Discovery Institute, WA
05-22-07
Breaking News: U.S. Senator Expresses Alarm Over Denial of Tenure to
Gonzalez at Iowa State
United States Senator and Republican presidential candidate Sam Brownback
(R-KS) has issued a forceful statement expressing alarm over the denial of
tenure to pro-intelligent design astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez at Iowa State
University. According to Sen. Brownback, “such an assault on academic freedom
does not bode well for the advancement of true science.”
Obviously, the Gonzalez case is not a partisan issue, and surveys show that the
vast majority of Americans of both major parties as well as independents support
academic freedom for learning about intelligent design. Let’s hope that officials
from across the political spectrum begin standing up for Gonzalez’s academic
freedom. Iowa State University is a government-funded institution, and it is
ultimately accountable to the taxpayers that fund it as well as the citizens who
pay tuition. Thus, it is perfectly appropriate for public officials to express their
concern that ISU live up to its own standards of academic freedom as well as the
guarantees of the First Amendment.
The full text of Brownback’s statement is reprinted below, taken from
Brownback’s website:
Brownback Alarmed by Tenure Denial in Iowa
"Such an assault on academic freedom does not bode well for the
advancement of true science."
DES MOINES, Ia— U.S. Senator Sam Brownback, Republican candidate for
President, today commented on the denial of tenure to Iowa State University
Professor Guillermo Gonzales.
"When I was informed that Professor Guillermo Gonzalez was denied tenure, I
was puzzled given his excellent academic record of achievement and faithful
service. I understand that now two of Dr. Gonzalez's colleagues have indicated
that Gonzalez's interest in intelligent design theory was, at least in part,
responsible for this denial of tenure. This is rather alarming."
Dr. Guillermo Gonzalez is currently an Assistant Professor of Astronomy
at Iowa State University, and has authored more than 65 scientific papers and
articles. Dr. Gonzalez developed the concept of the Galactic Habitable Zone and
co-authored "The Privileged Planet: How Our Place in the Cosmos is Designed
for Discovery, which was published in 2004." The Privileged Planet provides
scientific evidence for intelligent design theory, which challenges neo-
Darwinism's claim that the development of the universe is the result of an
unpredictable and purposeless process. Intelligent design theory rather explores
recent discoveries in the fields of physics, cosmology, biochemistry, genetics,
and paleontology that logically point to an intelligent cause in the development of
life and the cosmos.
Brownback continued, "Observation, testing, and the development of
reasonable hypotheses have long been integral to good science. Scholars, such
as Professor Guillermo Gonzales, ought not to be intimidated nor silenced by
those in the academic community who would rather dismiss a well-reasoned
hypothesis than debate it on its merits. Such an assault on academic freedom
does not bode well for the advancement of true science."