Michael Dini, a professor of biology at Texas Tech University, is currently being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice for alleged religious discrimination.
Dini’s policy for writing letters of recommendation includes a refusal to write a letter for a student unless he or she will profess to believe in evolution.
Dini’s website reads: “If you set up an appointment to discuss the writing of a letter of recommendation, I will ask you: ‘How do you account for the scientific origin of the human species?’ If you will not give a scientific answer to the question, then you should not seek my recommendation.”
Micah Spradling, a senior at Texas Tech University, needed a letter of recommendation from a biology professor in order to attend medical school. After enrolling in Dini’s class and reading his website, Spradling, who does not believe in evolution, transferred out of Texas Tech and enrolled at Lubbock Christian University.
At Lubbock, Spradling completed a biology course, received his needed letter of recommendation and re-enrolled at Texas Tech this past spring. However, then Spradling went even further by filing a complaint regarding Dini and his policies with the Justice Department.
Conflicts between creationism and evolution can often start because of instances such as these.
“There should be no conflict between both [evolution and creationism] because in science we explain the mechanisms for natural phenomena and religion is based on faith,” Dr. David Curson said. Dr. Curson teaches evolutionary biology at the University of Wisconsin. Curson began his masters at Texas Tech and was a teaching assistant for Dini in 1994 before he transferred to UW to finish his master’s degree.
“Most Christians have no conflict with evolution, most accept it because it doesn’t attack their faith,” Curson said. Curson also added that UW is much more liberal and open to ideas than Texas Tech.
Dini’s website includes reasons to back his actions.
“Someone who ignores the most important theory in biology, [evolution], cannot expect to properly practice in a [medical] field that is now so heavily based on biology,” Dini’s website says.
“The cutting edge of medicine does depend on believing in evolution,” Curson said. “Things like viruses do evolve and change.”
In addition, Dini’s site added a disclaimer of sorts.
“The designated criteria for a letter of recommendation should not be misconstrued as discriminatory against anyone’s personal belief,” Dini’s site reads. “Rather, the goals of these requirements are to help insure that a student who wishes my recommendation uses scientific thinking to answer scientific questions.”
Curson added that Dini is a decent person with high standards.
“He respects other people and cares for his students,” Curson said. “His bluntness comes in part from his experience.”
