The Wake

“Evolution’s not dead! It’s dancing in the middle of the floor with a lampshade on it’s head!” stated University of Minnesota, Morris Professor Paul Meyers. On February 13, just one day after Charles Darwin’s birthday, the Bell History Museum held a discussion on the topic of evolution as a part of its Café Scientifique series at the Varsity Theater in Dinkytown. This evening was, of course, not without incident. Many a voice was cautiously raised in acts of interjection, bold by our mild mannered Minnesotan standards. Things failed to genuinely heat up until moments before the evening reached its conclusion, but when it did, shit was hot. The room was a torrid mix of long-winded proclamations and unrelenting rebuttals, well worth the price of admission, which was a five dollar suggested donation.

Professors Mark Barrello and Paul “PZ” Meyers, Bell Museum director, Scott Lanyon presented their thoughts and led the discussion. Barrello kicked things off with a 10 minute lecture on topics ranging from the importance of debate to the complex relationship between broader culture and science. Lanyon shed some light on science’s continuing inability to rectify the common misconception of evolution. Often, people assume “theory” implies a lack of scientific backing, so they can question it being taught in classrooms. They take “theory” for its popularly used meaning as merely a hunch or a guess. In a scientific context, however, a “theory” is a well-tested, logically derived, and well-supported explanation. Frequently, those who fall victim are those who simultaneously demand that creationism and intelligent design be taught alongside evolution in the classroom. They make this demand on the grounds of the “theory” theory.

Prof. Paul “PZ” Meyers was the chief catalyst of debate provocation. A great deal of fuss was ultimately made of a statement we would revisit throughout his ten minutes of lecture. “It’s not people’s ignorance I have a problem with. We’d be out of a job if people weren’t ignorant. Arrogance is the root of the problem; people think they’re always right,” was the claim that would ultimately create the friction necessary to rub someone into an angry rant (but more on that later).

The crowd was, for the most part, as seasoned as the timeless subject at hand. One audience member of particular note adorned a cult-leader beard and sat Indian style in the center of the floor, which was especially interesting in lieu of all the open chairs throughout the room. There were a smattering of young couples, and even a handful of collegians. To the surprise of no one, the lady and gent who led the discussion were rocking a mullet and a fly-fishing vest, respectively. Some of the evening’s most insightful discussion was provided via a high school science teacher of seventeen years. He aired his frustrations of no longer being able to even use the word “evolution,” as kids are already programmed by the time they reach his class to simply tune it out. They’ve already learned in Sunday School how things started and haven’t the “science literacy” to partake in discussions.

A man who must have been in his 70s or 80s sat in the very front. As was to be expected, he dropped several of the night’s most outrageous claims and comments. “… William Buckley… is he dead yet? He should be.” And “attorney generals, they should be our best critical thinkers but some of these guys got their damn superstitions.…” When a gentleman in the back, towards the evening’s end, said something to the extent of, “If you think you can disprove God, than you’re of a higher arrogance than any of these creationist you’ve been munching all night.” He cited the fact that the head of the Genome Project was an Evangelical Christian and finished by saying that religious beliefs cannot be questioned. This did not sit well with the seldom addressed “PZ” Meyers. “No, I actually do think it’s time (that we start to question religion). The job is on you to prove your religion with facts as evolution as has done time and time again.” Mr. Lanyon, despite admitting that he takes his own kids to church, added that he believes Sunday School teaches “sloppy thinking.” which was met with applause and even an enthusiastic “Boo Ya” from the back. Things would escalate from there, but would quickly be ended by our mullet touting, female curator, as 8 O’clock had arrived. On the whole, it was another informative and engaging evening from Café Scientifique.