Lawmaker Wants to Know KU's Intentions Behind Controversial 'Religion' Course
by Jim Brown
December 2, 2005
(AgapePress) - - The University of Kansas has withdrawn a controversial religion course that was intended to teach students that intelligent design and creationism are mythologies. Professor Paul Mirecki's course "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design and Creationism" is no longer on KU's spring semester class schedule. Mirecki requested that the course be pulled following public outcry over an e-mail in which he referred to religious conservatives as "fundies" and said a course describing intelligent design as mythology would be a "nice slap in their big fat face." (See earlier article)
State Representative Brenda Landwehr says although the course was recently renamed, it would not likely have included differing viewpoints. But she sees issues beyond this specific course offering.
"I think this raised a bigger question about what courses are we teaching that are electives -- because this doesn't even have anything to do with a degree; it's an elective course," she observes. Another question she says the situation begs is: Are we being fair and balanced with the information that we're providing our students? "So it raised a bigger question rather than just about this course in general," she adds.
KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway described Mirecki's comments as "repugnant and vile." Landwehr, however, believes KU administrators should have come down harder on Mirecki, instead of merely asking him to apologize for his inflammatory comments.
"Regardless of whether they do the course or don't do the course [I think] Chancellor Hemenway, as well as the professor, should appear before the Appropriations Committee, explain what their side of the issue is, what they intended to get out of the course, how they planned on teaching the course, and why they think that that's a good representation for the university," the lawmaker says.
Landwehr is vice chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee. She says withholding funding to KU is still an option. One KU administrator says although the course has been suspended at Mirecki's request, it "should be taught at some point."
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
