Astronomer Gonzalez goes to Grove City College

_{David L. Hagen

April 19, 2008

Intelligent Design}

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After being denied tenure at ISU after publishing The Privileged Planet, Astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez has formally accepted a position at Grove City College, PA. (Informally announced on April 4 at Biola)
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ISU Intelligent design proponent finds new job
By: William Dillon, 04/18/2008
Guillermo Gonzalez, an assistant professor at Iowa State University who argues for the use of intelligent design in science, has accepted a new position at Grove City College in Pennsylvania.
Gonzalez will continue to work in ISU’s physics and astronomy department through the end of the semester. He is scheduled to begin his new appointment as an associate professor at Grove City College on Aug. 1.

In spring 2007, Gonzalez was denied tenure at every level. He then lost appeals to ISU President Greg Geoffroy and the Iowa Board of Regents.

Gonzalez maintains he met the criteria for promotion to tenure, but his reputation and research was poisoned in 2005 when a petition circulated on the ISU campus denouncing the use of intelligent design in science. Gonzalez has said he believes that action, in effect, predetermined the denial of his tenure.

Geoffroy was adamant his decision to deny tenure was based solely on Gonzalez’s collection of research, teaching and service, and not on intelligent design.

Gonzalez said he had difficulty finding another job. He said he has sent about 15 applications to both large public universities and private colleges around the country.

“I didn’t receive a single invitation for an interview from many of the large public universities, even though I expected to,” he said. “In my opinion, if it hadn’t been for my known (intelligent design) stance, I would have been interviewed.”
See full article

Comments

I cannot help but to feel sorry for Gonzalez for going through this ordeal, given the stressful circumstances. Anyone who does not have a bit of compassion, regardless of what side of the fence you happen to be in, has to be a heartless individual.JPCollado_{April 21, 2008
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Knowing Grove City College, they school will refuse any federal or government funds. However private funding will most definitely be welcome. Hence, Continued funding from organizations like The Discovery Institute will be accepted.SeekAndFind_{April 20, 2008
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Does this mean that private funds will no longer be collected for GG's research?russ_{April 20, 2008
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Not everyone at ISU is hostile to Professor Gonzalez, at least not the students. Read this piece of news from the Ames Tribune : http://www.midiowanews.com/site/tab1.cfm?newsid=19499416&BRD=2700&PAG=461&dept_id=554432&rfi=6 EXCERPT : 'Expelled' film draws applause at ISU By: Gavin Aronsen/Special to The Tribune A line for the 7:10 p.m. premiere showing of "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" at the Varsity II theater on Lincoln Way stretched back five storefronts to the Bali Satay House Friday. The documentary film, narrated by actor and former Nixon speechwriter Ben Stein, explores the relationship between science and religion in academia, juxtaposing images of the Berlin Wall with footage shot for the film to suggest scientific freedom is being stifled by hostile views toward religion. It features interviews with Guillermo Gonzalez, assistant professor in astronomy at Iowa State University, who claims he was denied tenure for his outspoken views on intelligent design, and Hector Avalos, professor of religious studies at ISU, who has been critical of the teaching of intelligent design in science classrooms. Those who made it into the theater before it filled up generally responded positively to the film. They greeted the ending credits with applause and, after Gonzalez wrapped up a brief discussion following the film, treated him with a standing ovation.SeekAndFind_{April 20, 2008
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Good riddance to bad rubbish ( ISU that is ). As I said in a separate thread, ISU's loss is Grove City's gain. Grove City College acquired an observatory from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in February 2008 that will be utilized for astronomy classes as well as faculty and student research. The observatory's telescope will be operated more than 60 miles away remotely from the college's main campus. The purchase of the property, three buildings and equipment inside will pave the way for the addition of an astronomy minor on campus. Through this observatory, the college's physics department plans to work with area public schools as well as other colleges and universities on educational and research projects and draw prospective students who are looking for strong physics programs and astronomy coursework. Some interesting about Grove City College : * It is listed among America's TOP 10 conservative college by the Young America's Foundation. See here for the top 10 list : http://media.yaf.org/latest/2006_2007_top_ten.cfm So, if you're a raging liberal, you'll probably not be happy here. * Grove City College isn't a fly by night school having been in existence since 1876 ( one of the colleges in the country to first allow women to enroll ). It is : 1) Ranked among the top 10 conservative colleges in the country by the Young America's Foundation . Of course there are others too but I am just citing this one as an example. See the link I provided above. 2) Ranked #4 in a Study by the University of Connecticut in terms of Senior Civic Literacy , outclashing such celebrated schools as Cornell, Yale, Stanford and Brown. 3) Is one of the most competitive colleges in the country. Average GPA : 3.85 unweighted, Reading and Math SAT close to 1300 and average ACT : 28 ( higher than ISU's average I might add ). See here : http://www.bestplaces.net/docs/studies/CompetitiveColleges.aspx 4) Barron’s Educational Series has called Grove City College a “Best Buy” in recognition of the College’s quality education and affordable price. 5) Kaplan Publishing’s most recent National Survey of High School Guidance Counselors listed Grove City College as a top school in three areas: schools that are hidden treasures; schools that offer the best value for the tuition dollar; and schools with popular drug-free and alcohol-free activities for students. The survey named 59 institutions from among thousands of schools in the “Best Value” category by weighing their cost against the quality of education. 6) Grove City has been chosen as one of 50 “All-American Colleges” by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute. ISI highly recommends the College as a school with programs tied to the “core values of the American founding and the vibrant intellectual traditions of the West.” 7) According to The Princeton Review, Grove City College is one of the nation’s best value undergraduate institutions. The New York-based education services company features Grove City in the 2007 edition of “America’s Best Value Colleges.” The guide profiles 150 colleges with excellent academics and relatively low costs. It includes 103 public and 47 private colleges in 40 states. The Princeton Review chose the colleges for the book based on data the company obtained from administrators at 646 colleges and from its surveys of students attending them. 8) U.S. News & World Report's "America's Best Colleges" Grove City College is listed among the Best Liberal Arts Colleges in the country ( 5 years in a row ). 9) Princeton Review ranks Grove City College as among the Top 20 in Career/job Placement Services based on satisfaction of students who graduate from the school. See here : http://www.princetonreview.com/college/research/rankings/rankingDetails.asp?CategoryID=1&TopicID=64 Their job fair this year ( according to their Career Placement Office ) has over 200 recruiters coming to the campus for their job fair. 10) To top it all, IT REFUSES ANY FEDERAL AID ( in fact, fought a case in the 1980's all the way to the Supreme Court on this ). Yet, it has one of the lowest tuition fees in the country ( tuition plus board and lodging just under $18,000). 11) Every student who gets accepted is given a free laptop and printer. 12) It has gorgeous, well maintained 150 acre campus with 2,500 students. Gothic architecture abounds. 13) Has an outstanding faculty dedicated to teaching the students that does not have the tenure system. Inspite of this, most of the faculty have been teaching at the school for years. 15) One of the safest colleges in the country with crime non-existent. 16) 90% of Freshmen continue into their Sophomore year and 85% graduate within 5 years. Their pre-law and pre-med schools have a 100% acceptance tate into some of the country's best graduate schools. Dr. Gonzalez will definitely be an asset to the college and will thrive in this atmosphere.SeekAndFind_{April 19, 2008
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Seek and Find initiated this thread with the following post: "I don't know where to post this news but I think this "Expelled" thread would be appropriate. Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez has been offered and apparently has accepted a position to head up the astronomy program at Grove City College in Pennsylvania. See here : http://www.whotv.com/global/story.asp?s=8196390 ISU's loss is Grove City College's gain. For those who don't know Grove City College, it is arguably one of the top Christian colleges in the country. Wikipedia has what I believe a good article ( well sourced and well referenced ) on them. See here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grove_City_College The thing about Grove City College is it is one of the few private colleges that REFUSES to accept Federal money of any kind. Yet, inspite of this, they are able to keep tuition fees down ( including board and lodgings) to less than $18,000 a year. According to Wikipedia, Grove City acquired an observatory from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania in February 2008 that will be utilized for astronomy classes as well as faculty and student research. The observatory's telescope will be operated more than 60 miles away remotely from the college's main campus. The purchase of the property, three buildings and equipment inside will pave the way for the addition of an astronomy minor on campus. Through this observatory, the college's physics department plans to work with area public schools as well as other colleges and universities on educational and research projects and draw prospective students who are looking for strong physics programs and astronomy coursework. Guillermo Gonzalez should thrive in an environment like this where his scientific work and personal views are respected and accepted." ThanksDLH_{April 19, 2008
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