Unbelievable. Maybe those guys were trying to be the fittest.

Embarrassed Kansan, at 7:17 am EST on December 7, 2005

Blaming the Victim

Yes, Shaw, there are strange and odd happenings in academia, like a professor being beat up for expressing an unpopular view.

Your attempt to impugn academia by citing a year-old story about an adjunt behaving badly is weak, at best.

I expect better arguments from someone with (allegedly) Ivy League cred.

Brian, at 9:24 am EST on December 7, 2005

Violence is wrong.

In no way should anyone even consider that this violence is justified. No true disciple of Jesus Christ would commit this act of hatred. While I may wonder why it is acceptable in today’s culture to publicly belittle someone’s religious beliefs, my Lord has taught me not to retaliate, certainly not with violence. My prayers are with all involved.

Tom McCool, at 9:43 am EST on December 7, 2005

Interesting, is it not, that so many of the same folks who believe in “intelligent design” also believe that the best response to any idea with which one disagrees is to administer a good beating to those who express it?

JR

Jeff Riggenbach, at 6:14 pm EST on December 7, 2005

Not followers of Christ

Let me restate — the people responsible for this act of anger are NOT disciples of Christ. Their actions speak to what is really in their hearts, and it is not a heart transformed by Christ.

Tom McCool, at 8:02 am EST on December 8, 2005

R.A. Shaw and intelligence

You do not convert anyone by silencing the person, and by quoting irrelevant material negates any argument and casts doubt on the historicity, veracity, and sensibility of the writer. For R. A. Shaw to attempt to cast aspersions on a person because of a stand by equating academic pursuits with civil misdeeds does discredit to Shaw and to whatever institution (if any) he attended. The fact that Shaw’s puerile attemp to denigrate an individual by random selection of initial degrees, suggests he either has none of his own, or that the degrees are suspect coming from a less-than-reputable school (Bob Jones University, for example).

I support the chair of Religious Studies with unqualified enthusiasm. Not only did he initiate a provoking course, but after this nefarious assault, he returned to his classes to continue teaching. We need more individuals of his caliber!

Arthur Ide, PhD, at 9:06 am EST on December 8, 2005

Mirecki

I am very saddened to hear the news about Paul Mirecki’s beating and forced resignation. When I first read about Mirecki’s course, I found his personal website and emailed him praise for his efforts. I never imagined that it would turn-out like this. Good luck to Paul Mirecki, I hope he finds a new place of employment soon so he can continue educating open minds.

Dan Minser, at 3:43 am EST on December 12, 2005

a little perspective

Well, to some extent there is a “free pass” for free speech. First of all, expressing a political opinion does not entitle others to assault you. They cannot assert his views as a defense to any criminal charges. (I am setting aside the question of their insanity, and whatever the Supremes may make of it this term.) Second of all, while I don’t think that the chairpersonship of a department is protected by whatever concept of academic freedom is embodied in the first amendment (as incorporated by the 14th to the states), to say that a professor can be discriminated against for teaching something that is comfortably within the subject area that he is tenured to teach is, well, crazy.

But, let’s not lose perspective here. Nobody is asserting that his school organized his assault. Likewise, he still has his appointment, so he can continue his scholarship.

Larry, at 4:30 pm EST on December 12, 2005