School's Intelligent Design Ban Draws GOP Scrutiny

Republican lawmakers in Indiana are questioning Ball State University's decision to ban a class on intelligent design, The Star Press reports.

The university banned the course after concluding intelligent design is overwhelmingly regarded by the scientific community as a religious belief and not a scientific theory.

The move prompted legislators to send a letter to the university's president expressing concerns the decision violated religious and academic freedom.

They said they were "disturbed by reports that while you restrict faculty speech on intelligent design, BSU authorized a seminar that teaches 'Science Must Destroy Religion.'"

Lawmakers also want to know if the policy forbids science professors from answering student questions about intelligent design in class.

They added that since the school has refused to release its report on the matter they felt "unable to judge whether the investigation was fair and impartial."

The Discovery Institute, a Seattle-based intelligent design think tank, agreed.

"That report should be public so the public can judge whether what happened was fair or biased or whatever," John West, the group's vice president, said.