Anti-Trump Videos Gained This Teacher Unwanted Notoriety. Now She's Named Colleague Of The Year.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — The Orange Coast College professor who gained notoriety last year for calling Donald Trump's election "an act of terrorism" was named Faculty Colleague of the Year but turned down the honor, according to a recent report.

You may remember, Olga Perez Stable Cox is the human sexuality instructor who was videotaped by a student for those Anti-Trump statements on the election last year.

Read: Orange Coast Student Caught Videotaping Professor's Anti-Trump Talk Can Go Back To Class

Orange Coast College freshman, 19-year-old Caleb O'Neil, initially videotaped Cox making critical comments about President Trump in November. In the videos, Cox was seen calling Trump a "white supremacist" and his election victory "an act of terrorism." O'Neil, shared the recording with the Orange Coast College Republicans club, whose president at the time, Joshua Recalde-Martinez, posted it online. Those videos went viral, sparking a suspension for O'Neil for a semester and a summer term. Coast Community College District Board of Trustees rescinded O'Neil's suspension in February.

In March, one month later, Cox's peers nominated her for the Colleague of the Year honor, but still, she turned it down according to the community college's executive director.

"She didn't want the same level of attention and scrutiny," Doug Bennett, Orange Coast's executive director of college advancement, told the newspaper.

The honoree typically speaks at commencement, Bennett said, and Cox did not want that event to be marred by protests or controversy.

Questions still remain in a nationwide debate between those who said Cox had the academic freedom to express her views in a private setting and those who argued that her statements went too far. It also touched off demonstrations at OCC by groups for and against Cox.

Cox was one of four employees honored last Thursday, each in a different category. Although she was not present, Cox was aware of the award and had earlier signed off on the nomination, Bennett said. But the next day, she had a change of heart.

"When she was told all the things that go with the award, she decided to not accept it," Bennett said. He said another recipient will not be selected in her place.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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