Fresno City College authorities found that Dr. Brad Lopez, a health instructor, “engaged in conduct that could result in the creation of a hostile learning environment by unreasonably interfering with students’ learning by making insulting comments directed at homosexuals.”

A letter dated March 8, 2010 – addressed to Jacqueline Mahaffey and Jay Matthews, FCC students whose petition started the investigation against the instructor – reported the decision made by the college.

Mahaffey and Matthews filed a petition against Lopez in fall 2009 for creating a hostile atmosphere in the classroom by teaching his personal beliefs as fact and science.

Lopez has maintained throughout that he is protected by the State Center Community College District’s academic freedom policy and that he has done nothing wrong.

Christopher Villa, Vice President of Student Services, wrote in the letter that Lopez violated several rules, including Administrative Rule 3430 which prohibits “insulting comments directed at a group based on sexual orientation;” engaging in indoctrination, as well as the presentation of irrelevant material. “Dr. Lopez further violated District policy by teaching religious material,” Villa also wrote in the letter.

Mahaffey told The Rampage that she was happy that the “college listened and cared about the welfare of students.”

The letter acknowledges that some of Dr. Lopez’s statements in his classes were, indeed, protected under the State Center Community College District’s academic freedom policy. The letter emphasized that “instructors are entitled to interpret personal findings and to communicate their conclusions, even when at variance with those of other persons.”

However, Villa noted in the letter, “Nothing in the district’s academic freedom policy or any other controlling law or policy permits instructors to engage in indoctrination, the presentation of irrelevant subject matter, or the creation of hostile learning environment for students.”

The college will take “appropriate actions to address the violations of policy and regulations,” Villa wrote.

Mahaffey said she was eager to find out how the college will discipline Lopez for the damage he has done and continues to inflict on his students.

Elizabeth Gill, staff attorney of the American Civil Liberties Union, who had challenged the college to act on the complaints filed by the students, told The Rampage she would not relent until FCC satisfactorily resolves this matter.

The Rampage will continue to update this story as more details become available.