Believers Need Not Apply

A couple of weeks ago The New York Times reported that an astronomer from the University of Nebraska, Dr. Martin Gaskell, is suing the University of Kentucky over a claim that he was not hired there because of his religious faith.

During the interview process, Dr. Gaskell was grilled about his religious beliefs by the head of the physics and astronomy department, Dr. Michael Cavagnero. I suppose this has something to do with the presumption that real scientists aren’t supposed to believe in God.

Or something like that.

According to the lawsuit, Dr. Cavagnero went on to inform Dr. Gaskell that he had taken the time to personally research his religious beliefs, and that his “expression of them would be a matter of concern” to the dean.

Friends, let us pause here for a moment of reflection. This is all a bit perplexing to me, since any dopehead knows that it’s strictly verboten to ask such personal questions when interviewing a prospective candidate, much less blurt out that it could be a problem in the job. Federal law, thankfully, prohibits such discrimination, whether it’s against one’s religious beliefs, sexual orientation, race, age or physical condition. Perhaps the head of the astronomy department could have used a little training refresher from Human Resources?

But wait, there’s more! It turns out that a sneaky and resourceful department staff member, a Ms. Sally Shafer, had conducted her own little internet search on Dr. Gaskell prior to his interview. This also is quite commonplace nowadays when considering candidates, as it is a handy method for digging up dirt that would otherwise never appear on a resume.

Ms. Shafer’s crafty internet search turned up some not-so-secret notes from a lecture series in which – fasten your seatbelts! - Dr. Gaskell linked the bible to contemporary astronomy (quelle horreur!). As a loyal henchwoman to the physics department, Ms. Shaefer quickly tapped out an email to Dr. Cavagnero upon this scandalous discovery, in which, according to the New York Times, she warned, “clearly this man is complex and likely fascinating to talk with, but potentially evangelical.”

Potentially evangelical? Really? Is that like being potentially female? Or potentially disabled?

Naturally, the entire UK astronomy department became worried they were bringing on an outspoken and controversial evolution-bashing creationist. This, as you must surely appreciate, could create quite a stir among the university community, seeing that it is located less than 100 miles from the Creation Museum in Petersburg, KY. (Awkward!)

Dr. Gaskell, who is now working at the University of Texas, told the New York Times that he was not a creationist, and did not deny the theory of evolution.

Look. Potentially, I might be an Episcopalian, or an evolutionist, or a republican, or a flaming yoghurt weaver. Potentially, I could be a lot of things, you just don't know. But one thing I am definitely not is a manager who blatantly discriminates against job candidates prior to hiring them.

The University of Kentucky, however, is arguing that the question of one’s religious belief is a cause for being unfit for the job. And that is, potentially, quite alarming.

The trial is scheduled for February.

Post by Bradley J, Moore.

Image by Simon Lieschke, used with permission via Flickr.