This is not just a state issue. President George W. Bush spoke on evolution and intelligent design Aug. 1, 2005. He spoke in favor of teaching both equally in science courses.

“Both sides ought to be properly taught… so people can understand what the debate is about,” he said, according to an official transcript of the session. “Part of education is to expose people to different schools of thought. …You’re asking me whether or not people ought to be exposed to different ideas, and the answer is yes.”

Fincke said intelligent design has no place in a science classroom, because it is not science.

“It’s philosophy at best,” Fincke said. “You can believe that, but I believe that God did it via evolution. Teach intelligent design in a philosophy class, or in Sunday school. Intelligent Design has created no new scientific knowledge.”

Vic Hutchison, OU emeritus zoology professor, called OU’s statement “The best I have ever seen on evolution,” but fears that if ID is also taught it will take necessary time away from teaching evolution.

“Science does not, cannot and will not address the matters that are supernatural,” Hutchison said. “Why teach something in science that isn’t science?”

While neither OSU or OU have publicly endorsed the statements from their zoology departments, the OU Faculty Senate has the statement on its agenda for their next meeting. Fox said he hopes state higher education will take a position on the issue as the departments already have.