To the editor:

I have been following with mild amusement the saga of Sen. Susan Wagle vs. professor Dennis Dailey, who teaches human sexuality in Kansas University’s School of Social Welfare. The story is being spun as the Neanderthal Religious Rightists vs. Heroic Defenders of Academic Freedom.

Here’s a different perspective.

I was once the faculty behavioral science coordinator for a large family practice residency. Part of the curricular requirement is that the budding family physicians be exposed to the teachings of human sexologists. I did the requisite research, attempted to impart it to my charges and brought in a few experts and films.

Let me assure you that everything anyone needs to know about human sexuality, from a legitimate research perspective, can be imparted in one eight-hour day.

Professor Dailey’s course may or may not be valued by students chiefly for its titillatory effects. I have no doubt he is entertaining; after all, sex is the oldest joke in the world. It is little reassurance that the athlete-students awarded him the Del Shankel Teaching Excellence Award.

What Sen. Wagle ought to be saying is that this course is one more example of the trivialization of the college curriculum. My alma mater ought to be ashamed, not for offering pornography for credit, but rather because the faculty has once again subjected itself to justifiable ridicule by failing to exercise discipline in its course offerings.

According to the Journal-World, “The final class ended with Dailey reading Dr. Seuss’ ‘Oh, The Places You’ll Go,’ a book about the perils and joys of growing up. Students gave Dailey an ovation.”

I rest my case.

Richard Douglas Iliff, M.D.,

Topeka