Regents dismiss Gonzalez appeal
Assistant professor says his beliefs are the reason for tenure denial
Andrea Beisser
Guillermo Gonzalez was denied his tenure appeal Thursday morning after the Iowa Board of Regents met in a closed session.
Accompanied by his wife, Joan, and a group of supporters, Gonzalez listened as Board of Regents President David Miles affirmed the decision previously made by ISU President Gregory Geoffroy. The board's decision was the last step within the University's jurisdiction for Gonzalez's appeal and further action, if taken, must be within the Iowa courts.
Following the decision, John McCarroll, executive director of university relations, said "this decision was the result of thorough, complete evaluation by President Geoffroy and the university.
The president gave the appeal two careful considerations - the first being the initial decision, and the second being the appeal," he said. "The board's vote affirms the legal process and the belief maintained by President Geoffroy. He felt Guillermo Gonzalez was not successfully qualified to be granted tenure."
Gonzalez appealed to the Iowa Board of Regents to reverse the president's decision, made in the spring of 2007. He and his attorney met in a press conference following the decision.
"This is a coverup of a coverup," said Chuck Hurley, Gonzalez's attorney. "The whole thing was procedurally unjust, and the effectiveness of the Board of Regents is in serious question."
Gonzalez returned to his wife and held her hand. Around him, supporters offered their encouragement and prayers.
"I am being let go due to reasons stated in e-mails from people who couldn't stand my support in my personal beliefs," Gonzalez said. "I am not giving up yet to continue work at Iowa State, but I have applications in to other institutions. My support comes from my legal counsel, my family and my friends."
Gonzalez said he hopes students can take a lesson away from his case.
"What I want students to take away from this is to stand up for what you believe in, even if half the world is against you," he said.
Miles presided over the closed session.
"The Board reviewed the documents which were allowed according to legal regulation and decided after careful review," Miles said. "We make sure the appeal procedure gives the case full consideration and have made our final decision."
Hurley said he feels the final ruling against his client will prove to be a mark against the Board of Regents.
"Taxpayers who support the board's existence and purpose should be concerned. This decision is in violation of my client's rights to his beliefs," he said. "Academic freedom was absolutely not upheld here today."
The next step for Gonzalez will be to regroup with his close counsel and family and decide his path for the future.
"I am a man of faith, and my family and friends are most important to me at this time," Gonzalez said.
The Board of Regents resumed its discussion throughout the day and covered the agenda items brought forth by university members in attendance.
Terms Of Use
In order to facilitate fair and focused discussion, the Iowa State Daily requires that all participants adhere to the following forum rules. All user feedback will be posted immediately upon submission and will be monitored by the user community. Forum participants are encouraged to report any feedback that does not comply with the rules. Although the Daily reserves the right to remove posts and/or block users if these rules are violated, the staff will not be actively involved in an approval or review process. These terms of use may be modified at any time without notice, and such modifications shall be effective immediately.
All letters to the editor, whether submitted to the online edition or the print edition, and all online story feedback become the property of the Iowa State Daily and may be used in print editions and online editions of the Iowa State Daily. The Daily archives all of its content, which is accessible to readers at any time. Anonymous letters will not be accepted. Names may be withheld for good cause upon request at the sole discretion of the Daily. Letters may be edited for style, space, clarity and accuracy.
In submitting feedback, you are representing and agreeing that:
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 12
Larry Carter Center
posted 2/08/08 @ 12:27 AM CST
Gonzales belongs at Bryan College or Falwell's excuse of a school or Marion Gordon Robertson's 700 Clubber classrooms where Jehovah directs hurricanes towards the godless. (Continued…)
Tony Antelman
Tony Antelman
posted 2/08/08 @ 9:27 AM CST
This appeal and even denying Dr. Gonzales is an prime example of the kind of discrimination of beliefs that our forefathers worked so hard to keep from occuring. (Continued…)
Skartvedt
posted 2/08/08 @ 1:21 PM CST
I am having a hard time supporting the University that I love and for which I am an alumni. I hope Dr. Geoffrey and the Board of Regents will understand my hesitant attitude toward supporting ISU financially in the future. (Continued…)
Brad Mills
posted 2/08/08 @ 2:54 PM CST
First let me start by saying I do not have 100% of the info on this case and as such, my comments are limited and somewhat dogmatic. Come to think of it, I'm not sure anyone has 100% of the info in this case, save Dr Geoffrey, the Board of Regents or Prof Guerillmo Gonzalez himself. (Continued…)
jeaton
John Eaton
posted 2/08/08 @ 3:21 PM CST
I am very disappointed that a once prestigious University has become so atheist. Pray for Guillermo and his family.
FrankL
posted 2/08/08 @ 4:12 PM CST
The reality is, the only people who can make any sort of informed decision as to whether Gonzalez should have been granted tenure are his colleagues in the Physics/Astronomy Dept, and apparently they didn't feel he showed enough potential while at ISU as a future astronomer to become a permanent member of the faculty. (Continued…)
American Atheist
posted 2/09/08 @ 2:20 PM CST
The Discovery Institute is an oxymoron. No discoveries are made there, only bible lies about science are propounded there. Gonzales is a "senior fellow" with this creationist/ID outfit, not merely a member or expressing "personal views" now I'm wondering if his previous competence in astronomy & physics & past research dollar gathering plummeted after arriving at ISU is evidence of his mental illness? Religion can corrupt the best of minds. (Continued…)
borniniowa
dennis dorsheimer
posted 2/09/08 @ 5:41 PM CST
If ever there had been any doubt that evolution is a religion, the dismissal of
Professor Gonzales should end all doubt. The "priests" of evolution have
harassed a fellow scholar because his findings don't conform to their own. (Continued…)
Post a Comment