On a voice vote, KU's Student Senate approved a resolution urging that evolution be returned to science standards in public schools.
Kansas University's Student Senate on Wednesday night overwhelmingly approved a resolution denouncing the Kansas State Board of Education's decision to de-emphasize the teaching of evolution in public secondary schools.
"We believe that the KBOE justifications for removing evolution have been disingenuous," the resolution says.
"Neither of their two main justifications can withstand even the simplest rational questioning. If they claim that they did what they did to increase local control of science education, then why did they write and pass statewide science standards in the first place?
"If they claim that they want investigations in Kansas science classrooms about the difficulties inherent in the theory of evolution, why do they not present what these presumed difficulties are?" the resolution says.
The Senate approved the resolution on a voice vote; of the 66 members present, only two senators said they registered a vote against the proposal.
Jon Davis, a sophomore from Newton, said he voted against it because the BOE's decision has no impact on local districts.
"It really didn't change anything," he said.
Minutes before the vote, KU graduate student Bradley Carter, a former hospital chaplain and Episcopal seminary graduate, gave a rousing speech in favor of the measure.
"We have a chance to make a symbolic statement " not only for freedom of speech but for freedom of religion," he said. "Do not be fooled, this (BOE vote) is being put forward by people with narrow, sectarian motives."
Partha Mazumdar, a student senator and executive director of KU's graduate and professional association, was author of the resolution.
"I don't find this a joking matter at all," Mazumdar told the Senate.
The resolution said the BOE "has struck a blow against the education of the students of Kansas" and that "it may now be more difficult to recruit talented out-of-state teachers into Kansas, and it may be more difficult for us to be accepted to graduate schools outside of Kansas."
It also says that "the teachings of science and the teachings of religion inhabit different areas of one's education, they do not overlap and they are not in conflict."
Tara Kelly, a junior from Overland Park and the other senator who voted against the resolution, said she wanted the measure to leave out any references to religion.
A proposal by student senator Chris Hess to strike references to religion in the resolution was defeated by voice vote.
"I think we should be addressing what the board did, not what their motivations were," Hess said.
But Carter said conservative religious views were clearly the motive behind the board's vote.
-- Michael Dekker's phone message number is 832-7187. His e-mail address is mdekker@ljworld.com.
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