[Right Wing Professor]

This is definitely a minor local victory for the yokel element in Kansas politics. It's a major disaster of the state of Kansas. Whatever Mirecki's transgressions, he is now in the world of academia an academic who was forced to drop a course, then beaten up, then forced into resignation by a mob of religious fundamentalists. That will be the inevitable spin, and it's close enough to the truth to be credible. Good luck relocating a scientist to Kansas. Good luck hiring a secular academic.

And since Nebraska competes with Kansas for students and faculty, yeee-haw! Come to Nebraska. We won't beat you up if you don't go to Church!

[Fester Chugabrew]

A man who designs a course for the sole purpose of ridiculing other people's beliefs does not belong in the classroom. It isn't a bunch of "religious fundamentalists" who did this guy in. He did it to himself, and his colleagues apparently agree that he should step down as chairman of the department.

[Bob]

..then forced into resignation by a mob of religious fundamentalists.

That's a very interesting way to describe his fellow faculty members.

From the article:

“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.

(Emphasis mine.)

[AndrewC]

then beaten up

Quite possibly self-inflicted.