The professor has set an enormously bad example to his students and whether intended or not, cast dark shadows on his University. As a professor myself, I have seen his type but not with such veracity and hatred. The University should examine its policies on retention of such academic types tenured or not. Part of his job entails teaching outside of the box. Science and the other disciplines are academic; more importantly however, professors have the unique ability to instill on their charges values including respect for things not understood.

His attitude and demeanor in the public forum are non-professional and have absolutely nothing to do with academic freedom. He has taken license which is not freedom. I would not care if this man were the top in his field; my children would never sit in his classes nor set foot in the University period. If they employ this type of mental giant who stoops to the level he has so vehemently, they do not earn my trust nor respect.

The greater part of teaching is not the academics; it goes far beyond that. Professors often become role models for their students who seek to emulate them. We already have a world full of his type of model and could use a generous portion of holistic and balanced professors to turn around higher education. Producing graduates who have knowledge is one thing but knowledge alone if insufficient to live a full life in the broader community.

It is a sad day when someone takes something sacred and drags it into the profane. To do such a thing speaks volumes about the character of the man and in this instance, shouts its absence.