Posted on 12/07/2005 4:23:48 PM PST by Senator Bedfellow
Embattled religious studies professor Paul Mirecki has stepped down as chairman of the University of Kansas’ Department of Religious Studies.
Mirecki remains a tenured professor at the department. No successor has been named.
In a written statement, Barbara Romzek, interim dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Kansas, said she accepted Mirecki’s resignation today.
“Professor Mirecki said he thought it appropriate to step down and did so on the recommendation of his colleagues in the department and I have accepted his resignation,” Romzek said. “This allows the department to focus on what’s most important — teaching, research and service — and to minimize the distractions of the last couple of weeks.”
Mirecki came under fire after e-mails were uncovered in which he mocked aspects of Christianity. He initially attracted attention when he announced he would teach a class this spring about intelligent design and creationism. That sparked immediate criticism from conservatives who supported the Kansas Board of Education’s recent move to insert criticism of evolution into state science standards.
Mirecki’s critics then discovered e-mails from a listserv operated by the Society of Open-Minded Atheists and Agnostics in which Mirecki mocked various aspects of Catholicism and fundamentalist Christianity.
Last week, KU Chancellor Robert Hemenway said he found the e-mails “repugnant and vile.” Mirecki apologized for the e-mails and the course was withdrawn.
On Monday, Mirecki told Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies he was attacked by two men early Monday morning. Mirecki told police the two men were closely following his vehicle south of Lawrence, and when he got out to confront them, the two men beat him with a metal object. Mirecki was treated and released from Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Mirecki told friends and reporters his attackers made reference to the recent controversy.
Mirecki has taught at KU for 15 years. He has a doctorate in theology from Harvard University and specializes in ancient Mediterranean cultures, religions and languages.
Ping.
Pong.
He'll need the extra time to deal with the charges of filing a false police report. Just my hunch.
Stepped down as chairman? No Big Deal. In most departments the prof who draws the short straw has to be chairman.
Leave the University in Disgrace is more like it. Off the payroll and into the real world with him!
Religious Studies brings out the very worst of the Lunatic Libs. It makes Queer Studies seem mainstream. Sadly, many young people take courses in the department (or even major in the field) because they are looking for spiritual guidance.
I've visited the local newspaper's website, and learned something interesting ... the good professor DOES have a cell phone. Reporters have been calling it repeatedly, but Mirecki will not answer.
Now, what was the story again, about waiting to call police until he got to the emergency room, LOL?
Joe 6, you are always quick and to the point. A good FReeper always.
Sharp as a marble, this guy!
Bump! Bump! Bump! Another one bites the dust.
ping...
Sorry, forgot to include a link:
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2005/dec/06/mirecki_treated_after_roadside_beating/?city_local
Scroll down into the comments for the info about Mirecki refusing to answer his cell.
Talk about an egregious (using a favorite liberal word on purpose) abuse of power.
He was planning on using his position as head of the dept of religious studies to stick it to the fundies (paraphrasing).
It's my hunch too that he faked the "attack."
A tin foil hat.
Thanks, but I don't want to drag everyone through another of these threads. I'm notifying a few, but unless there's a strong demand, I won't deploy the ping list.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.