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Jeffrie Jinian
LEE COUNTY — A Florida Gulf Coast University instructor has been suspended without pay for the remainder of the semester and ordered to attend counseling and sexual harassment training following a harassment investigation.
Jeffrie Jinian, 42, an instructor and internship coordinator in the Department of Justice Studies is not eligible to teach again until the Fall 2009 semester because he is on a nine-month contract.
Jinian also will no longer be the department’s internship coordinator upon his return.
“The University has reached this decision because you have been found to have engaged in repeated unwelcomed and inappropriate behaviors that had a negative effect on students,” FGCU Provost Ronald Toll wrote in a Feb. 20 letter to Jinian and released by the university Monday.
The disciplinary action stems from complaints from multiple students, including those he taught, that Jinian asked them out and made other repeated unwanted advances toward them.
Toll also wrote that Jinian intentionally deleted e-mails related to the investigation and misrepresented his academic credentials to indicate he held a doctoral degree when he doesn’t.
In a telephone interview, Toll called Jinian’s punishment “proportional” based on the investigation’s findings.
“This university has not or will not in the future stand for unprofessional conduct of any employees,” Toll said.
According to the university’s investigation, at least seven students complained about Jinian’s behavior to university faculty or staff. One student reported her concern about Jinian to an individual in the university’s office of counseling and psychological services.
The investigation, completed by Cheryl Seals-Gonzalez, director of FGCU’s Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance, deemed no individual complaint against Jinian was sexual harassment. But the investigation determined Jinian’s behavior “created a hostile environment,” and recommended disciplinary action.
Jinian’s Naples attorney, Eric Vasquez, said Jinian’s behavior was “misinterpreted” and that he was “disappointed” with the university’s decision.
“Mr. Jinian disagrees with the interpretation of the evidence, findings and conclusions of the university,” Vasquez said. “He does not believe he created a hostile environment.”
Vasquez said Jinian is unsure if he’ll appeal the decision.
The Jinian investigation was the last in the string of sexual harassment or gender discrimination complaints active at FGCU, a university spokeswoman said. Since Jan. 2008, the university has paid $4.85 million to settle three gender discrimination lawsuits. FGCU also fired an adjunct German language professor after an internal investigation found he sexually harassed a female graduate student and suspended without pay an associate professor in the Department of Justice studies after the school determined the professor fondled and made inappropriate comments about anatomically correct mannequins during a death investigation class.
That professor, David Lounsbury, has said he would appeal the university’s decision, but has yet to file a grievance, the university spokeswoman said.
Jinian earns $40,177.15 a year. He began working at FGCU in 1998 as a graduate assistant. In 2000, he was appointed as a counselor/advisor in the College of Professional Studies. In 2007, he began in his current position. Jinian had been placed on paid administrative leave pending results of the investigation in October.
Toll said he was pleased to no longer have any active sexual harassment or gender discrimination complaints.
“Hopefully we will not have additional complaints like this,” Toll said. “If there are, they will be investigated.”
Sexual harassment and gender discrimination at FGCU
Since the start of 2008 Florida Gulf Coast University has faced numerous sexual harassment and gender discrimination complaints and lawsuits.
■ Jan. 15, 2008: Johnny McGaha, a professor and former dean of the College of Professional Studies, settles a two-year-old federal gender discrimination lawsuit against the university for up to $650,000. McGaha contended he was demoted and had his salary cut after filing a gender discrimination complaint.
■ Jan. 17, 2008: Gina Ramacci, a former assistant softball coach, files an internal gender discrimination complaint after she was not reappointed as a coach. On April 30, the university found the complaint unsubstantiated.
■ Jan. 18, 2008: Jaye Flood, then-FGCU women’s volleyball coach, files a federal gender discrimination lawsuit contending the university retaliated against her for reporting Title IX gender equity issues in the athletic department. Former women’s golf coach Holly Vaughn later joined Flood’s suit. The case was settled Oct. 14 for $3.4 million.
■ April 17, 2008: Wendy Morris, former university counsel, files a federal gender discrimination lawsuit against the university contending she was retaliated against for advocating Title IX compliance. The case was settled Sept. 25 for $850,000.
■ Oct. 31, 2008: University places Department of Justice Studies associate professor David Lounsbury and instructor Jeffrie Jinian on paid administrative leave after separate sexual harassment complaints. On Jan. 14, 2009, the university suspended Lounsbury without pay for the remainder of this semester after it determined he fondled and made inappropriate comments about anatomically correct mannequins during class. Monday, the university suspended Jinian without pay after it found he made repeated unwanted advances toward students.
■ Nov. 13, 2008: Richard Pegnetter, the university’s business school dean and former interim president, files an internal gender discrimination complaint after the school’s attorney had criticized his handling of the Flood, Vaughn and Morris matters. The university declines to investigate, saying its outside the equity office’s jurisdiction.
■ Dec. 15, 2008: University fires adjunct German language professor Carl Wood after it found he sexually harassed a female graduate student including attempting to French kiss her twice following an all-day outing.
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Comments » 53
okathy writes:
So repeated unwelcome advances he gets paid leave? And only has to take a class .... good thing we do not do the same for the pedophiles...
WTH is this, FIRE HIM and give someone who deserves a job his job!
Does not take a scienctist to figure that one out!
moggy writes:
okathy,
There is another side to this story. Some people will do ANYTHING for a passing grade.
moggy writes:
You would not believe what students and their parents are capable of when a student is failing a class. Threats, bribes etc..
firetjm writes:
this is a regular payton place, lets see can you say sex for grades ?
moggy writes:
Spoiled kids that are too lazy to study makes these instructors targets...
okathy writes:
Moggy, I do not doubt that happens trust me however the adult teacher should know better, it almost seems like they do not care if they get caught because these consequences are not harsh enough, dang if I thought I could make sexual advances with the men here at my job and get paid leave ... heck I'd be touching all of them :-) lol
moggy writes:
okathy, that's freaking funny!!
moggy writes:
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
rfn026 writes:
It just never ends out there. It's almost as if they hire sexual predators to teach at FGCU. The new president was supposed to solve all of this. Sure.
I know of several female professors that could have filed similar cases against the male staff at FGCU.
It's never going to stop until they quit paying off the predators. How much did the last president to just go quietly? Now this one gets a paid vacation after his escapade.
In the words of Willie Nelson. "Bury your whiskey and hide your horses"
Richard
Freshbait writes:
In this case let's not judge too quickly. Students will make up stories if they got a bad grade, I have seen it happen.
coolkraft writes:
seems odd there are so many of the same complaints...something is not right at this school
beetlejuice writes:
So moggy has facts about desperate straigh A coeds in a gay man's office? Do tell us whole story here, cuz it confuses heck outta me.
chap914 writes:
If this guy did something wrong why continue to maintain him as a public employee? With all these sexual student/instructor issues at public colleges why not handle things the old Army way. Have food service put saltpeter in all those discounted, subsidized lunches.
themagic2525 writes:
Do some of you even read the articles it says in the first paragraph that he is on leave without pay.
Lucifer writes:
Political correctness sucks.
roaddawg writes:
This is a crying shame. The sad fact that this scum-ball of a university can go on like this is unbelieveable. They have paid over Five million dollars over the years to to deal with sexual harrassment lawsuits. And this stuff continues. Anyone who has attended F.G.C.U. can attest that its is not the most stellar example of higher learning. And now another poor illegitimate has been dragged through the mudd. I hope that Mr. Jinian will now wise up and find a better place to go now that his career is in the toilet. And hopefully the students as well will have learned a vaulable lesson, which is: use your parents money to buy an education somewhere else!!!
greathornedlizard writes:
Shut the place down! They don't call it Fugg U for nothing..
FaithfulToMyFreedom writes:
I have no doubt that what the students claimed to have happened did, in fact, happen. Several years ago, I heard PLENTY of female students in Jinian's college of feeling uncomfortable around him. He would stare inappropriately left and right. This investigation came at no surprise at all. He is a creep.
Flaget writes:
Careful OKathy (#6). Where I come from that's called prostitution! Don't want to see ya get in trouble. lol
moggy writes:
Beetlejuice are you out there?
moggy writes:
Beetlejuice do you know first hand regarding his status? I think not! NDN shame on you for posting a picture. The investigation deemed no sexual harassment!Geez
beetlejuice writes:
He also graduated from F.G.C.U. and his bogus doctorate would be known if he remained at university to work, and not complete his dissertation at any other university. He's gay BTW. Don't need to be a rocket scientist to know this.
beetlejuice writes:
There are TWO sides to every story. Whenever both sides come out, there should be a movie about this....on comedy central.
48t03c24 writes:
The whole list of events shows a lack of imagination and passion for life at this university. NDN, write with some conviction. The title IX issues should have been addressed in a separate article. The argument over equal rights/treatment in division one sports has little to do with latent adolescent urges among those posing as professors.
CaptKidd writes:
This seems to be the norm at FGCU
Minority writes:
Women are dangerous! They make educated men crumble under there sex appeal.
beetlejuice writes:
Even gay guys can admire a college coed. Jinian is a good guy. He loves working at F.G.C.U. and he's gay.
moggy writes:
Beetlejuice are you a homophobe?
moggy writes:
Someone on this blog loves talking abou the "co-eds". Hmm
sunmonkey writes:
How sad. Students need to be protected from this kind of environment and this decision is clearly a message that sexual harassment is acceptable behavior at FGCU, not to mention his ridiculous misrepresentation of his academic credentials and clear violation of acceptable use policies.
WE NEED NEW LEADERSHIP reflecting what this university could be and should be. The Board should step in. If not the board, the Governor. What the heck does "zero tolerance" mean anyway?
beetlejuice writes:
No homophobe here. Love gay guys and have many gay guy friends. They don't hit on you, and they know how to shop. What more can anyone ask for in a guy friend? Me thinks moggy is a man not comfy with gays in general. No biggy to me.
BlueTonguedVole (Inactive) writes:
How does this guy still have a job? Misrepresenting your academic credentials in an academic system should be an automatic fireable offense alone. Then to make repeated advances against women he taught? Duh, dump this dude.
FGCU has some initials which could be used to come up with other words to describe the atmosphere there considering too many of the faculties' proclivities to play around. Now, there, I am thinking of clean but meaningful words which better describe the outrageous behavior by the instructors. Creative minds only...no nasty thoughts.
;-D
sunmonkey writes:
Oh c'mon...just because someone is gay does not free him or her from being a diddler. Someone needs to investigate Jeff J's genealogy and his penchant for procreating with undergraduates. He very well may enjoy both young men and women. That does not mean he does not use the sexual power of young women to create a very hostile environment for students in what is supposed to be a learning oasis.
If you have any power....make this end. We cannot sustain this kind of crap. GO EAGLES!
beetlejuice writes:
BTV, he never left university after graduation. He never called himself a doctor. He was hired directly after graduation from F.G.C.U. Ya think he woke up one day and said call me Dr. Jinian with his Master's earned directly from F.G.C.U? Jeff was Mr. F.G.C.U. He lives for his job. He's gay and his actions were not in any way hurtful to female students. Have you ever looked at a woman in a way that wasn't clearly at her face alone BTV? Seriously. :-)He's decent in his dedication to students at F.G.C.U.
moggy writes:
Bettlejuice, why cant you just call them friends?
Many gay guy friends? I think someones a little curious! Ha! ha!
BlueTonguedVole (Inactive) writes:
beetlejuice, odd that the charges include misrepresenting academic credentials. So why did the female students make the charges? What else is going on?
You appear to know the fellow.
moggy writes:
BTV,I dont believe BJ knows Mr. Jinian at all.
The real question is what's going on with FGCU?
Does'nt the school have a responsibility to the public to research any aplicants creds?
BlueTonguedVole (Inactive) writes:
moggy, I think the FGCU HR department needs to be checked out. Lots of issues have cropped up and something in the hiring process appears flawed. It is OUR tax dollars supporting this system. What gives FGCU? Shape up.
Ironically, didn't they build without proper permitting the environmental science buildings on environmentally sensitive land? They were fined, I believe by FDEP and or others, too. Now, it seems there is always something keeping this school in the headlines as personnel scandals crop up all too regularly.
Why? Something is really wrong with the way this school is being governed.
Perhaps if they mess up enough, they think they will get a Federal bail out? (just kidding about this but NOT about something being fundamentally wrong.)
moggy writes:
BTV Blank rolls downhill right? It starts at the top!
True writes:
#36
If he is gay, probably the little ladies, so used to get whatever grade they want by showing some body part, must have felt they had no chance with this guy and therefore, everything he did, everything he said was improper and out of place. They had to get rid of him because they need to be at the center of attention and not the guys. It happens all the time, it does not matter what you do or what you say, all it takes is for somebody to accuse you and your life is over! As I always say, it is a good thing that what goes around comes around! What you wish on others will always come back at you, that's great!!!
beetlejuice writes:
Jeff's the type of person who lives for his job. He's the type of person students looked up to. He was a go-to guy. He worked at F.G.C.U for TEN years. He's a grad. He's dedicated, and he's accused of WHAT? OF WHAT? Looking at women? Talking to a female student. He's not Lounsbury. Whatever he's accused of may be dishonest on part of accusers. It'll come out either way.
BTV you are right about HR department, but there's also some accusations which should be brought out more in Jeff's case.
beetlejuice writes:
Jeff treated people kindly, both men and women. Maybe there's something more we're missing....yes....something is off here...very off.
BlueTonguedVole (Inactive) writes:
So you really think there is "karma" that involves some kind of universal justice True? I mean really? As a pragmatist, I don't. This hackneyed concept is unlikely to be true as evidenced by a reality check.
Some people DO out of guilt or other reasons manage to trip themselves up, but many other nasty, miserable or exploitive personalities manage to thrive. Don't believe me? Just visit Washington, DC when congress is in session or Illinois.
(hope I made you smile) I need the good vibes, LMAO.
beetlejuice writes:
LOL BTV....and there's a public record of students complaints sitting at police station at F.G.C.U. as Palin would say YOU BETCHYA.
So where's accusations? Did he wink at someone? Did he smile and hug a female student?
Ten years and now he's creating a hostile environment and by never leaving campus he's is *POOF* a Doctorate? Magically funny.
moggy writes:
Beetlejuice JJ is a straight shooter, Sometimes people of all ages just can't face reality, so they don't like to hear their not getting a passing grade.
beetlejuice writes:
So this innocent man should be accused wrongly moggy? Innocent until proven guilty.
moggy writes:
Right, and he was NOT guilty of sexual harassment! Hello
beetlejuice writes:
Exactly moggy, he's not guilty until proven so in a court of law.
48t03c24 writes:
Innocent until proven guilty. That's the foundation of our justice system and certainly applies here. But something else, a university is a standard setting institution forming the future leaders of our society. Why the #*^$ is this organization already named in and paying out multimillion dollar settlements in so many prurient smelling cases? Seems to me there is no wonder why the past president from Ohio State U withdrew her candidacy for this, ahem......outlet mall school of higher learning.
beetlejuice writes:
She withdrew because she knew she was in a good ole boy southern system, which has nothing to do with Jeff Jinian BTW. She's better off in big "O" in snow.
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