A Pro-life Hero in Academia Dr. James L. Sherley

Professor James L. Sherley, whose field of study is biological engineering, was denied tenure at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He, the son of a Baptist Minister, opposes embryonic stem cell research, and human cloning. Do you see the connection? He's not in lockstep with the forces of death, so he must be silenced. I have seen the same thing happen in colleges and public schools, time after time. Only Dr. Sherley has refused to go quietly. He has promised to stand a hunger strike in February outside the offices of Provost L. Rafael Reif, until his denial of tenure is reversed. Sherley told the Globe that Douglas A. Lauffenburger, the director of the Biological Engineering division, told him that he had strong recommendations letters for tenure but that he was denied it because of his views on stem cell research.
The professor said he hasn't been a victim of overt racism but said he is frequently asked whose research lab he works in when he has his own. Apparently Academia, while frequently preaches against racism and in favor of freedom of speech is acting hypocritically. This is an internal memo from Dr. Sherley at MIT about his hunger strike. In it he states,

There were several damaging acts, motivated by my race, that I either
encountered or learned of as a member of the BE faculty. For example, I learned
that the reason I had never had full independent lab space was because future
Provost Robert Brown, who was the Dean of the School of Engineering at the time,
said that he was not going to give lab space to a Black man.

Unbelieveable! I think another prejudice afoot is that against a professor who dares to oppose the supremacy of science over morality. In other words, if we can do it (embryonic stem cell research, cloning, etc.) then we MUST do it, regardless of the possible moral implications.

Let's support Dr. Sherley's brave stand with our prayers and our voices. Spread the word!!

I couldn't find an email address for President Susan Hockfield (they're so clever over at MIT)
but you can write a greeting card, which just might contain a contribution, and wear them out that way. Here's the address:
President Susan Hockfield Phone:
Room 3-208 Fax:
MIT
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139-4307

Phone: (617)253-0148
Fax: (617)253-3124