Guillermo Gonzalez Denied Tenure by Iowa State University
by Rich Deem

Introduction

Guillermo Gonzalez is an assistant professor at Iowa State University. He has 68 peer-reviewed articles in scientific journals, with 25 of them being produced at Iowa State University, since he arrived in 2001. Despite these impressive numbers, he is being denied tenure simply because he is a proponent of intelligent design. This is a clear case of viewpoint discrimination. However, according to their official mission statement, the university encourages diversity and exchange of ideas:

"In carrying out its mission, Iowa State will increase and support diversity in the University community. Diversity enlivens the exchange of ideas, broadens scholarship, and prepares students for lifelong, productive participation in society."¹

Obviously, some ideas, such as intelligent design, do not seem to fall into this category.

December, 2007 Update

Although vehemently denied by officials at Iowa State University, documents and emails obtained under the freedom of information act have shown that faculty of ISU were extremely prejudiced and hostile against Guillermo Gonzalez because of his forthright support of intelligent design. These emails make it clear that tenure was denied almost exclusively because of Gonzalez's support of intelligent design and his writing of the book The Privileged Planet and not because of any deficit in his academic record. The evidence is quite an indictment of Iowa State's viewpoint discrimination.

Intelligent Design Was the Issue After All

What can I do?

Read more about the issues, and contact the President of Iowa State University, who has the power to overrule the tenure decision. An example letter is written below. Feel free to edit it or write your own letter. Please remember to sign the letter.

• Iowa State Department Faculty Acknowledge ID Played Role in Gonzalez's Tenure Denial
• Proponent of intelligent design denied tenure by ISU

Contact the president at:

President Gregory L. Geoffroy
Iowa State University
1750 BDSHR
Amex, IA 50011-2035
geoffroy@iastate.edu
Office Fax: 515-294-0565
Office Phone: 515-294-2042

Use our form below to contact President Gregory L. Geoffroy directly:

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Your name:
Your e-mail address:
Subject: (or type your own subject)

Please provide any specific comments (change the text to your suiting and please sign the letter):President Gregory L. Geoffroy, I am disappointed at the University's denial of Guillermo Gonzalez tenure application. Despite the fact that Dr. Gonzalez has 68 peer-reviewed publications, he seems to be denied tenure on the basis of viewpoint discrimination. Although the University's mission statement says, "In carrying out its mission, Iowa State will increase and support diversity in the University community. Diversity enlivens the exchange of ideas, broadens scholarship, and prepares students for lifelong, productive participation in society.", it seems that this diversity does not apply to those who promote intelligent design theory. Please do the right thing and approve Guillermo Gonzalez tenure application. Sincerely,

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References

1. 1.1.0 Mission from Iowa State University.

http://www.godandscience.org/guillermo_gonzalez.html
Last Modified December 7, 2007

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