We, the faculty of the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics at Kentucky Wesleyan College (KWC), write to strongly refute the anti-science, anti-public health, and anti-intellectualism speech that Senator Rand Paul performed at the KWC Opening Convocation on August 17, 2024. The focus of Sen. Paul’s speech aimed to undermine the credibility of two cornerstones of the scientific community, namely, empirical evidence and peer-review, in hopes of advancing a political agenda. We affirm our support of free speech, when used responsibly, and the value of open discourse. However, Sen. Paul’s espousal of inaccurate claims about the COVID-19 virus both damaged the reputation of Kentucky Wesleyan College as a higher education institution and implicated the College in spreading dangerous misinformation in a venue where students and faculty were required to attend. We feel these comments violate the academic integrity of the institution and undermine our mission to facilitate the healthy growth of our students’ physical, intellectual, and spiritual wellbeing. As scientists devoted to peer-reviewed consensus and testable claims, we are obligated to refute Sen. Paul’s unsubstantiated claims. Our ability to conduct collaborative scientific research, teach scientific courses, and seek partnerships within the scientific community suffers if the public perceives that KWC supports anti-science rhetoric.
Sen Paul made repeated false claims about the spread and severity of the COVID virus. Kentucky Wesleyan College includes a diverse student population whose medical, social, and family needs and situations can not be reduced to a single, monolithic demographic. We find it immoral to encourage students to ignore CDC regulations and peer-reviewed data on issues of public health. Our students often help provide care for the elderly and other persons susceptible to COVID. COVID misinformation makes these students susceptible to inadvertently endangering loved ones and members of their community, a danger validated by data collected by health professionals and empirically reviewed by the scientific community. Sen Paul’s attack on public health and those working to combat the spread of the COVID virus were shameful and disrespectful of the health needs of our Kentucky Wesleyan College family.
We affirm to our students, colleagues, and community that we do not share the anti-COVID science, anti-vaccine science, and anti-public health views espoused by Sen. Paul during his Opening Convocation speech. We will continue to educate our students about science as we always have: sharing its intricate beauty, advocating its benefits, teaching its rigor, and championing its openness to peer-review.