CHULA VISTA – A student-services assistant at Southwestern College has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against three administrators, including a vice president.

Martha Jimenez alleges in a suit filed in San Diego Superior Court last month that she “involuntarily accepted” demands for sex from Arthur Lopez, the director of financial aid. Lopez resigned in June.

According to the lawsuit, Lopez would tell Jimenez during their sexual encounters to remember that her evaluation was coming up and who got Jimenez her job.

Lopez's attorney said Jimenez's accusations against his client aren't true.

Greg Sandoval, vice president of student affairs, is also named in the suit. Jimenez alleges that Sandoval used a picture of her in an evening gown as a screen saver. She also says Sandoval took her to lunch, and asked her to read the message in a fortune cookie and add the words “in bed” at the end of it. Jimenez further alleges that Sandoval, clad in a graduate's robe on his way to a commencement ceremony, asked her if she wanted to be flashed.

Jimenez previously had filed a claim with the college that was rejected. Sandoval said yesterday that the board rejected Jimenez's claim after an internal investigation.

“Now that she's filed a lawsuit, a due process will kick in,” Sandoval said. “I look forward to the outcome of the due process.”

Jimenez also alleges that Fernando Poveda, director of outreach, made sexual comments to her. The lawsuit also accuses Poveda of yelling at Jimenez because he thought she was receiving preferential treatment from Lopez.

Poveda has denied committing any improprieties.

“This is absolutely untrue, and it doesn't make any sense,” he said of the allegations. In fact, Poveda said, it was Jimenez who used the sexual innuendo she accuses him of using.

Poveda said he has been the whistle-blower, not the problem. Poveda said he reported allegations of harassment to the college's human resource department a year ago.

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Chris Moran: (619) 498-6637; chris.moran@uniontrib.com