Posted on Thu, Dec. 01, 2005

KU cancels intelligent design class

> <b><font size="-1"><span class="creditline">Associated Press<span>
> <img height="1" alt="" src="http:/www.kansas.com/images/common/spacer.gif" width="1"/>

TOPEKA - A University of Kansas class on creationism and intelligent design that had been scheduled for the spring has been canceled and a professor who sent e-mails deriding Christian conservatives won't teach it if it's offered again, the university said today.

Provost David Shulenburger granted professor Paul Mirecki's request to withdraw the class, originally called "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies."

One recent e-mail from Mirecki sent to members of a student organization referred to religious conservatives as "fundies" and said a course describing intelligent design as mythology would be a "nice slap in their big fat face." Mirecki has apologized for those comments.

Mirecki made the request to cancel his class late Wednesday after talking with faculty and university administrators, the university said.

It was not clear if or when the course, which already had 32 students enrolled, might be taught. But Chancellor Robert Hemenway told the Associated Press the course should be taught somewhere on campus.

Hemenway said Mirecki's comments were "repugnant and vile."

"It's extremely unfortunate. It misrepresents everything the university is to stand for," Hemenway said.

The chancellor said the university and Board of Regents have strict policies regarding faculty conduct in the classroom, and while Mirecki was speaking as a private person, his comments were linked to a course he intended to teach.

"You shouldn't be teaching a course with some sort of personal agenda," Hemenway said.

Mirecki, chairman of the Religious Studies Department, also renewed his apology today.

"I made a mistake in not leading by example, in this student organization e-mail forum, the importance of discussing differing viewpoints in a civil and respectful manner," Mirecki said in a statement released by the university.

The class was added to the spring curriculum after the Kansas Board of Education decided to include more criticism of evolution in science standards for elementary and secondary students.

Sen. Kay O'Connor, a Mirecki critic, said the university did the right thing.

"I'm glad they decided to listen to the public. The public response was so negative because of what seemed to be so hateful coming from the KU professor," said O'Connor, R-Olathe. "I am critical of his hatefulness toward Christians."

O'Connor said she doesn't plan to pursue the matter after the Legislature convenes Jan. 9, but added, "It is highly questionable why we are using tax dollars to fund a professor who is promoting hatred of Christians."

Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt called the decision "good news."

"It shows the university recognized there is a serious problem and it required a serious response," said Schmidt, R-Independence. "The university did the right thing."

Another critic, Rep. Brenda Landwehr, R-Wichita, still has questions for Hemenway and wants him to appear before the House Appropriations Committee.

Hemenway said it was appropriate for legislators to have questions and for the university to answer them.

"We are a public university and have a public responsibility," he said.

The chancellor said the controversy has been the topic of numerous student and faculty organizations. He said he didn't know if there would be other actions taken against Mirecki.

"What is fair to say is that people have taken great objection with the content of the e-mails. That's what people are talking about," Hemenway said.

The e-mails were sent to members of the Society of Open-Minded Atheists and Agnostics, a student organization for which he serves as faculty adviser.

"The fundies want it all taught in a science class, but this will be a nice slap in their big fat face by teaching it as a religious studies class under the category mythology," Mirecki said in a message sent Nov. 19.

Andrew Stangl, a president of the group, said he had taken courses from Mirecki and found him tolerant of all viewpoints.

"I can't remember a time when he wasn't professional and clearly respectful of everyone in the room," said Stangl, a junior from Wichita. "He lets students analyze the information however they want."

Mirecki also sent other e-mails with comments regarding Roman Catholics and other Christian denominations.

Mirecki joined the university in 1989 and is an expert in ancient Mediterranean cultures, languages and religions. In 1991, he and a colleague found a fifth century manuscript in a Berlin museum and verified it as an authentic early account of the teachings of Jesus.