Comments on: UVM’s president responds to questions about commencement speaker Ben Stein http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/uvms-president-responds-to-questions-about-commencement-speaker-ben-stein/ UVM news, straight from the people who make it — Unadulterated information, no opinion necessary. Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:07:16 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Thos. Cochrane http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/uvms-president-responds-to-questions-about-commencement-speaker-ben-stein/#comment-14 Thos. Cochrane Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:07:16 +0000 http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-14 oops! ...mechanism [called] natural selection... oops!

…mechanism [called] natural selection…

]]> By: Thos. Cochrane http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/uvms-president-responds-to-questions-about-commencement-speaker-ben-stein/#comment-13 Thos. Cochrane Wed, 11 Feb 2009 21:06:22 +0000 http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-13 Bill Morgan: Evolution does not work by chance. It works through a mechanism natural selection. It explains biological diversity and complexity in elegant fashion, without the need for much science education. I'm glad you've expressed an interest in learning more. One or two books on the subject (perhaps more) are available for you to read. Your local librarian can probably help. Bill Morgan:

Evolution does not work by chance. It works through a mechanism natural selection. It explains biological diversity and complexity in elegant fashion, without the need for much science education.

I’m glad you’ve expressed an interest in learning more. One or two books on the subject (perhaps more) are available for you to read. Your local librarian can probably help.

]]> By: Bill Morgan http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/uvms-president-responds-to-questions-about-commencement-speaker-ben-stein/#comment-12 Bill Morgan Tue, 10 Feb 2009 04:35:32 +0000 http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-12 Human beings have 60,000 miles of blood vessels in their body. How much science education does it take to believe this happened by chance and not by design? I am a design engineer (and have designed many piping systems) and would like to know. Think, don't follow. Human beings have 60,000 miles of blood vessels in their body. How much science education does it take to believe this happened by chance and not by design? I am a design engineer (and have designed many piping systems) and would like to know. Think, don’t follow.

]]> By: Russell Blackford http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/uvms-president-responds-to-questions-about-commencement-speaker-ben-stein/#comment-10 Russell Blackford Fri, 06 Feb 2009 00:06:07 +0000 http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-10 Kudos to Dr Fogel. After the original dubious choice of a commencement speaker, the controversy was well handled. Of course, Mr Stein has every right to express whatever views he wishes, but he doesn't have the right to be chosen as a commencement speaker. That is a (very great) privilege, not a right. Dr Fogel had the right to make the decision as to who would be offered that privilege, but those of us who thought he'd made a bad decision had every right to ask him to reconsider and to give our reasons. I think it's to Dr Fogel's credit that he was prepared to explore the issue with Mr Stein. He's also explained his thinking well in public and admitted it was a bad judgment that he'd originally made. Although Mr Stein's views are antithetical to mine in many ways, I even give him credit for deciding to withdraw, rather than going forward as a divisive speaker. Obviously, there can be no objection to him putting his views via movies like Expelled, or by speaking on university campuses in some other capacity, or in any other way that is lawfully open to him, but he was the wrong choice for this particular address. Kudos to Dr Fogel. After the original dubious choice of a commencement speaker, the controversy was well handled. Of course, Mr Stein has every right to express whatever views he wishes, but he doesn’t have the right to be chosen as a commencement speaker. That is a (very great) privilege, not a right. Dr Fogel had the right to make the decision as to who would be offered that privilege, but those of us who thought he’d made a bad decision had every right to ask him to reconsider and to give our reasons.

I think it’s to Dr Fogel’s credit that he was prepared to explore the issue with Mr Stein. He’s also explained his thinking well in public and admitted it was a bad judgment that he’d originally made.

Although Mr Stein’s views are antithetical to mine in many ways, I even give him credit for deciding to withdraw, rather than going forward as a divisive speaker. Obviously, there can be no objection to him putting his views via movies like Expelled, or by speaking on university campuses in some other capacity, or in any other way that is lawfully open to him, but he was the wrong choice for this particular address.

]]> By: Patty http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/uvms-president-responds-to-questions-about-commencement-speaker-ben-stein/#comment-9 Patty Thu, 05 Feb 2009 17:27:54 +0000 http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-9 Thank you for proving Mr. Stein's point. You cannot have any opinion other than what is approved by the great liberal minds and be allowed to speak freely. What a very sad day for debate. You should all be shuddering rather than congratulating yourselves on this nasty piece of work. Thank you for proving Mr. Stein’s point. You cannot have any opinion other than what is approved by the great liberal minds and be allowed to speak freely. What a very sad day for debate. You should all be shuddering rather than congratulating yourselves on this nasty piece of work.

]]> By: Ben Stein is justifiably expelled « Nondiscovery Blog http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/uvms-president-responds-to-questions-about-commencement-speaker-ben-stein/#comment-8 Ben Stein is justifiably expelled « Nondiscovery Blog Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:11:05 +0000 http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-8 [...] on the subject. He sums up the feelings of the university in this quote from an interview with the Vermont Cynic: It’s an issue about the appropriateness of awarding an honorary degree to someone whose views [...] [...] on the subject. He sums up the feelings of the university in this quote from an interview with the Vermont Cynic: It’s an issue about the appropriateness of awarding an honorary degree to someone whose views [...]

]]> By: How to substitute offence for sense « Anglican Samizdat http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/uvms-president-responds-to-questions-about-commencement-speaker-ben-stein/#comment-7 How to substitute offence for sense « Anglican Samizdat Thu, 05 Feb 2009 00:09:42 +0000 http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-7 [...] seems that Richard Dawkins, in the spirit of free scientific empiricism, emailed Fogel to pressure him into turning down Stein for this engagement. What’s the matter, Richard? [...] [...] seems that Richard Dawkins, in the spirit of free scientific empiricism, emailed Fogel to pressure him into turning down Stein for this engagement. What’s the matter, Richard? [...]

]]> By: Larry Fafarman http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/uvms-president-responds-to-questions-about-commencement-speaker-ben-stein/#comment-6 Larry Fafarman Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:05:59 +0000 http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-6 Pres. Fogel should have just graciously accepted Ben Stein's withdrawal instead of going into a big song and dance about how Stein is undeserving of an honorary degree -- see http://www.evolutionnews.org/2009/02/university_of_vermont_presiden.html Pres. Fogel should have just graciously accepted Ben Stein’s withdrawal instead of going into a big song and dance about how Stein is undeserving of an honorary degree — see
http://www.evolutionnews.org/2009/02/university_of_vermont_presiden.html

]]> By: Translating the Blogs: What they’re really saying « The Phrenologist’s Notebook http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/uvms-president-responds-to-questions-about-commencement-speaker-ben-stein/#comment-5 Translating the Blogs: What they’re really saying « The Phrenologist’s Notebook Wed, 04 Feb 2009 07:29:27 +0000 http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-5 [...] makes the same mistake in this non-credible denial that academic freedom is the issue: “But I have to say, the issue here, and this is important, is [...] [...] makes the same mistake in this non-credible denial that academic freedom is the issue: “But I have to say, the issue here, and this is important, is [...]

]]> By: Ben Stein - Not Expelled, Just Flunked « The Skeptical Teacher http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/uvms-president-responds-to-questions-about-commencement-speaker-ben-stein/#comment-4 Ben Stein - Not Expelled, Just Flunked « The Skeptical Teacher Wed, 04 Feb 2009 05:11:27 +0000 http://straightfromthesource.wordpress.com/?p=9#comment-4 [...] a high-profile speech. Much of the negative feedback the university received is outlined at this transcript of an interview with UVM President Daniel Mark Fogel. Eventually, after such a public outcry, Stein voluntarily withdrew from giving the commencement [...] [...] a high-profile speech. Much of the negative feedback the university received is outlined at this transcript of an interview with UVM President Daniel Mark Fogel. Eventually, after such a public outcry, Stein voluntarily withdrew from giving the commencement [...]

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