AMES, Iowa
The Iowa Board of Regents on Thursday rejected the appeal of an Iowa State University professor who claimed he was denied tenure because he supports the theory of intelligent design.
Guillermo Gonzalez first appealed the university’s decision to deny him tenure last spring, a decision that was upheld by Iowa State President Greg Geoffroy.
Gonzalez claims he met the criteria for promotion but that his reputation and research were tainted by a petition circulated on campus denouncing intelligent design in science. The theory holds that the universe and living things are so finely tuned and complex, they must have been designed by a supreme, intelligent force.
Geoffroy insisted his decision to deny tenure to Gonzalez was based on the professor’s research, teaching and service and not intelligent design.
The regents voted 7-1 to uphold Geoffroy’s decision.
Gonzalez wasn’t allowed to give oral arguments but was present for the vote. He said the vote may have been different had he been allowed to speak and if the regents had considered e-mails obtained through an open records request by the Discovery Institute, a Seattle-based think tank leading the intelligent design movement.
