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Contact: Brad Dacus, President, Pacific Justice Institute, 916-857-6900
SAN JOSE, Calif., July 23 /Standard Newswire/ -- A former professor at San Jose City College has received a favorable settlement of a federal lawsuit against the school. The former professor, June Sheldon, was represented by attorneys for Pacific Justice Institute as co-counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund Center for Academic Freedom.
Professor Sheldon was terminated in 2008 for statements the College deemed to be politically incorrect. While Sheldon was teaching a Human Heredity course, a student asked how heredity affects homosexuality in males and females. Professor Sheldon responded that this was a complex issue but referred to both the textbook and a noted German scientist who found a correlation between maternal stress during pregnancy and later homosexual behavior in males. Professor Sheldon referenced the findings as one of many theories on the subject, noting that genes and environmental factors would also be discussed later in the textbook. Another student, upset by Sheldon's approach to the subject, filed a complaint with the College calling her comments "offensive and unscientific." The College launched an investigation and terminated Sheldon, ignoring its policies guaranteeing academic freedom.
Following a two-year legal battle, the College agreed to give Sheldon $100,000 and remove any disciplinary action concerning the incident from her personnel file.
Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, commented, "The actions of San Jose City College in firing Professor Sheldon were both outrageous and illegal. This case is an alarming, all-too-real illustration of the insidious efforts underway on many college campuses to stifle alternative viewpoints. We are pleased that in this case our partnership with our friends at ADF in defense of academic freedom produced a winning result."
About The Pacific Justice Institute: Pacific Justice Institute is a non-profit 501(c)(3) legal defense organization specializing in the defense of religious freedom, parental rights, and other civil liberties. Pacific Justice Institute works diligently, without charge, to provide their clients with all the legal support they need. Pacific Justice Institute's strategy is to coordinate and oversee large numbers of concurrent court actions through a network of over 1,000 affiliate attorneys nationwide. And, according to former US Attorney General Edwin Meese, "The Institute fills a critical need for those whose civil liberties are threatened." "Through our dedicated attorneys and supporters, we defend the rights of countless individuals, families and churches... without charge."
