Scared of Science?

CHRONICLE.COM, Sept. 14 — The Biological Society of Washington has publicly distanced itself from a paper, published last month in its journal, that challenges Dar winian evolution, saying that the paper, which suppor ts intelligent-design theory, should not have appeared in the journal. However, it did not retract the paper.

The ar ticle was written by Stephen Meyer, director of the Center for Science and Culture at the Discover y Institute in Seattle. It was accepted by the journal's previous editor, Richard Sternberg, a fellow of the International Society for Complexity, Information and Design, which promotes the idea that nature has a purpose.

Meyer's paper contends that current evolutionary theory cannot explain how new animal forms developed in the distant past. It advocates intelligent design, which holds that biological systems are so complex that they could have arisen only through the action of an intelligent force.

Trinity University

ASSOCIATED PRESS, Sept. 10 — Trinity College has been renamed Trinity University, reflecting its growth and expanded programs.

In 1897, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur founded Trinity in Washington, D.C., as one of the nation's first liberal ar ts colleges for women.

The undergraduate liberal ar ts college will keep the name Trinity College and continue as an all-women's school.

Catholic U. Stands Tall

THE WASHINGTON POST, Sept. 17 — Catholic University has told the organizers of a local Italian film festival that it will not host a panel discussion if actor Stanley Tucci is featured.

The university said its action is in accord with the teaching of the nations' bishops that Catholic colleges are not to give “awards, honors and platforms” to those who oppose the church's fundamental positions, par ticularly on abor tion.

A 2003 Tony Award nominee, Tucci is best known for starring in the Italian-restaurant film Big Night. He is also a member of Planned Parent-hood's “celebrity coalition.”

Anonymous $Million

LORAS COLLEGE, Sept. 16 — The liberal-ar ts college of the Archdiocese of Dubuque announced that it has received an anonymous gift of $1 million.

Jim Collins, president of Loras, said half of the gift would be allocated to the “For the Glory” campaign for a new athletic and wellness facility, while the other $500,000 would be used for scholarships.

Earlier in the year, the college also received a $1 million donation from Eldon and Marge Herrig of Dubuque.

Eligibility Dispute

NEWARK STAR-LEDGER, Sept. 11 — New Jersey's St. Peter's College fired its head football coach, Scott Kochman, for using ineligible players in a Sept. 4 game against Monmouth University.

The coach said that he had been given an incorrect list of eligible players and that his firing ended a simmering feud with the Jesuit college's athletics director, William Stein.

Kochman said he had written at least two letters to the college's provost to complain about the management of the athletics program.

Stein said the firing was strictly about the eligibility issue.