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Professor beaten; attackers cite KU creationism class
Wichita Eagle ^ | December 6, 2005 | Associated Press

Posted on 12/06/2005 3:01:46 PM PST by billorites

A professor whose planned course on creationism and intelligent design was canceled after he sent e-mails deriding Christian conservatives was hospitalized Monday after what appeared to be a roadside beating.

University of Kansas religious studies professor Paul Mirecki said that the two men who beat him made references to the class that was to be offered for the first time this spring.

Originally called "Special Topics in Religion: Intelligent Design, Creationism and other Religious Mythologies," the course was canceled last week at Mirecki's request.

The class was added after the Kansas State Board of Education decided to include more criticism of evolution in science standards for elementary and secondary students.

"I didn't know them," Mirecki said of his assailants, "but I'm sure they knew me."

One recent e-mail from Mirecki to members of a student organization 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." Mirecki has apologized for those comments.

Lt. Kari Wempe, a spokeswoman for the Douglas County Sheriff's Department, said a deputy was dispatched to Lawrence Memorial Hospital after receiving a call around 7 a.m. regarding a battery.

She said Mirecki reported he was attacked around 6:40 a.m. in rural Douglas County south of Lawrence. Mirecki told the Lawrence Journal-World that he was driving to breakfast when he noticed the men tailgating him in a pickup truck.

"I just pulled over hoping they would pass, and then they pulled up real close behind," he said. "They got out, and I made the mistake of getting out."

He said the men beat him on the head, shoulders and back with their fists, and possibly a metal object.

Wempe said Mirecki drove himself to the hospital after the attack.

Mirecki told the student newspaper, the University Daily Kansan, that he spent between three and four hours at the hospital. He said his injuries included a broken tooth.

"I'm mostly shaken up, and I got some bruises and sore spots," he told the Lawrence Journal-World.

Wempe said Mirecki described the suspects as two white men between 30 and 40 years of age. One of the men was described as wearing a red, visorlike ball cap and wool gloves. Mirecki said the men left in a large pickup.

Wempe said the department would investigate "every aspect," but couldn't discuss specifics.

Andrew Stangl, president of the Society for Open Minded Atheists and Agnostics at the university, described the attack as "bizarre and terrifying." He said Mirecki, who is the group's faculty adviser, was adamant that the beating was related to the recently canceled course.

"That absolutely shocked me," he said, "because people don't do that in a civilized society."

State Sen. Kay O'Connor, a Mirecki critic, said there is no excuse for someone physically assaulting the professor -- regardless of their politics.

"I have zero tolerance for thugs," she said. "There is never an excuse to behave in such a manner. This was just thugs. They used a flimsy excuse, if they had one, to behave as thugs. They can talk about the ID (intelligent design) course if they want to, but that's not an excuse."


TOPICS: News/Current Events; US: Kansas
KEYWORDS: crevolist; fakehatecrimes; ku; mirecki; paulmirecki
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1 posted on 12/06/2005 3:01:47 PM PST by billorites
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To: billorites

Bad behavior. Period.


2 posted on 12/06/2005 3:04:18 PM PST by brivette
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To: billorites

BTTT


3 posted on 12/06/2005 3:04:29 PM PST by Fiddlstix (Tagline Repair Service. Let us fix those broken Taglines. Inquire within(Presented by TagLines R US))
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To: billorites
I'd bet money that it is a made up hoax.
4 posted on 12/06/2005 3:05:02 PM PST by Pukin Dog (Sans Reproache)
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To: billorites; All

I know that people get uptight (and/or stupid) about a lot of things - but I find it really hard to believe that two guys would beat up a useless professor over an issue like this.

This sounds odd. I hate to suggest that this professor faked the attack - but it does make me wonder...

Anyone?


5 posted on 12/06/2005 3:05:36 PM PST by MplsSteve
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To: billorites

I smell an "awareness raising." This is staged, completely bogus.


6 posted on 12/06/2005 3:05:49 PM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: billorites
This is the very things amoral atheists or liberals do. They I smell a Reichstag's
7 posted on 12/06/2005 3:06:33 PM PST by AmericaUnited
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To: billorites

Unfortunately, since the previous who-knows-how-many cases of "hate crimes" etc. were all staged, I'm hesitant to believe his story at this time.


8 posted on 12/06/2005 3:07:27 PM PST by ZGuy
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To: billorites

"Mirecki described the suspects as two white men between 30 and 40 years of age. One of the men was described as wearing a red, visorlike ball cap and wool gloves. Mirecki said the men left in a large pickup."

Well, well, well ... isn't this interesting. It hits all the right "smear" buttons, but is nice and vague. Easy to remember, too. I'm surprised that he managed to resist adding in a Christian fish symbol on the tailgate of this supposed "large truck."


9 posted on 12/06/2005 3:10:16 PM PST by RegulatorCountry
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To: billorites
Wempe said Mirecki described the suspects as two white men between 30 and 40 years of age. One of the men was described as wearing a red, visorlike ball cap and wool gloves. Mirecki said the men left in a large pickup.

The description has RED STATER written all over it. This sounds like Bravo Sierra to me.

10 posted on 12/06/2005 3:11:12 PM PST by Disambiguator (Making accusations of racism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.)
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To: Pukin Dog

My first thought too.


11 posted on 12/06/2005 3:12:05 PM PST by MarkeyD (Cowards cut and run. Marines finish the job. I really, really loathe liberals.)
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To: MplsSteve

This story was posted yesterday and the votes are in - 488 billion votes say this is a fake by the "perfesser".


12 posted on 12/06/2005 3:12:59 PM PST by Emmett McCarthy
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To: ZGuy

WoW on his way to breakfast at 6ish in the morning in the freezing cold, and a couple of guys in their "pickup truck"(which seems conveniently redneck sounding) tailgate him and then pull over and get out, so he gets out?

This is a freakin joke this guy is making this up because he looks like a moron for his comments he made and the stupidity of his class he was going to try and offer(only out of spite for religious people who we all know are rednecks).

I hope they catch this guy lying and prosecute him, make him loose his job and go somewhere else.


13 posted on 12/06/2005 3:13:58 PM PST by blarney
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To: brivette

Stupid thing to do if it is true.


14 posted on 12/06/2005 3:15:21 PM PST by satchmodog9 ( Seventy million spent on the lefts Christmas present and all they got was a Scooter)
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To: billorites

Maybe he was against beating himself up before he was for it.


15 posted on 12/06/2005 3:15:31 PM PST by badpacifist (Schadenfreude)
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To: Disambiguator

Could be a road rage incident unrelated to his politics. Maybe he cut them off.

But the idea he'd get out of his car is a little hard to believe.

How close to Kansas City is Larence? Could be Chiefs fans, if the story is real.


16 posted on 12/06/2005 3:17:27 PM PST by Shermy
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To: RegulatorCountry

I am surprised he didn't say they had a confederate flag sticker somewhere.


17 posted on 12/06/2005 3:20:20 PM PST by yarddog
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To: billorites

He's lying. I'm 100% sure he's lying. Some liberal bi-atch at Claremont College pulled a similar stunt last year only she beat up her own car and claimed she was attacked.

I believe this jerk was driving his Volvo wagon at 35 in a 55 zone, got tailgated and flipped off the wrong people.

I'm sure the guys who kicked the crap out of him were in an old pickup with flannel jackets, snow boots and hats with ear flaps. Not exactly college material.

I'm thinking of the guys in Christmas Vacation that drove Clark Griswold under the logging truck.


18 posted on 12/06/2005 3:23:29 PM PST by keat (Who the f___ is I. Lewis Libby?)
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To: Pukin Dog
I'd bet money that it is a made up hoax.

I'd have to bet with you on that.

19 posted on 12/06/2005 3:24:02 PM PST by Bahbah (Free Scooter; Tony Schaffer for the US Senate)
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To: Pukin Dog
I'd bet money that it is a made up hoax.

Something doesn't smell right about this.

20 posted on 12/06/2005 3:24:13 PM PST by The_Victor (If all I want is a warm feeling, I should just wet my pants.)
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