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Intelligent Design Scientist Denied Tenure at Iowa State (what you can do to help!)
Me | May 16, 2005 | Me

Posted on 05/16/2007 11:02:33 AM PDT by GodGunsGuts

I found the following form letter on a website, copied and pasted it, and sent it to the president of Iowa State University. The emailed me back (probably with a form letter). But the point is, they are responding (and therefore keeping track)!!! Below is the letter I sent and their response. See reply #2 for a link for background info. on Dr. Gonzalez--GGG

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To: geoffroy@iastate.edu Subject: Guillermo Gonzalez Tenure Ruling

President Gregory L. Geoffroy,

I am disappointed at the University's denial of Guillermo Gonzalez tenure application. Despite the fact that Dr. Gonzalez has 68 peer-reviewed publications, he seems to be denied tenure on the basis of viewpoint discrimination. Although the University's mission statement says, "In carrying out its mission, Iowa State will increase and support diversity in the University community. Diversity enlivens the exchange of ideas, broadens scholarship, and prepares students for lifelong, productive participation in society.", it seems that this diversity does not apply to those who promote intelligent design theory.

Please do the right thing and approve Guillermo Gonzalez tenure application.

Sincerely,

----------------------------------------------

Thank you for writing to President Geoffroy about the matter involving Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez. Pres. Geoffroy has asked me to respond on his behalf because he is in the process of considering Dr. Gonzalez's appeal of the tenure decision, and it is not appropriate to comment until the appeal decision is finalized. For your information, I have outlined below the facts related to this matter.

Like most research universities, Iowa State has an extensive process of evaluating faculty for tenure. The procedure is prescribed in the Faculty Handbook (http://www.provost.iastate.edu/faculty/handbook/faculty_handbook/) and in the college and department organizational documents. The evaluation is based on the candidate's record of teaching, service and scholarly research during the time of the candidate's appointment at Iowa State, using standards and expectations set by the candidate's tenured faculty colleagues in his/her academic department. The review begins in the candidate's academic department, where a recommendation on tenure and promotion is generated by a vote of the tenured faculty. The process includes consideration of recommendations of reputable persons in the same area of study, but who are not at Iowa State. That is progressively followed by reviews by the department chair, a college-level committee, the dean of the college, and the executive vice president and provost, all of whom generate recommendations for the next level of review. The candidate's dossier and all of the recommendations are then presented to the university president, who makes a final decision. In the case of a final negative decision, the candidate has the right of appeal, using a process that is prescribed in the Faculty Handbook.

The tenure decision is one of the most important decisions that a university makes, because it means a lifetime appointment for the individual being considered, and before granting tenure, faculty and university leaders must be convinced of the candidate's promise of excellence in his/her academic discipline that will last for the duration of his/her academic career. It is a very high standard of excellence and achievement, and there are many good researchers, and good people, who fail to satisfy the demands of earning tenure.

As an assistant professor of physics and astronomy, Dr. Gonzalez was evaluated for tenure and promotion to associate professor by the tenured faculty in the Department of Physics and Astronomy. That evaluation was based on an assessment of the excellence of his teaching, service, scholarly research publications and research funding in astronomy, using standards and expectations set by the faculty in the department. The consensus of the tenured department faculty, the department chair, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the executive vice president and provost was that tenure should not be granted. On the basis of those recommendations against granting tenure and promotion at every prior level of review and the president's own review of the record, President Geoffroy notified Dr. Gonzalez in April that he would not be granted tenure and promotion to associate professor.

On May 9, Dr. Gonzalez, following university procedure, submitted to the president an appeal of the final tenure decision, and that appeal is now being considered with a decision expected to be rendered by June 6, 2007.

For more information regarding this tenure case, please follow this link: http://www.iastate.edu/~nscentral/news/2007/may/tenureFAQ.shtml


TOPICS: Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: churchofdarwin; creationism; creationisminadress; darwinism; evolution; guillermogonzalez; idaffirmativeaction; idjunkscience; intelligentdesign; materialism; teachsciencenotjunk; witchhunt
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To: Cicero

Your letter will get pitched because you called it the University of Iowa.


21 posted on 05/16/2007 12:24:05 PM PDT by AmishDude (It doesn't matter whom you vote for. It matters who takes office.)
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To: Cicero

Despite the Harvard credentials, your letter would have had much greater impact if you had not called out the wrong school. As an Iowa State grad, I can tell you that there are few greater sins than calling our fine institution “the University of Iowa”.

This is on par with meeting George Bush and addressing him as Michael Moore.


22 posted on 05/16/2007 12:26:05 PM PDT by Dr._Joseph_Warren
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To: Dr._Joseph_Warren

I assume you think they are denying Gonzalez tenure because his 68 peer-reviewed publications in highly reputable journals, all in the fields of astronomy and astrophysics,

are not good enough by their standards.

Or maybe because he did not support the school foorball team enthusiastically enough?


23 posted on 05/16/2007 12:31:05 PM PDT by holfen123
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To: Cicero

Ditto...excellent letter. Thanks a bunch!


24 posted on 05/16/2007 12:38:02 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
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To: GodGunsGuts
Intelligent Design Scientist Denied Tenure at Iowa State (what you can do to help!)

Why should I want to help - Intelligent design isn't science - it's religion, and if you believe then fine - religion is a good thing, but don't call it science.

25 posted on 05/16/2007 12:39:50 PM PDT by from occupied ga (Your most dangerous enemy is your own government)
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To: from occupied ga

==Why should I want to help - Intelligent design isn’t science - it’s religion, and if you believe then fine - religion is a good thing, but don’t call it science.

Then the same standard should apply to the Church of Darwin. Let’s deny the tenure and/or fire the Darwinist priesthood who currently exercise (on behalf of the Church of Darwin) an unscientific/religous stranglehold on the ideology of science. If you’re willing to apply the same standard across the board, then I’m game.


26 posted on 05/16/2007 1:00:47 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
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To: Dr._Joseph_Warren

Uhoh. That was dumb, after working over everything else.

Sheesh.

NOTICE TO ANYONE ELSE WHO WRITES—I GOT THE UNIVERSITY WRONG!


27 posted on 05/16/2007 1:03:37 PM PDT by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: holfen123

I admit that I don’t know anything other than what is in this thread about this particular case......and posted the “if” because “if” he’s teaching I.D. in an astro-physics setting....it would be backable grounds for denying tenure.

Nothing more....

However, if you think I know nothing of “this subject” then you’re just plain ole probably misinformed by a disconnect between my brain, my words, and your brain. I know plenty on “this subject” but I’d be willing to bet you wouldn’t wanna hear it.....as I am a biologist with quite a few peer-reviewed research publications....some involving evolution pertaining to diseases.

You get the drift...


28 posted on 05/16/2007 1:06:06 PM PDT by ElectricStrawberry (27th Infantry Regiment....cut in half during the Clinton years......WOLFHOUNDS!!!!)
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To: GodGunsGuts
Let’s deny the tenure and/or fire the Darwinist priesthood who currently exercise (on behalf of the Church of Darwin)

Dream on. Darwin/evolution is not religion it is scientific theory that best fits the evidence. "Here a miracle occurs" is not needed.

29 posted on 05/16/2007 1:07:19 PM PDT by from occupied ga (Your most dangerous enemy is your own government)
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To: ElectricStrawberry

“Given his outstanding record, it’s clearly preposterous to claim that Dr. Gonzalez is somehow deficient as a scientist. If anything, the problem is likely that he is too good. Darwinist professors can’t stand the thought of allowing a gifted scientist who supports intelligent design into their ranks. This is despite the fact that Gonzalez’s work focuses on design in cosmology, and does not even address biological evolution.”

http://www.discovery.org/scripts/viewDB/index.php?command=view&id=4051&program=DI%20Main%20Page%20-%20News&callingPage=discoMainPage


30 posted on 05/16/2007 1:13:58 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
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To: GodGunsGuts
Then the same standard should apply to the Church of Darwin. Let’s deny the tenure and/or fire the Darwinist priesthood who currently exercise (on behalf of the Church of Darwin) an unscientific/religous stranglehold on the ideology of science. If you’re willing to apply the same standard across the board, then I’m game.

The scientific method is not a religion. The reason intelligent design has yet to be considered scienctific is because its proponents, in lieu of actual research or experimentation, choose to engage in demagoguery.

31 posted on 05/16/2007 1:14:51 PM PDT by LibertarianSchmoe ("...yeah, but, that's different!" - mating call of the North American Ten-Toed Hypocrite)
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To: saganite
You mean I can do something to ensure he doesn’t get tenure? Where do I sign?

For those who know the case and know how tenure works, such worries are groundless. Lots of people with better qualifications and no political troubles are denied tenure.

32 posted on 05/16/2007 1:20:23 PM PDT by js1138 (The absolute seriousness of someone who is terminally deluded.)
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To: from occupied ga
==Darwin/evolution is not religion

Just as Darwinism makes the preposterous claim (with zero evidence) that life comes from non-life, so too Darwinism claims that morality comes from non-morality. Instead, he/they posit that morality is determined by natural selection. Thus, this mysterious god-like force—natural selection—is Darwinism’s god. In fact, as far as Darwinism’s worship of mysterious forces is concerned, it ranks right down there with paganism.

Like the Hindus, Darwinism tells us that the various manifestations of morality are all manifestations of the same force. According to Darwin, natural selection caused the “murder of infants...on the largest scale throughout the world” In other societies, natural selection ordained that suicide was not to be considered “a crime,” but rather “an honorable act” In fact, Darwin went so far as to say that if natural selection ordained that men were to be “reared under precisely the same conditions as hive-bees, there can hardly be a doubt that our unmarried females would, like the worker-bees, think it a sacred duty to kill their brothers, and mothers would strive to kill their fertile daughters; and no one would think of interfering.” And don’t get me started on Darwinism’s nod to Eugenics. In short, natural selection is omnipotent, and we are but clay in the hands of this mysterious force.

And while Darwinism doesn’t tell us what happens after we die, world religions are all over the map on this subject. Some believe in an afterlife, while others do not. Having no position on where we go when we die doesn’t exempt Darwinism from being categorized as a religion.

Darwinism doesn’t offer comfort or support to those in emotional distress?

Darwinism also offers comfort or support to those in mental or emotional distress. For instance, I think it’s safe to say that Richard Dawkins spoke for millions when he said that Darwin “made it possible to be an intellectually fulfilled atheist.”

Darwinism’s community of believers can be found at every public funded university in the country. The bishops and the cardinals occupy the science buildings, and the priests and the monks occupy the humanities buildings...including the religious studies departments. They have even established a religious holiday. Ever hear of Darwin Day, where they combine Christian hymns with Darwinist lyrics?

Sorry pal, the Church of Darwin is just that...a religion.

33 posted on 05/16/2007 1:23:29 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
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To: GodGunsGuts
that life comes from non-life, so too Darwinism claims that morality comes from non-morality. Instead, he/they posit that morality is determined by natural selection. Thus, this mysterious god-like force—natural selection—is Darwinism’s god. In fact, as far as Darwinism’s worship of mysterious forces is concerned, it ranks right down there with paganism.

You lost me here pal. You obviously don't understand it the same way I do.

34 posted on 05/16/2007 1:30:07 PM PDT by from occupied ga (Your most dangerous enemy is your own government)
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To: LibertarianSchmoe

==The scientific method is not a religion.

And the scientific method proves that the Church of Darwin is a religion, not science.


35 posted on 05/16/2007 1:31:02 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
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To: Cicero

I hope you resent it! Every letter counts. I would imagine that are beginning to get so many that your first one will be lost in the count.


36 posted on 05/16/2007 1:36:44 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
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To: GodGunsGuts
And the scientific method proves that the Church of Darwin is a religion, not science.

Ah, I think I understand the problem now. You don't know the meaning of the terms "science", "proof" or "religion". You do your ID cohorts a disservice in your advocacy.

37 posted on 05/16/2007 1:36:58 PM PDT by LibertarianSchmoe ("...yeah, but, that's different!" - mating call of the North American Ten-Toed Hypocrite)
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To: LibertarianSchmoe

Coming from a Church of Darwin devotee, I’ll take that as a compliment.


38 posted on 05/16/2007 1:39:48 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
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To: blowfish
==It doesn’t sound like any help is needed, since the desired outcome was reached.

Seeing how the vast majority of Americans are on our side, I can’t wait until the pendulum swings in the other direction. Payback’s a....

39 posted on 05/16/2007 2:08:56 PM PDT by GodGunsGuts
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To: GodGunsGuts
Coming from a Church of Darwin devotee, I’ll take that as a compliment.

And I'll take that as a concession. But if you occasion to mash a few words together to make an actual argument, please let me know. Rational people can get awfully curious.

40 posted on 05/16/2007 2:10:45 PM PDT by LibertarianSchmoe ("...yeah, but, that's different!" - mating call of the North American Ten-Toed Hypocrite)
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