Tulsa World: Dispute evolves on OU speech by scientist

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Dispute evolves on OU speech by scientist
The controversy brings in paperwork and resolutions by state lawmakers.

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Richard Dawkins: The biologist and Oxford professor is also an outspoken atheist who wrote "The God Delusion."

By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer
Published: 3/30/2009 2:21 AM
Last Modified: 3/30/2009 3:28 AM

State lawmakers hit the University of Oklahoma with a barrage of paperwork earlier this month, crafting resolutions to condemn the school for inviting a noted evolutionary biologist and requesting reams of information about his visit.

In response, OU President David Boren said recently that colleges and universities should be a free marketplace of ideas, and it is inappropriate for legislators to attempt to restrict speech on campuses.

The resolution, which the House didn't have time to put up for a vote, chastised OU for inviting scientist and Oxford professor Richard Dawkins to speak earlier this month as part of the university's celebration of Charles Darwin's 200th birthday.

Rep. Rebecca Hamilton, D-Oklahoma City, filed a lengthy open records request with the university, asking for any correspondence regarding Dawkins' speech, information on any costs to OU, a list of any money Dawkins received and who provided the funds, and any other "pertinent financial information."

Dawkins waived his speaking fees for the event, a university spokeswoman said. Hamilton could not be reached for comment Thursday or Friday.

Boren said free speech on campus should be paramount.

"I can remember debating these issues when I was in the Legislature and I'm proud to stay I always stood on the side of academic freedom in those discussions," Boren said in an interview last week.

Legislators should not be limited in what kind of resolution they can file, but they should be mindful of free speech issues, Boren said.

"I have great faith in the ability of our students to make their own sound judgments about what they hear," he said.

State Rep. Todd Thomsen, R-Ada, filed a resolution this session opposing Dawkins' invitation to speak at OU and the university's actions "to indoctrinate students in the theory of evolution."

In a phone interview Thursday, Thomsen said the university has a right to bring any speaker it chooses, but is accountable to taxpayers. On behalf of his constituents, Thomsen wanted to present the opinion that Dawkins doesn't represent Oklahoma's ideals.

"They're not in a plastic bubble that can't be touched," he said.

Dawkins' approach doesn't present freedom of thought and opinion, Thomsen said.

"His presence at OU was not about science," he said. "It was to promote an atheistic agenda, and that was very clear."

Richard Broughton, an OU zoology professor and president of Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education, said the resolution claimed to support a free exchange of ideas on campuses, but actually aimed to restrict freedom of speech.

"It just seemed self-contradictory," he said.

The speech by Dawkins, who decided on the spot to donate $5,000 from his foundation to OESE, was well received by those who attended, he said.

Dawkins likely attracted particular attention because of his outspoken atheism, not just his ideas about evolution, Broughton said.

Dawkins is the author of the best-seller "The God Delusion."

Regardless of whether the majority of Oklahomans believe in evolution, it is a scientific theory that no evidence contradicts, Broughton said.

OESE is a nonprofit organization that supports the teaching of evolution in public schools.

It seems inappropriate for the Legislature to single out one person and try to blacklist them, Broughton said.

"It just seems antithetical to the whole idea of a university," he said.

Dawkins commented on the resolution filed against him when he began his March 6 speech at OU.

The idea that the university could only hear opinions with which the majority of Oklahomans agree is bizarre and offensive, Dawkins said.

"If that principle is accepted, you can kiss goodbye to anything that a university ever stands for," he said. "What's a university for if it only reinforces opinions students already have? As it happens, evolution is a scientific fact as securely established as any fact known in science."

Shannon Muchmore 581-8378
shannon.muchmore@tulsaworld.com By SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer

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	Report Comment Mr. Tweedy, Tulsa (3/30/2009 4:22:29 AM) Ah yes, leave it up to Oklahoma politicians to show off how big of tools they are anytime someone doesn't teach Christian cosmogony. When the hell did our state turn into Florida?
	Report Comment Observer3, Tulsa (3/30/2009 4:49:59 AM) Thank God David Boren is in charge of OU. He has worked so hard to make OU an outstanding university, and here these looney legislators want to take us back to the dark ages. People should be able to hear both sides of an argument and form their own opinions, not be dictated to by some grandstanding elected officials who are playing to the "folks" back home.
	Report Comment gba, (3/30/2009 5:08:47 AM) remember every county in oklahoma voted red last election we will see the fall out for years to come
	Report Comment C.R. Delough, Tulsa (3/30/2009 5:11:36 AM) I'm glad our State lawmakers have solved all other problems so they can concentrate on this.
	Report Comment CPT Ron, Lawton (3/30/2009 5:41:46 AM) Okay, I am waiting for OU to invite a famous speaker who will present the other side of this issue on a special day celebration.
	Report Comment Mr. Tweedy, Tulsa (3/30/2009 5:53:09 AM) Hey Capn Ron - so you're saying they should invite the grandwizard of the KKK out during Kwanzaa?
	Report Comment cobweb, (3/30/2009 5:55:57 AM) Let's give Oklahoma another reason to be viewed as a bunch of ignorant hillbillies. Pathetic.
	Report Comment reckless abandon, Tulsa (3/30/2009 6:19:59 AM) evolution is science--creationism is about religion. the bible is not a science text--it is a religious text. the book of Mormon is not a science text. and a university--public or private is about presently a multitude of ideas to be discerned by its students. if they are not sufficiently mature enough to hear and evaluate those issues in light of their own beliefs--then they need top go home--but under no circumstances should the idiots in OKC legislation be allowed to interfere with the process. We need to pulverize the rocks in legislators heads to fill the potholes across the state.
	Report Comment peelumba, (3/30/2009 6:20:51 AM) kc the other side is on every corner in the state. College level studies are for educating not sunday school!
	Report Comment peelumba, (3/30/2009 6:22:21 AM) oh yes and excellent post reckless!
	Report Comment Mr. Tweedy, Tulsa (3/30/2009 6:40:45 AM) hmm - couldn't have rolled all that up into one post?
	Report Comment Mr. Tweedy, Tulsa (3/30/2009 6:46:07 AM) Honestly - who calls someone a "boob"? Is this what we can expect from home-schooled kids?
	Report Comment Eric, Tulsa (3/30/2009 6:57:31 AM) ... It is obvious some of the previous posters on this story have failed to evolve. ... It is apparent they fear of anyone questioning their beliefs. ... History shows time and again that religion hampers critical thinking and advancement of science. Anyone recall what happened to Galileo when he suggested that the Earth revolves the sun? ... .. .
	Report Comment tulsan09, Tulsa (3/30/2009 7:02:40 AM) absolutely ridiculous and embarrassing for our state--God help us. Our entire legislature should be run out of town for yet another stupid action.
	Report Comment rdhm, (3/30/2009 7:05:37 AM) When is the BOOK BURNING scheduled in the capitol rotunda? I hope they get a book burning permit. Oh, You don't need one in Oklahoma I forgot! Since Oklahoman's don't have free minds the legislature can think for them. They love Freedom just as long as they say it's freedom their way.Church's should really start paying taxes if they are going to run the government.
	Report Comment Ignatz, Broken Bow (3/30/2009 7:11:20 AM) Drooling and knuckle-dragging...the Republican way!
	Report Comment born okay the 1st time, tulsa (3/30/2009 7:16:23 AM) Seriously? Nothing better for them to do?
	Report Comment Eagle 4, Tulsa (3/30/2009 7:24:15 AM) The evidence is patently clear that living creatures have inhabited the earth for over a billion years. The evidence is patently clear that homonids have walked the Earth for millions of years, as evidenced by the ever-increasing finds of their fossils. But it's only clear to rationally thinking creatures...'nuff said. The truly scary part of all of this is that there is enough blind ignorance in Oklahoma that the right of Free Speech is close to being challenged by those who would legislate away the First Amendment for a religious reason, which was never intended by the Founding Fathers. As many have said on this forum - be careful what you wish for. If the "evolution theory" cannot be presented as "food for thought" then a political theory such as "passionate conservatism" can be subjected to similar legislation. If God has been "covering His tracks" to keep men confused, He has done it extremely well, particularly in Oklahoma!
	Report Comment latime, tulsa (3/30/2009 8:02:16 AM) Finally all finacnce, crime, and tax issues are solved and we can go back to book burning, monkey trials other fun stuff. Republicans and democrates share this title in OK.
	Report Comment latime, tulsa (3/30/2009 8:04:06 AM) This is not about God or no God or party affiliation. this is about what a university is for, "thought".
	Report Comment Daniel Day Simpson, Edmond (3/30/2009 8:05:23 AM) You always face a risk of a student converting to a speaker's or instructor's view at a university or college. But I would not want a child to attend a school that refused to put out varying points of view. Mr. Boren has always balanced the needs of the students with the resources he has on hand. He also has refused to fund speakers he believes would do nothing to benefit the university or student body. He flatly refused to give Michael Moore any funds to show Bowling for Columbine on campus and pay his $20,000 retainer. The Film and Video club members raised the funds independently to show it in the student union and fly Moore in for the event. I have nothing but praise for Mr. Boren because he has supported things very close to my heart. I think I could forgive him for burning down a convent right now. He's funded some very personal projects and programs. I got a wild hair after the Michael Moore thing to bring in a movie I wanted to see on campus. I spent about a year writing to the studio, producer, director, etc. I totally gave up and went about my business. Out of the blue my phone rang. It was the director of this movie. I had no air in my lungs to speak. I was speaking like Yoda all of the sudden. The director asked,"can you invite the AMPAS members of Oklahoma to attend and the students of the Latin America associations?" I agreed and we set a date. The movie was months from release and I was getting a final working copy months ahead of theatrical viewings. I met with the powers that be and its like they had a unilateral wet dream. I think the director of the Student Programming board had to go out and buy new underwear. It wasn't a matter of if I could show it, it was a matter of when. I needed help with tickets and posters, etc. People came running to get some part in the event. I was getting calls from Dino Lali and Jill Simpson at the film commission. Theaters were calling me, pleading and begging to move the debut screening to their location. Finally the event happened and we maxed out the theater and our AMPAS member nominated it for an Oscar of which it won.
	Report Comment AnotherActivist, Tulsa (3/30/2009 8:05:43 AM) So our legislators are managing our universities now? Do they have anything else to do? Why is it the same people who say they want less government try to legislate everything personally when it comes to religion? I agree, if religion is running our state government, they need to be taxed!
	Report Comment jess, (3/30/2009 8:08:06 AM) Ignatz: the only knuckle-dragging is you. Can't you debate an issue without resorting to name calling? Name calling is sooooo easy and requires only a room temp. IQ.
	Report Comment ~sojourner, Adair (3/30/2009 8:17:38 AM) Dawkins is a clever ruse. Christians need to stop fearing lies. If God & Jesus are truth, they will stand up to any test.I say give Dawkins all the time he needs... then next invite Chuck Missler, or even better, set up a debate! Now that would be awesome!! God Bless!
	Report Comment Big Harp, Fernandina Beach (3/30/2009 8:23:01 AM) Well what are these guys to do we don't want them erecting the 10 commandments at the capital, now we don't want them telling us who to listen to. We can't expect them to tackle the economy or the department of children and families with the public in such dire need of religious direction.

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