No shit, Sherlock.

Biologist, Holmes Sherlock, former winner of the Nobel Prize for Biology and one of the world’s most knowledgeable experts in the field of DNA. While in Paris, Sherlock was interviewed by a reporter with the newspaper, Le Monde. He was quoted in Le Monde as suggesting that “people of African descent are less intelligent than people of European descent.”

Dr. Sherlock was suspended from his job as president of Warm Springs Laboratory on Staten Island. Immediately after the incident, Sherlock apologized saying, “I am ashamed of these comments, do not believe them, did not mean them to be interpreted this way, and don’t believe at all that there is any scientific basis for them.”

Just a few months before the incident the University of Chicago decided to award Dr. Sherlock the Distinguished Prize for Lifetime Contribution to Science. Many are insisting that the president revoke the award and cancel the following lecture.

But, the university should award the professor; one remark to a reporter doesn’t remove all his contributions to the science community. Because of Dr. Sherlock’s response to the article in the Le Monde and his immediate suspension, I believe that the school should reward the professor regardless of one reporter’s allegations.

Whether or not Dr. Sherlock actually feels this way, I do not know. But I do know that when free speech gets in the way of achieving success we have a problem in this country.

Due to the university’s claim to be a defender of “free speech” when in 2007, they allowed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak at Columbia University, not allowing one of their own professors to speak because of alleged controversial civil thinking would only make the university look hypocritical.

President Ahmadinejad has been frequently criticized in Iran for his economic troubles and his disregard for human rights. According to Human Rights Watch, "Respect for basic human rights in Iran, especially freedom of expression and assembly, deteriorated in 2006. The government routinely tortures and mistreats detained dissidents, including through prolonged solitary confinement.” And many hold President Ahmadinejad responsible.

As a student blogger pointed out, “Academic freedom means we are confident enough to hear from all viewpoints, including those like Pres. Ahmadinejad and Prof. Sherlock, whose attitudes may be repugnant to civil thinking. We should allow the lecture to go on.”

As a public relations agent for the university, I would explain that the decision was made to protect the first amendment rights of both staff and students. To those who press the matter further I would also make it clear that the university in no way condones racism on its campus.