Professor Kerry Laird was asked to remove a quote from the door of his office at Temple College this past week. The infamous quote was that of renowned German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche: “God is dead” is from The Gay Science. The quote was displayed in its original German. Administrators say they found the quotes presence offensive and were concerned that its display on university property constituted an endorsement of Nietzsche’s controversial quote. As a public institution, they feel they cannot endorse any religious position. Laird sees the forced removal as a violation of his free speech and academic rights. Students have reacted with outrage, flooding the administration with complaints about biblical quotes and religious symbols displayed freely around other parts of campus (including on other professors doors).

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