin.mercurynews.com/news/ci_9912889

A former San Jose City College biology professor has sued the community college district, claiming she was wrongfully fired for answering a student's question about the relationship between heredity and homosexuality

In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in San Jose, June Sheldon alleges that college officials trampled on academic freedoms and free speech rights by firing her in February. Sheldon is backed in the case by the Arizona-based Alliance Defense Fund, a conservative organization that also has been heavily involved in the legal battles over gay marriage in California and elsewhere.

*snip*

The controversy centers on an incident in June 2007, when Sheldon was asked by a student in a human heredity class about heredity's impact on "homosexual behavior in males and females." Among other references, Sheldon noted a German study demonstrating some link between maternal stress and homosexual behavior in males, according to the lawsuit.

After a student complained, college officials investigated and dismissed Sheldon, an adjunct professor at the school since January 2004. Court papers say the student expressed concern that Sheldon's response was "offensive and unscientific."

*snip*

[xchrom]

1. it was offensive and unscientific.

she and the alliance defence fund don't have to like it -- but it's true.

[dsc]

2. I honestly have some problems with this

Assuming that the study in question actually exists I fail to see why she should be fired for saying it exists. This would be no different than firing her for saying it was heredary.

[pepperbear]

3. It didn't add up to me either. Simply referencing a study as part of as part of an answer is ..

...in and of itself not offensive or unscientific. What if all of the other possibilities she gave were completrely sound? However, I don't think the whole story has been revealed. Those "other references" that were mentioned might be significant.

[keepCAblue]

4. She said a whole lot more than was mentioned in the article...

Here is a pdf file of the student's complaint, which details all that June Sheldon said. I think you'll find, as I did, that her comments went beyond just citing prior studies, but imparted errant, ignorant and blatantly biased information, all of which call into question Ms. Sheldon's competency as both a teacher and a scientific professional.

http://www.thefire.org/pdfs/623e8dec8f5646886946c22b7c0b15fe.pdf?PHPSESSID=b45441b63e3eee366a6e2794b9a3b52f">Read the student's full complaint

[One_Life_To_Give]

5. Prof wear a Burqua?

Never thought I would read anything like that from any woman in this country. But I guess it takes all kinds.

[SacredCow]

6. That's pretty effed up....

If that statement is true, then I think it calls her competency and personal agenda(s) into serious question.