A suit claiming religious discrimination has brought national attention to the hiring practices of a the Physics and Astronomy Department at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Martin Gaskell alleges the hiring process improperly investigated his religious beliefs, and denied him a position heading up the school's observatory as a result. The case raises important questions about the perception of compatibility between religious and scientific views. Today's NYTimes has more:
For the plaintiff, the smoking gun is an e-mail dated Sept. 21, 2007, from a department staff member, Sally A. Shafer, to Dr. Cavagnero and another colleague. Ms. Shafer wrote that she did an Internet search on Dr. Gaskell and found links to his notes for a lecture that explores, among other topics, how the Bible could relate to contemporary astronomy.
“Clearly this man is complex and likely fascinating to talk with,” Ms. Shafer wrote, “but potentially evangelical. If we hire him, we should expect similar content to be posted on or directly linked from the department Web site.”
In his deposition, Dr. Cavagnero recalled reading Ms. Shafer’s e-mail and said he discussed Dr. Gaskell’s faith with the department chairman at the University of Nebraska, where Dr. Gaskell worked at the time. Dr. Cavagnero also said a colleague, Moshe Elitzur, worried that Dr. Gaskell “had outspoken public views about creationism and evolution.”
As Dr. Gaskell's attorney indicates, being "potentially evangelical" is a troubling basis on which to consider an employee at a public university. While the school is surely within its rights to consider his academic views and teaching record, federal law prohibits religious discrimination. The committee's apparent inquiry into Gaskell's religious views during his interview will likely be a focus of the trial, scheduled for February. Assuming it goes forward, the case could be a fascinating exploration of the line between private beliefs and public duties. If a professor's academic views are entwined with his religious beliefs, what's a University to do?
Stay tuned.
