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University of Kansas Religion Professor Steps Aside

Posted on: Thursday, 8 December 2005, 21:00 CST

By Dion Lefler, The Wichita Eagle, Kan.

Dec. 8--A University of Kansas professor who enraged Christian conservatives with an e-mail slamming creationism resigned his post as chairman of the KU religious studies department Wednesday.

Associate Professor Paul Mirecki said his resignation was a response to the controversy over his canceled plan to teach a course criticizing intelligent design, the idea that life on Earth was created by a higher power and is too complex to have arisen through evolution.

Mirecki told police earlier this week that he had been beaten by two men who apparently objected to his widely publicized statements against creationism.

In a brief resignation letter, he cited the ongoing controversy and the "recommendation of my colleagues in the department."

Mirecki will remain a tenured professor of the university.

An announcement about Mirecki's resignation drew cheers at a prayer meeting Wednesday evening at Immanuel Baptist Church, said the Rev. Terry Fox, the church's pastor and a leader of the state's Christian conservative movement.

"I am glad that he resigned," Fox said. "I think it reflects positively on the university."

Fox said Mirecki's e-mail was not as disturbing as it was to learn that Mirecki was both the chairman of religious studies and the faculty adviser to a KU club for agnostics and atheists.

"I think most Kansans would say, 'What a conflict of interest,' " Fox said.

But Fox said he does not think any further action is needed.

"To be chairman of a KU department is not easily attained," he said. "I think that (Mirecki stepping down) should satisfy most of the people."

But not everyone.

Longtime conservative activist Mark Gietzen said he thinks Mirecki should be fired.

"He's not the type of person I want to pay taxes to... to poison the minds of young kids," he said. "He doesn't belong in a university teaching anything."

Contributing: The Kansas City Star

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Source: The Wichita Eagle (Wichita, Kan.)

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