Colorado —
FFRF urged the Front Range Community College in Colorado not to allow a philosophy professor to make statements misleading students about Darwin’s theory of evolution.
A student informed FFRF that the Introduction to Philosophy course recently cited institutions and authors that promote intelligent design, including the Discovery Institute and the books “Darwin’s Black Box” and “Signature in the Cell.” Reportedly, the professor claimed that there is an active scientific debate over whether the origins of life are rooted in evolution or intelligent design. The student added that the professor was encouraging students to consider the books and look into intelligent design more if they were interested, and the student felt that the professor’s comments and promotion of intelligent design breached the separation of state and church.
“Teaching or promoting creationism or any of its offshoots, such as intelligent design, in a public university is unconstitutional because creationism is not based in fact,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote. “Courts have routinely found that such teachings are religious, despite many new and imaginative labels given to the alternatives.”
After FFRF’s letter, the college’s Director of Employee Relations and Human Resources Bob Gregory emailed FFRF, acknowledging the concern regarding the philosophy professor. Gregory assured that the college is committed to upholding the rights of all students and employees, including the constitutional freedoms of speech and the separation of church and state.
