Professor's Snub of Creationists Prompts U.S. Inquiry

New York Times ^ | 2/02/03 | NICK MADIGAN

[VadeRetro]

Imagine a university professor denying a Ph.D. to Einstein because Einstein thought Newtonian physics to be flawed and incomplete.

I can certainly imagine him denying a "personal recommendation." I imagine Einstein dealing with it without recourse to the court system.

[jude24]

insisting that pi=3, based on his interpretation of the Bible?

It says no such thing. It gives some measurements of the circumferance of some ceremonial shields in Solomon's temple; it doesnt say, "the circumference is exactly three times the radius."

Heck, you as a scientist should know about approximations. For a rough estimate, pi = 3 is relatively decent.

[TheCause]

That is because you do not have a fu%&*#g clue what you are talking about.

[Catspaw]

I see by your disguised profanity that you cannot discuss this on a coherent level. Did you learn that in Bible class?

[stuartcr]

Maybe he figured if he stirred up a lot of stuff, he'd get something for nothing.

[Under the Radar]

Somehow I suspect that aspiring medical students take more than a single biology course at the undergraduate level, thus ensuring that these students get more than just the one shot at a letter of recommendation.

[Doctor Stochastic]

For a rough estimate, pi = 3 is relatively decent.

For a hexnut, anyway.

[Catspaw]

He may have wanted to stir thinks up, but there is that law of unintended consequences.

[Nebullis]

... point being whether the professor denied the student a right under the law because of the student's religious beliefs.

No student has a right, under law, to a personal, positive, recommendation from a professor.

[Havoc]

"The policy is not meant in any way to be discriminatory toward anyone's beliefs, but instead to ensure that people who I recommend to a medical school or a professional school or a graduate school in the biomedical sciences are scientists,"

Sorry, this is crap. Requiring belief in an unproven theory as a basis for a recommendation is intended to do what? One need not believe in a evolution to practice good science. This is akin to saying one needs to believe in ESP in order to get a recommendation as a psychologist. So who is he trying to keep out of the field? This won't stand up to scrutiny of the courts.

[HumanaeVitae]

Religion could be tested, I suppose, in some ways (for instance, the Dim Sun Paradox). But in this case, the professor here holds that skepticism of evolution is simply incompatible with scientific inquiry in biology.

But because evolution, like every doctrine that purports to be more than 'superstition', must expose itself to being falsified, it would seem that the professor would have to accept some general level of skepticism about it(and about every other doctrine he teaches) from all of his students . 'Physicist' said in one of his earlier posts that a 'closed mind is incompatible with science' (paraphrasing). It looks like this biologist is actually encouraging close-mindedness. Unless of course, there's more at stake in the evolution debate than just a scientific doctrine...

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for your post!

No student has a right, under law, to a personal, positive, recommendation from a professor.

I understand what you are saying, however a recommendation is required for medical school.

In other words, if the voluntary nature of a letter of recommendation can be used as justification and excuse to override a student's civil rights - it would be possible to keep any minority out of medical school.

Between the civil rights movement and the establishment cause of the Constitution, the court may issue a ruling that many professors will not like.

[f.Christian]

Then came the...

SPLIT SCHIZOPHRENIA/PSYCHO-EVO/NWO Soviet-LIBERAL-Socialist GULAG America---

the post-modern age of switch-flip-spin-DEFORMITY-cancer...

Atheist secular materialists through ATHEISM/evolution CHANGED-REMOVED the foundations...demolished the wall(separation of state/religion)--trampled the TRUTH-GOD...built a satanic temple/SWAMP-MALARIA/RELIGION(cult of darwin-marx-satan) over them---made these absolutes subordinate--relative...

REDACTING them

and calling/CHANGING---

all the... residuals(technology/science) === TO evolution via schlock/sMUCK IDEOLOGY/lies/bias...

to substantiate/justify/validate their efforts--claims...social engineering--PC--atheism...

anti-God/Truth RELIGION(USSC monopoly)---

and declared a crusade/WAR--JIHAD--INTOLERANCE/TYRANNY(breaking the establishment clause)...

against God--man--society/SCIENCE(religious oath-TEST for office/employment)!!

[HumanaeVitae]

"I can certainly imagine him denying a "personal recommendation."

By the way, I find it quite ironic that you libertarians would support this egregious use of state power to stifle scientific dissent here. This professor is getting paid off the public dole.

I guess we all have a little "fundamentalism" in us, don't we?

[Under the Radar]

It is amazing to me how many putative Conservatives use left-wing rationale when it suits their purpose.

[Nebullis]

I understand what you are saying, however a recommendation is required for medical school.

He can get a letter from his aunt.

In no way is this student, or any student, denied an education.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

The funny part is that this kid better learn where the "Supersize It" button is on the cash register, and he'd better hope he isn't allergic to polyester fast food uniforms, hehehehe.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you so much for your post! But I'm not sure which rationale has gotten your attention. If you'd care to explain it a little further, I'd appreciate it.

[VadeRetro]

Are you really going to pretend that you don't know what a personal letter of recommendation is?

[HumanaeVitae]

Yes, I know what it is.

"If you're losing the broad point, argue the specifics."