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,
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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
Unless you’re a Darwinist, then you are dogmatic, intolerant, bigoted, and generally behave like Spanish Inquisitors.
OK, I’m going to try a reasoned argument, though it’s one you’ve likely heard before. I should mention here that I’m an evolutionist, and part of a large American branch of a conservative Christian church... Once upon a time, I was a hotshot scientist, too; but not these days. ‘nuff said.
ID is the new Phrenology, (study of human personality traits as determined by the presence of bumps on the head) and the ‘demand’ that ID be accepted as valid despite the inability of ID being tested by the Scientific Method, is the EXACT same uproar that proponents of Phrenology made to the medical community in the 17th and 18th century.
Regardless of how fashionable it may be in some landlocked square-state in the US, pretending that ID is a scientific theory is like measuring Love; we know that it’s out there, but pretending like it’s quantifiable is a mistake... AND, if something isn’t quantifiable, than it isn’t possible to analyze it scientifically.
None of your frothy diatribes are a good substitute for an actual argument. You are an exemplary ID advocate.
I sincerely hope you consider stumping for more pro-ID tenure candidates in the future.
I will. And when our side is once again on the ascendancy, I definitely won’t be one of the forgiving ones. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth, job for a job.
==the ‘demand’ that ID be accepted as valid despite the inability of ID being tested by the Scientific Method, is the EXACT same uproar that proponents of Phrenology made to the medical community in the 17th and 18th century.
Actually, the state sanctioned Church of Darwin has pulled out all the stops to prevent IDers from testing anything. Notice that Gonzalez refrained from teaching ID in the classroom or using university time to test ID...and they’re still going after him.
>>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.<<
I think GodGunsGuts, I and others who have been discussing this are all in agreement on the key facts of this case: That Dr. Gonzales is at least as well published in mainstream publications as most other tenured professors at this type of college, that he is not alleged to have taught outside of accepted science and that he most likely would have received tenure had it not been for his position and work on behalf of the Discovery Institute.
There is disagreement about the appropriateness of the decision and about the role of the Discovery Institute but that makes this a good case for civil discussion since I believe the key facts are not in dispute.
GGG, please correct me if I have not characterized your position and the those of the last few threads on this topic correctly.
Just like I said, the evos would deny that an IDer could have legit peer reviewed articles. Thanks for proving me right.
Did you not notice my “/s” after my post?
He does.
“Teach philosophy in philosophy or religion class.”
He doesn’t teach philosophy.
His views on intelligent design are espoused totally out of the classroom.
There is a atheist posse at Iowa State out to get Mr. Gonzalez led by Hector Avalos. Avalos is an avowed atheist (former Christian) who is a “religious studies” professor at Iowa State.
Here is a Avalos quote that I found with a Google search:
“Similarly, the Bible has no intrinsic value or merit.”
http://www.sbl-site.org/Article.aspx?ArticleId=520
Mr Gonzalez is brilliant scientist who dares to have different ideas than most of his peers in the field. For this the atheists are attempting to crucify him. It is the most disgraceful thing I have seen in the 25 years since I graduated from Iowa State.
We are LOSING the culture war, the anti-American liberals now have full control over our public universities. Anyone who doesn’t see that needs to wake up.
Yes, I did. Just wanted to make sure you were aware of his published, peer reviewed papers. Thanks for chiming in!
I take then that you don’t disagree with my statement of the facts of the case and would like to get back to the disagreement portion of the discussion?
Yes, I would. Feel free to post whatever you like. Unfortunately, I probably won’t be able to respond until tomorrow. But I promise, I will try to answer anything you throw at me.
PS Did you check out that link to Dr. Pitman’s website I sent you re: the fossile record?
I likewise will try to answer.
and no I have not but I will - I am trying to read various ID source and will make sure that one is high on my list.
Must be in Fantasy Land.
A Christian trying to get a job at the U of I is no different than a Christian trying to get a job at a strip club. Why would I want to help?
You don't: you CARRY a sign!
Therefore ID just MUST be wrong!!!
--EvoDude
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