'Medical Humanities in the Digital Age' at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

After reading this piece at the College Fix, "Professors tell students: Drop class if you dispute man-made climate change," I sent the following email to the instructors of the course, as well as the university administration:

Hello Chancellor Shockley-Zalabak:

According to an article at the College Fix, your campus will offer an online course called "Medical Humanities in the Digital Age" for the fall semester.

Apparently, the faculty members leading the course have sent enrolled students an email indicating, "The point of departure for this course is based on the scientific premise that human induced climate change is valid and occurring. We will not, at any time, debate the science of climate change, nor will the ‘other side’ of the climate change debate be taught or discussed in this course..."

The email goes on to tell enrolled students to, essentially, GTFO if you don't agree with the ideological agenda of this course.

This is an absolutely pathetic case of all the worst of institutional progressivism in American academe. For the record, the science of anthropomorphic global warming is not settled. In fact, the idea that "97 percent of scientists" agree with the hypothesis of man-made climate change is nothing more than an urban legend. The earth's climate has been changing for millions of years. We're currently in a long warming period that began in the 19th century. The question of humanity's carbon consumption contributing to changes in the global climate remains a matter of scientific investigation.

Moreover, to suggest, in a university course, that there should be no debate on a topic of great public interest and import is in fact the epitome of anti-science and irrationalism. Such statements of refusal to consider opposing ideas, much less to answer questions or concerns of skeptics, is the height of intolerance and anti-intellectualism.

I hope that you and your administration will think long and hard about the reputation that is accruing to your institution in light of the news of this course offering. No self-respecting scientist or scholar would dare be associated with such close-minded snobbery. I further hope that you and your administration are taking appropriate steps to remedy this shameful episode, and to restore the integrity of your school's standing as an institution of higher learning.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Donald Kent Douglas, Ph.D.
Irvine, California

Please join me in sharing your thoughts with the course instructors and the administration. The university's home page is here.

More, from Anthony Watts, "Intolerance by the Climate Thought Police at University of Colorado."