Inside Higher Ed, DC
Quick Takes: ‘Life Skills’ Post at Iowa State,
Gregory Geoffrey, president of Iowa State University, on Thursday approved
the creation of a “life skills” assistant to work with athletes — but has attached
conditions that reflect fears of many professors that this post will be religious in
nature, in violation of the separation of church and state. Geoffrey said that the
new position had to be a volunteer, could not promote any particular religious
group or belief, and must be committed to working with people of a variety of
faiths. In addition, he ordered that exit interviews be conducted with athletes
about their experiences with the new assistant, to measure the value and
effectiveness of the position.