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Professor beaten; attackers cite KU creationism class
Wichita Eagle ^ | December 6, 2005 | Associated Press

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."


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Kansas
KEYWORDS: crevolist; fakehatecrimes; ku; mirecki; paulmirecki
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To: billorites
Does this smell strange to anyone else?

If I were ever caught in a controversy as recently as he had been, the last thing I would do is pull over and get out of my car when being tailed.

Who's going to start booking the bets on whether this was all a setup Dirty Harry style as another "slap in the big fat face" of "fundies"?
61 posted on 12/06/2005 5:10:37 PM PST by Ghost of Philip Marlowe (Liberals are blind. They are the dupes of Leftists who know exactly what they're doing.)
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To: gondramB
"There are people who do bad or stupid things thinking they are serving God so it's possible it's true."

Bad and stupid by some of our standards...maybe.

62 posted on 12/06/2005 5:10:39 PM PST by nanomid
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To: billorites
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.

He left out the hound dogs and the rifle rack and the Bush/Cheney bumper sticker in his stereotype.
63 posted on 12/06/2005 5:14:03 PM PST by festus (The constitution may be flawed but its a whole lot better than what we have now.)
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To: billorites
It was mistaken identity.


64 posted on 12/06/2005 5:14:13 PM PST by Alouette (Learned Mother of Zion)
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To: billorites
He said Mirecki, who is the group's faculty adviser, was adamant that the beating was related to the recently canceled course.

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

65 posted on 12/06/2005 5:14:35 PM PST by DJ MacWoW (If you think you know what's coming next....You don't know Jack.)
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To: billorites

"Andrew Stangl, president of the Society for Open Minded Atheists and Agnostics at the university, described the attack as 'bizarre and terrifying.'"

Bizarre it is, terrifying it is not. This has hoax written all over it.


66 posted on 12/06/2005 5:15:20 PM PST by atomic conspiracy (Islamo-terrorists: Strike force of the MSM)
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To: keat
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.

Hey now. I do/have done all of the above while driving my truck plus I graduated cum laude from college. So don't go sterotyping ;-)

For the record I did not stop and beat the crap out of him with my buddy. And besides nobody saw me do it......
67 posted on 12/06/2005 5:16:18 PM PST by festus (The constitution may be flawed but its a whole lot better than what we have now.)
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To: atomic conspiracy

"Society for Open Minded Atheists"

Some of the most pinched, closed little minds I've ever encountered belonged to athiests.


68 posted on 12/06/2005 5:16:48 PM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: Cold Heat
Keying a car and beating a man senseless are completely different.

For the record the man was not beaten sensless. He started out the beating that way, assuming there even was one.
69 posted on 12/06/2005 5:17:47 PM PST by festus (The constitution may be flawed but its a whole lot better than what we have now.)
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To: taxesareforever

"So it wasn't a big bad SUV?"

"Fundies" are the target here, wouldn't want to deflect any blame to the vehicle.


70 posted on 12/06/2005 5:17:53 PM PST by atomic conspiracy (Islamo-terrorists: Strike force of the MSM)
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To: gcruse
Yeah, LOL!

Never happens on a college campus I suppose....

The red neck story, complete with jeans and a pick up truck is too much. The fact this guys face is not well known and the assault would have been a well planned stalking in broad daylight is almost humorous.

They apparently managed to get him to exit his car voluntarily, yet he does not know who they were...I guess he submits to pickups whenever one approaches from behind.

Apparently this campus has a lot of this sort of BS according to locals posting on a google search I just did.

Looks like they have a little "redneck vs elite" warfare going on that is being stirred up with this prof at the center of it. He sent a e-mail that appeared to have gotten him into some trouble, and so he came up with this nonsense to gin up sympathy and keep the issue from causing repercussions from the Dean.

I seriously doubt anything will ever come of this and the cops likely have no evidence, since the perps were conveniently wearing wool gloves...???(according to the ......."victim"

If I did not have a head ache, I would be laughing....
71 posted on 12/06/2005 5:19:39 PM PST by Cold Heat
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To: Cold Heat

"I guess he submits to pickups whenever one approaches from behind."

LOL. Probably.


72 posted on 12/06/2005 5:21:26 PM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: MplsSteve
There's snow on the ground out there, so the cops will be able to go over the crime scene and collect evidence. SInce a tooth was said to be broken, there will be blood on the ground. That will be in the impressions left in the snow from the scuffle. Tire tracks should also be present, because I'm sure they salted the roads and the temps would have left the dusty salt all over the dry, plowed roadside.

If they alledged attackers waited for the guy to exit his house, they're not going to be so gentle with forcing him off the road. Now when clowns tailgate someone to force them to stop, most folks keep going. They sense immanent attack. The ones that stop are the hardcore and braindead nitwits. Being close to 10oF, nitwits will be very unlikely to stop to get out to talk. They'll speed up and run into town, which I think was close by.

Then there's the wool gloves. Folks that drive trucks and have the inclination to beat folks that pss them off, just don't wear wool gloves. They wear leather. Wool is nice, but it's just not warm enough, it's slippery and it doesn't wear well at all. It's glove liner mat'l. People that intend to deliver a beating would never wear them. They wear leather. It protects their hands. Especially in those temps. Women and yuppies wear wool gloves.

I think it's a hoax.

73 posted on 12/06/2005 5:26:05 PM PST by spunkets
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To: gcruse
It wasn't atheists or liberals who damaged the back of my car because I had a Darwin fish on it.

I have always thought that the "Darwin fish" attempts to boldly make a statement contradictory to creation. Considering evolutionists for the most part implicitly state that the theory of evolution not only does not but can not attempt to answer the question of creation I find it odd that some evolutionists claiming scientific acumen rather than a religious faith in the theory of evolution would sport these as "Darwin fish" on their vehicles as you apparently do...

I have always perceived the "Darwin fish" as just more ridicule of Christianity from the immoral and leftist -maybe I am wrong and you can enlighten me on what the "Darwin fish" means -if it has no scientific basis is it simply a symbol of hate or evolution religion?

74 posted on 12/06/2005 5:32:31 PM PST by DBeers (†)
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To: billorites

So, two redneck hillbillies just happen to know exactly what this guy looks like and the car he drives ?
He knows the exact time he was assaulted, but, can't describe the truck ?
Except it was " big" and scary.
What kind of idiot gets out and confronts rednecks in a pick up truck on a deserted rural road at 6:40 am ?
" One of the men was described as wearing a red, visorlike ball cap and wool gloves."
What's a visorlike baseball cap? Is it a visor or a cap ?
And who would wear a visor in December , in the Midwest ?
And he can't remember if their hats said Chiefs or Joe's Auto Shop ?
And I'm sure the two rednecks were conversant with "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies ."
This whole thing reeks of hoax .


75 posted on 12/06/2005 5:39:06 PM PST by Wild Irish Rogue
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To: DBeers
I have always perceived the "Darwin fish" as just more ridicule of Christianity from the immoral and leftist -maybe I am wrong and you can enlighten me on what the "Darwin fish" means -if it has no scientific basis is it simply a symbol of hate or evolution religion?

You ever think it might be parody? Sort of, you have your opinion, here is my opposing opinion in a humorous manner?

76 posted on 12/06/2005 5:46:16 PM PST by Coyoteman (I love the sound of beta decay in the morning!)
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To: Coyoteman
You ever think it might be parody? Sort of, you have your opinion, here is my opposing opinion in a humorous manner?

Yes -I would not have thought so myself but yes it very well could be humor. I do not see a Christian doing this type of humor -maybe a parody of evolutionists; however, that is just my perception.

77 posted on 12/06/2005 5:53:28 PM PST by DBeers (†)
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To: Shermy
"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.


Depends on which Kansas City you are talking about as there is a Kansas City, Kansas, before one reaches Kansas City, MO., from Lawrence. There is also North Kansas City, MO.

I am at least an hour plus from KU and not familiar with the rural roads around KU.

"IF" it would be any kind of sports fan would more likely be an MU fan vs a KS Jayhawk, but then the 30-40 year old range doesn't fit a college basketball fan at pre 7:00 a.m. on a frigid Monday morning. Whatever took place was before daybreak and it was around 14 degrees.
78 posted on 12/06/2005 5:55:32 PM PST by Just mythoughts
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To: DBeers
You ever think it might be parody? Sort of, you have your opinion, here is my opposing opinion in a humorous manner?

Yes -I would not have thought so myself but yes it very well could be humor. I do not see a Christian doing this type of humor -maybe a parody of evolutionists; however, that is just my perception.

Christians can have a sense of humor too! I have seen the fish symbols eating the fish-with-feet symbols. Perfect response; humor but makes your point.

79 posted on 12/06/2005 5:57:27 PM PST by Coyoteman (I love the sound of beta decay in the morning!)
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To: RegulatorCountry; Irene Adler

R.C. "Clue:

- The Professor

- In front of his bathroom mirror

- With a sockfull of pennies"


I.R. "Well, here's the answer for ya, nobody."


LOL !! Maybe so. I hope he covered his tracks well if he did.

One thing here: "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."

I guess he pulled over on a road nobody else was on. I didn`t read any reports of witnesses. Thats rather telling.


80 posted on 12/06/2005 7:12:31 PM PST by Peace will be here soon ((Liberal definition of looting: "Self-help Humanitarian Aid."))
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