Posted on 12/06/2005 3:01:46 PM PST by billorites
A professor whose planned course on creationism and intelligent design was canceled after he sent e-mails deriding Christian conservatives was hospitalized Monday after what appeared to be a roadside beating.
University of Kansas religious studies professor Paul Mirecki said that the two men who beat him made references to the class that was to be offered for the first time this spring.
Originally called "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies," the course was canceled last week at Mirecki's request.
The class was added after the Kansas State Board of Education decided to include more criticism of evolution in science standards for elementary and secondary students.
"I didn't know them," Mirecki said of his assailants, "but I'm sure they knew me."
One recent e-mail from Mirecki 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.
Lt. Kari Wempe, a spokeswoman for the Douglas County Sheriff's Department, said a deputy was dispatched to Lawrence Memorial Hospital after receiving a call around 7 a.m. regarding a battery.
She said Mirecki reported he was attacked around 6:40 a.m. in rural Douglas County south of Lawrence. Mirecki told the Lawrence Journal-World that he was driving to breakfast when he noticed the men tailgating him in a pickup truck.
"I just pulled over hoping they would pass, and then they pulled up real close behind," he said. "They got out, and I made the mistake of getting out."
He said the men beat him on the head, shoulders and back with their fists, and possibly a metal object.
Wempe said Mirecki drove himself to the hospital after the attack.
Mirecki told the student newspaper, the University Daily Kansan, that he spent between three and four hours at the hospital. He said his injuries included a broken tooth.
"I'm mostly shaken up, and I got some bruises and sore spots," he told the Lawrence Journal-World.
Wempe said Mirecki described the suspects as two white men between 30 and 40 years of age. One of the men was described as wearing a red, visorlike ball cap and wool gloves. Mirecki said the men left in a large pickup.
Wempe said the department would investigate "every aspect," but couldn't discuss specifics.
Andrew Stangl, president of the Society for Open Minded Atheists and Agnostics at the university, described the attack as "bizarre and terrifying." He said Mirecki, who is the group's faculty adviser, was adamant that the beating was related to the recently canceled course.
"That absolutely shocked me," he said, "because people don't do that in a civilized society."
State Sen. Kay O'Connor, a Mirecki critic, said there is no excuse for someone physically assaulting the professor -- regardless of their politics.
"I have zero tolerance for thugs," she said. "There is never an excuse to behave in such a manner. This was just thugs. They used a flimsy excuse, if they had one, to behave as thugs. They can talk about the ID (intelligent design) course if they want to, but that's not an excuse."
Bad behavior. Period.
BTTT
I know that people get uptight (and/or stupid) about a lot of things - but I find it really hard to believe that two guys would beat up a useless professor over an issue like this.
This sounds odd. I hate to suggest that this professor faked the attack - but it does make me wonder...
Anyone?
I smell an "awareness raising." This is staged, completely bogus.
Unfortunately, since the previous who-knows-how-many cases of "hate crimes" etc. were all staged, I'm hesitant to believe his story at this time.
"Mirecki described the suspects as two white men between 30 and 40 years of age. One of the men was described as wearing a red, visorlike ball cap and wool gloves. Mirecki said the men left in a large pickup."
Well, well, well ... isn't this interesting. It hits all the right "smear" buttons, but is nice and vague. Easy to remember, too. I'm surprised that he managed to resist adding in a Christian fish symbol on the tailgate of this supposed "large truck."
The description has RED STATER written all over it. This sounds like Bravo Sierra to me.
My first thought too.
This story was posted yesterday and the votes are in - 488 billion votes say this is a fake by the "perfesser".
WoW on his way to breakfast at 6ish in the morning in the freezing cold, and a couple of guys in their "pickup truck"(which seems conveniently redneck sounding) tailgate him and then pull over and get out, so he gets out?
This is a freakin joke this guy is making this up because he looks like a moron for his comments he made and the stupidity of his class he was going to try and offer(only out of spite for religious people who we all know are rednecks).
I hope they catch this guy lying and prosecute him, make him loose his job and go somewhere else.
Stupid thing to do if it is true.
Maybe he was against beating himself up before he was for it.
Could be a road rage incident unrelated to his politics. Maybe he cut them off.
But the idea he'd get out of his car is a little hard to believe.
How close to Kansas City is Larence? Could be Chiefs fans, if the story is real.
I am surprised he didn't say they had a confederate flag sticker somewhere.
He's lying. I'm 100% sure he's lying. Some liberal bi-atch at Claremont College pulled a similar stunt last year only she beat up her own car and claimed she was attacked.
I believe this jerk was driving his Volvo wagon at 35 in a 55 zone, got tailgated and flipped off the wrong people.
I'm sure the guys who kicked the crap out of him were in an old pickup with flannel jackets, snow boots and hats with ear flaps. Not exactly college material.
I'm thinking of the guys in Christmas Vacation that drove Clark Griswold under the logging truck.
I'd have to bet with you on that.
Something doesn't smell right about this.
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