Mississippi University for Women has reinstated a science and math administrator it had demoted days after she gave a lecture questioning Darwinian evolution.
After Nancy Bryson, an associate professor of chemistry, charged that the university had violated her academic freedom with the demotion, the institution's president announced last week that the professor would remain as division head of science and mathematics. The president, Claudia A. Limbert, cited concern about "the incorrect perception" that Ms. Bryson had been demoted because of the lecture.
Ms. Bryson, who does not have tenure, gave a presentation on February 20 to a group of honors students titled "Critical Thinking on Evolution." The talk covered alternative views to evolution, including "intelligent design," a theory that an intelligent agent is responsible for the origins of earth and its history (The Chronicle, December 21, 2001). "It pointed out some inconsistencies in Darwin's theory," said Ms. Bryson. Following the talk, a senior professor of biology stood up and read a rebuttal to her remarks. "He said it was religion masquerading as science," said Ms. Bryson.
The next day, according to Ms. Bryson, Vagn Hansen, the vice president for academic affairs, asked her to resign her administrative position but would not tell her why. She refused, and three days later received a letter stating that her contract as division head would not be renewed in the fall, she said. Mr. Hansen was not available for comment.
Ms. Bryson sent an e-mail message to faculty and alumni e-mail lists accusing the administration of dismissing her because of her lecture. Perry Sansing, the university counsel, denied her claims in an e-mail response to the lists. "Her personal opinions, and her presentations in particular, played no part in Dr. Hansen's request for her resignation," Mr. Sansing wrote.
In a March 13 statement, Ms. Limbert said she was reinstating Ms. Bryson based on a concern "about the appearance of timing which created the incorrect perception that Dr. Nancy Bryson's non-renewal ... was a consequence of her recent lecture." She also reasserted the institution's "absolute commitment to academic freedom and freedom of speech."
In an interview, Mr. Sansing would not discuss the details of Ms. Bryson's reinstatement except to say that she and Mr. Hansen had previously had several conversations and written exchanges about her job performance, some of which occurred months before the lecture.
Ms. Bryson maintains that her original dismissal was linked to her February presentation, and that administrators felt pressured to reinstate her after supporters had sent a number of e-mail messages and made calls on her behalf. "I think that turned the tide," she said.
Still, Ms. Bryson is not confident about her future at the university. The administration, she said, is disappointed because of the negative publicity. "I'm going to be watching my back."
_________________________________________________________________
Copyright 2003 by The Chronicle of Higher Education
File Date: 03.18.03