From today’s Chronicle of Higher Education. And just remember, those are our tax dollars with which he is going to indoctrinate our kids and oppose intelligent design. Here’s a novel thought: Let chancellor Hemenway and his colleagues come up with their own support that does not require the government establishing a secular religion based on evolution. Here is his letter:
Dear Colleagues:
Six years ago The Chronicle of Higher Education published a column I
wrote on the evolution controversy. My point of view then, and remarks I
have made publicly many times since, should surprise no one: Evolution
is the central unifying principle of modern biology, and it must be
taught in our high schools, universities, and colleges. On a personal
level, I see no contradiction in being a person of faith who believes in
God and evolution, and I’m sure many others at this university agree.But the attack on evolution continues across America and compels me to
again state the obvious: The University of Kansas is a major public
research university, a scientific community. We are committed to
fact-based research and teaching. As an academic, scientific community,
we must affirm scientific principles.The university’s position is not an attack on anyone. We respect the
right of the individual to his or her beliefs, including faith-based
beliefs about creation. However, creationism and intelligent design are
most appropriately taught in a religion, philosophy, or sociology class,
rather than a science class.I encourage students, faculty, and staff to take the opportunity to see
the “Explore Evolution” exhibit that will open November 1 at the KU
Natural History Museum and Biodiversity Center at Dyche Hall. The
exhibit focuses on seven contemporary research projects that contribute
to our knowledge of evolution in creatures large and small, from a study
of farmer ants to an analysis of the fossils of whales. A grant from the
National Science Foundation funded six museums to create the exhibit. I
applaud our Natural History Museum for partnering in this project along
with the Science Museum of Minnesota and the natural-history museums at
the universities of Michigan, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Texas.The United States cannot accept efforts to undermine the teaching of
science. Our focus should be to raise the level of scientific literacy
among our citizenry because we face a critical shortage of scientists in
the next two decades. As a public research university, we have a special
mission to educate tomorrow’s scientists and to support the science
teachers who will inspire young people to become chemists, geologists,
biologists, and physicists. Let us use the evolution controversy to
intensify our efforts to provide a world-class education to our students
and to support the faculty who engage in the important research and
teaching missions of our schools and universities.Sincerely,
Bob Hemenway
Chancellor