CWU Biology, Theatre Joins Forces For Darwin Day Presentation

February 14, 2005

Contact: Mark Anderson (509-963-1493/fax 509-963-2301/e-mail: andemark@cwu.edu)

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The Central Washington University biology and theatre arts departments, along with some surprising guest artists, will commemorate Darwin Day on Wednesday, Feb. 23 with an evening of presentations titled: "The Challenge of Fundamentalism." The free, public program is slated for 7 p.m. in McConnell Auditorium on the Ellensburg campus.

Dr. Steven Verhey, CWU biological sciences professor and the production's producer, says, "Fundamentalism is about a need for certainty, while the best science involves the management of uncertainty. Fundamentalism is about not changing, even when change is needed. There are examples of fundamentalism in every religion and culture, including science."

It is this "flawed certainty" that both Verhey and Dr. Heidi Szpek will address in opening remarks. Szpek, CWU philosophy professor and Hebrew Bible expert, will approach fundamentalism from a religious viewpoint, while Verhey will look at the problems of fundamentalism in science.

A scene will follow that discussion from the American classic, "Inherit the Wind," by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. It will feature Dr. David Soltz, CWU provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, as Matthew Harrison Brady, and George Bellah, CWU theatre arts professor, as Henry Drummond.

It is a fictionalized account of the famous 1925 Scopes "monkey trial," in which John Scopes was charged and jailed for teaching evolution in his classroom despite a Tennessee law that forbade it.

"The play itself is a good illustration of what transpired and brings that information clearly to the viewer," says Wesley Van Tassel, CWU theatre arts professor, who will direct the scene. "The two primary speakers in the scene present the two sides of the basic Darwin debate: is the evolutionary process in conflict with the concept of creationism?"

The event is the brainchild of Verhey, who approached the theatre arts department about the possibility of staging the dramatic presentation.

"This year is the 80th anniversary of the Scopes monkey trial," Verhey points out. "When I realized that, I immediately thought of the play 'Inherit the Wind,' which is about intolerance and fundamentalism. At about the same time I ran into Wes, and that's where the idea of actually staging part of the play started. As we've worked on the project, we've been struck by how little has changed since 1925."

Van Tassel goes on to say, "Because the issue is important to me and others here, I encouraged the theatre department to become involved and produce the famous scene. Forcing one point of view on education has always been a frightening thought to me and yet it is happening in school districts everywhere. I'd like to see an agreement on how two theories can work together, because to leave them separate is foolish. The development of man through natural selection is one of the clearest proofs in all science. But biologists tell me there is fundamentalism on their side as well. So I'm curious to see how various points of view from various speakers make it all fit together."

A panel discussion, featuring Verhey, Szpek and members of the local clergy, will follow the dramatic presentation.

"There's a lot of ignorance in the United States both about Darwin's idea of evolution and about fundamentalism," Verhey says. "There's a connection between the two, which we want to explore in this evening of programming."

This will be the 4th annual CWU commemoration of Darwin Day. "Each Darwin Day has been different, to appeal to as many groups as possible," Verhey notes. "Some have been aimed mostly at scientists; some have been organized to benefit the entire community. Darwin's birthday has always been special to biologists. Ever since Darwin published 'On the Origin of the Species' in 1859, biologists have thought of him on his birthday -- which happens to be the day same as Abraham Lincoln's -- but organized celebrations have been happening around the country for at least 25 years. Darwin Day is a chance for us to celebrate scientists and science, and the huge benefits that scientific knowledge, acquired through human curiosity and ingenuity, has contributed to our lives.

For more information, or for persons of disability to arrange for reasonable accommodation, call (509) 963-2731, or (for the hearing impaired) TDD (509) 963-2143.