Robert George

Politics professor Robert George moderated a panel titled “The Killing of bin Laden: What Does It Mean for America and the World?” before a large audience in Dodds Auditorium on Tuesday.

Politics professor Robert George is involved in a dispute with Apple that could result in legal action. Two weeks ago, George coauthored a letter to Apple chief executive Steve Jobs asking him to reinstate the Manhattan Declaration iPhone application, which the company removed following criticism that the app was anti-gay.

As the child of gay parents who recently celebrated the 22nd anniversary of their civil union, I have paid close attention to coverage of the political activism of politics professor Robert George, who has been actively opposing same-sex marriage through several organizations. If we consider these activities improper, what separates them from the political statements of economics professor Paul Krugman or the activism of African American studies professor Cornel West GS ’80? I would suggest that a lack of academic integrity and consistency — not partisanship — constitutes unacceptable behavior for a professor’s extracurricular activities.

The Princeton-based National Organization for Marriage supported efforts to unseat three Iowa State Supreme Court justices in last week’s midterm elections. In a 2009 ruling, the justices voted to overturn a 1998 law specifying that marriage must be between a man and woman.

 I went down last week to McCosh Hall with some friends from my church to hear professors Robert George and Cornel West GS ’80 discuss what it means to be a Christian in today’s world.