NEWS AND COMMENT

Florida Legislators, the deal on academic and scientific only way to combat this is to ensure that grounds.) After a protracted fight, York government leaders and media professionals FSU Faculty Clash over rejected the proposal in 2001. receive adequate scientific training based on Proposed Chiropractic reason, and that they also develop critical —John Gaeddert School at University thinking skills." John Gaeddert is Assistant Director of Public Ostrander traces the popularity of crude A proposed chiropractic school at Florida Relations for CSICOP. shark cartilage as a cancer treatment and pre- State University (FSU) has pitted state legis- ventive measure to I. William Lane's 1992 lators against school faculty in a battle that is book tided Sharks Don't Get Cancer, which equal parts science and politics. Shark Cartilage Cancer was further publicized by the CBS News pro- 'Cure' Shows Danger of gram 60 Minutes in 1993. Though Lane acknowledges in the book that sharks do, in Pseudoscience fact, get cancer, he bases his advocacy of crude cartilage extracts on what Ostrander The rising popularity of shark cartilage calls "overextensions" of some early experi- extract as an anti-cancer treatment is a tri- ments in which the substance seemed to In January, FSU considered a proposal to umph of marketing and pseudoscience over inhibit tumor formation and the growth of build the first public chiropractic school in reason, with a tragic fallout for both sharks new blood vessels that supply nutrients and the country. Florida Governor Jeb Bush and and humans, according to a Johns Hopkins the state legislature have already set aside $9 biologist writing in the December 1, 2004, oxygen to malignancies. million of annual funding for the proposed issue of Cancer Research. "The fact is that it is possible that highly school. (Governor Bush has been quoted as "Since shark cartilage has been promoted purified components of cartilage, including saying that the deal was more about making as a cancer cure, not only has there been a from sharks, may hold some benefit for treat- peace between warring politicians than any measurable decline in shark populations, but ment of human cancers," Ostrander said. particular interest in chiropractic medicine.) cancer patients also have been diverted from "The key will be to isolate these compounds The proposal was voted down by the proven, effective treatments," said Gary K. and design a way to deliver them to the site University Board of Governors. Ostrander, a research professor in the depart- of the tumor. Lane and others ignore these Several Florida politicians voiced support ments of Biology and Comparative Medicine existing barriers and suggest that consuming for the chiropractic school; they contend that at The Johns Hopkins University. crude cartilage extracts by mouth or rectum it would have attracted students and develop- In the paper, titled "Shark Cartilage, could be curative of all cancers—an approach ment dollars, as well as boosting the reputa- Cancer, and the Growing Threat of Pseudo- for which there is no scientific basis." tion of the chiropractic community. science," Ostrander writes, "Crude shark —Johns Hopkins University However, many FSU faculty members cartilage is marketed as a cancer cure on the opposed it. They argued rhat chiropractic premise that sharks don't get cancer. That's medicine is a pseudoscience and that such a not true, and the fact that people believe it is school would hurt FSU's academic reputa- an illustration of just how harmful the pub- 'Psychic' Con Artist tion. They also protested the way in which lic's irrationality can be." Caught in Police Sting the deal was arranged, with little to no input In fact, Ostrander's paper details more than from faculty members. Several pan-time fac- forty examples of tumors in sharks and related At the 2004 Bayou Lacombe Crab Festival in ulty members had threatened to quit if the species, dating back to the mid-1800s. In the Louisiana last July, a resident of Slidell, school was approved. paper, Ostrander and a team of researchers Louisiana, had a reading performed by a sup- One of the professors created a parody from the Registry of T u m o r s in Lower Animals posed psychic who called herself "Miss map of the campus, which designates a not only dissect what they call the "fallacious Jackson." While the woman sought the read- building for Chiropractic Medicine along- arguments" that have successfully convinced ing as entertainment, upon being informed side other paranormal departments such as desperate cancer patients to purchase and that she had a terrible curse on her, she began the Yeti Foundation, the School of ingest crude shark cartilage extract, but they to take the episode more seriously. But to her Channeling and Remote Sensing, and a also call for society to become more scientifi- relief. Miss Jackson quickly informed her Circle Simulation Laboratory. cally literate and, rhus, less vulnerable to skill- that the curse could be removed with the fully mass-marketed illogical claims. proper ritual, and the next day, the two This is not the first time that a partner- arranged to get together and discuss remov- ship between a major university and a chi- "People read on the Internet or hear on ing the curse. That procedure, predictably, ropractic organization has been attempted: television that taking crude shark cartilage involved a large sum of money which was to in 1995, York University in Toronto con- extract can cure them of cancer, and they be ceremonially buried in a specified loca- sidered a plan to affiliate themselves with believe it without demanding to sec the sci- tion in a paper bag—with a banana. the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic ence behind the claims," Ostrander said. College. (There are several parallels: the "This shows how the electronic media have Fortunately, the victim realized that she proposal was not made public until 1998, increased the potential harm of pseudo- was being targeted by a con artist and con- and advocates promised that the deal science, turning what would otherwise be tacted the Slidell Police Department. She was quaint cultural curiosities into potential seri- would bring in millions of dollars and asked by investigators to go through with the ous societal and ecological problems. The many new students while faculty opposed meeting so that Miss Jackson could be caught

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER May/June 2005 5 NEWS AND COMMENT

committing an act of fraud. Unfortunately, at Sweden, say they were motivated by 'Ancient Universe' die site, something raised the supposed psy- reports that an "anonymous donor" gave chic's suspicion, and she quickly gathered her sixty copies of the ID textbook Of Pandas Booklet Explains the magical implements and left the scene widi- and People to the school district. "We Great Age of the out performing the "necessary" ritual. (The wanted students in Dover to have access Changing Cosmos victim did manage to retain the $5,000 in to accurate information about science, marked bills.) about evolutionary biology, and about the In several U.S. states there have been On July 13, 2004, a team of officers real agenda of the Intelligent Design demands that discussions of the Big Bang arrested Jackson, also known as Lecia Urich, movement," says list founder Lenny and the vast age of the universe be excluded who operates a fortune-telling parlor in Flank, a freelance writer from St. from science curricula in K-12 classrooms. Kenner. Urich was booked on charges of Petersburg, Florida. In response, the Astronomy Education attempted theft of an amount greater than Board of the American Astronomical Society $500. Another woman later came forward, (AAS) put together an article first published reporting that she was similarly duped out of CSICOP Launches in a newsletter for teachers on the Astro- $37,000, so further charges have been added Creation Watch nomical Society of the Pacific Web site. in the case, which is still awaiting a court Web Site The AAS has now expanded this article appearance. into "The Ancient Universe," an illustrated For a more detailed account of a similar In an effort to help counter the misinfor- guide explaining how astronomers know that case, see Amy Davis's article, "Psychic mation spread on the Internet by creation- the cosmos is old and that it changes with Swindlers" on page 38 of this issue. ist groups, the Committee for the Scientific time. The booklet is designed for school —David Park Musella Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal boards, principals, parents, and anyone (CSICOP) has recently unveiled a interested in the scientific perspective on the David Park Musella is an editorial assistant "Creation Watch" Web site. In its early age of Earth and the physical world. with SKEPTICAL INQUIRER. stages the site will collect all SKEPTICAL The authors explain the evidence show- INQUIRER and Skeptical Briefs articles on the ing that we live in a universe that is between 10 billion and 15 billion years old and that Internet Group subject. The site will help promote good science education and an understanding of both the universe and its contents undergo Donates Evolution Texts the evolutionary sciences, and address the evolutionary change. A list of written and to Dover High School fallacies of creation and Intelligent Design Web resources is also included. The 20-page nontechnical booklet An international e-mail group that is available for free downloading on the focuses on opposing the teach- Web site: http://education.aas.org/ ing of Intelligent Design (ID) publications/ancienruniverse.html. creationism has donated over twenty science books to the Dover Astronomy, High School Library in Dover, Pennsylvania. The books include Astrology—What's What Evolution Is by evolutionary the Difference? It's biologist Ernst Mayr, Intelligent Politics Design Creationism and Its Critics by Robert Pennock, and Finding A saturation radio ad tiiat confused Darwin's God by biologist Kenneth astronomy with astrology was used to R. Miller. ridicule political incumbent Joel Dover became the scene of a Trella for taking college courses in legal fight after supporters of astronomy while serving as sheriff for Intelligent Design dieory attempted to insert arguments while exposing the tactics used Bergen County, New Jersey. The political ad, their viewpoint into science classes. The to mislead the public. In addition we hope broadcast on a New York City radio station, donated books arrived as lawyers argued in to add valuable educational materials and derided Trella for using "astronomy" to make court over the fate of Intelligent Design links to other online sites containing useful professional decisions. information for educators, activists, and "textbooks." At die beginning of the fifty-second Similar conflicts over ID theory are tak- concerned citizens. The highlight of the site spot, a male voice, pretending to be that of ing place in Ohio, Kansas, Alabama, will be a Web column by Eugenie Scott, Trella, is singing the opening line from the Arkansas, and elsewhere. director of the National Center for Science song "Aquarius." He is interrupted by an The cyber-activists from the Debunk- Education (NCSE) and up to date report- alarmed female voice announcing that a Creation e-mail list at Yahoogroups, from ing of news items from around the world. prisoner is escaping from the jail. The Trella the United States, the United Kingdom, The Creation Watch Web site is at www. impersonator responds in shock, "That's South Africa, Canada, Australia, and csicop.org/creationwatch/. impossible. Jupiter's orbiting!" At die end of

6 Volume 29. Issue 3 SKEPTICAL INQUIRER NEWS AND COMMENT

the ad, the female exclaims, "Look, another "repressed" memories often brought out dur- He has, widi his stories of forensic spe- prisoner is escaping!" This time die Trella ing psychotherapy. She has testified on such cialists using science and scientific mediod, voice moans, "Ooh! What would the matters in many high-profile cases. given us back our very reason. The diree CSI Maharishi do?" The ad closes with state- The Grawemeyer Web site said her re- shows, which began in 2000, have all been in ments urging listeners 10 vote for Leo search "has implications for law and for psy- die top ten of die ratings and have made sci- McGuire "because Bergen County needs a chodicrapy's mediods of probing memory." ence, reason, and even thinking itself fash- sheriff—not an astronomer." Loftus told the SKEPTICAL INQUIRER she ionable again. Although die ad's writers arc aware diat was "shocked and delighted to be honored in Amid the so-called reality shows, the Maharishi Yogi represents a particular school of such an enormous way." Springer-esquc talk shows, and the inane sit- astrology (Vedic), they must be clueless as to what In an earlier Los Angeles Times article, she coms, critical thinking and intelligent fare astronomy is. The apparent scientific illiteracy of called the award "a validation of work that I are hard to find. die campaign ad's writers produced a negative have been passionate about but also had to We have seen die flourishing of die super- political spot criticizing die incumbent's educa- do in a climate of hostility and difficulty. So natural on television, instead of a naturalistic tion that is so far off base as to sound moronic there's a special sense of vindication and view of life. Touched By an Angel, Joan of A call to Trella's office revealed mat die appreciation diat the enemies who have been Arcadia, The Others, Medium, John Edward, astronomy courses were taken to meet a uni- trying to do me in for at least ten years did James Van Praagh, not to mention supernat- versity's degree requirements and were not succeed." ural shows like The X-Files, often champion approved under die County's long-standing superstition over science, belief over proof, employee tuition reimbursement plan. In wishful diinking over scientific mediod. addition, according to Bergen County Community College, the incumbent played a Viewers become indoctrinated into die critical role in die development of die school's fantastical, avoiding scientific mediods and criminal-justice program, one of die few in reasoning. CSI stepped up like a drill die state. Bill Maer, McGuire's campaign sergeant and began putting the people manager, when asked about die confusion through their intellectual paces. Evidence, between astronomy and astrology would only proof, reason, and scientific method arc reply, "I'm sorry if die ad has offended any- always stressed. body." It seems diat the greater cost for get- Will Zuiker continue his winning ways? ting a science education, at least in this case, is Who knows? Will he continue to spread his not die tuition, but die public ridicule for brand of scientific Hellenization, a la having improved one's critical thinking skills. CSICOP Fellow Elizabeth Loftus. Alexander the Great? Let's hope so. But this much is certain. From both a rat- —Frank Reiser She said she would use some of die ings and a pro-science point of view, Anthony money to support her research. Loftus is Frank Reiser is in the Department of Biology at Zuiker is easily TV's early man of die century. ranked 58th by the Review of General Nassau Community College in Garden City, Psychology on its list of the 100 top psy- —Chris Volkay New York. chologists of die twentieth century. Chris Volkay is a freelance writer in Los Angeles who specializes in championing science over CSfs Anthony Zuiker: superstition, rationality over religion, and Loftus Wins $200,000 debunking the paranormal Grawemeyer Award for TV's Man of the Century?

Her Memory Research I nominate Anthony E. Zuiker as TV's man of die century. CSICOP Fellow Elizabeth Loftus, a noted Okay... I'm talking about diis century, not memory expert and professor of psychology last, and, second, just who is Anthony Zuiker? and law at die University of California, Irvine, Mr. CSI. The creator of the dure blockbuster has been named recipient of die $200,000 Grawemeyer Award for Psychology. hits on CBS: CSI; CSI: Miami, and CSI: New York. All this from a guy who was apparently The award was announced December 1 operating a tram not too very long ago. by UC-Irvine and the University of Louisville, which administers the award, My reason for naming him? Not die endowed by industrialist H. Charles usual ones. While I'm sure that CBS is mak- Grawemeyer in 1984. ing plenty of money and spread-eagling die Loftus's work has emphasized that mem- competition widi its holy trinity of crime ory is not like a tape recorder but creative fighters. Zuiker has given us something and reconstructive, and thus susceptible to much more important than any of diat. He's suggestion and manipulation. Her research given us back our sanity. He's also given us back our rationality, our empiricism. Anthony Zuiker. (Photo by Frederick M. has cast doubt on the validity of past Brown/Getty Images)

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER May/June 2005 7 NEWS AND COMMENT

Newspaper's 'Psychic dimensional forms with no overlapping by Toward a New Philosophy of Biology, What cutting along the edges of their faces. The Evolution Is, and (most recendy) What Makes Experts' Wash Out with question arose from the artist's pursuit of Biology Unique?, on February 3, 2005, in Hurricane Predictions more accurate methods of representing the Bedford, Massachusetts, at the age of 100. proper proportions of three-dimensional (Mayr's short article "The Concerns of Science" Like Frances did three weeks earlier, objects in two-dimensional an. appeared in the July/August 1999 SKEPTICAL Hurricane Jeanne cut a swatch of destruction That question remained unanswered until INQUIRER Science & Religion issue.) across central Florida, striking the east coast it was solved last year by a fourteen-year-old at about midnight on the morning of Canadian student, Daniel Bezdek, who, like September 26, 2004. But if the coastal resi- Durer, has a keen interest in geometry and dents were prepared for Jeanne's wrath, it math in general. Alleged Reagan was no thanks to the coast's Florida Today The project won its author five awards at Astrologer Dies newspaper, headquartered in Melbourne. Or the Canada Wide Science Fair, held in St. at least not to what die paper refers to as its John's, Newfoundland, Canada, in May Joyce Jillson, the actress turned self-styled three "psychic experts." 2004, garnering the young mathematician "Hollywood Astrologer" who claimed to A September 20 story tided "Local psy- over $8,000 (Canadian) in prizes. The have cast horoscopes for President and Mrs. chics predict the weather: Will more storms judges stated that Bezdek's research was so Reagan, died October 1, 2004. Her obituary batter Brevard?" carried the following predic- complex they needed to bring in additional again raised questions about the Reagans' tions from its telepathetic trio, who "for the mathematicians to properly evaluate it. reliance on astrology, as well as Jillson's past three years . .. have participated in New Though five centuries have passed since alleged role in providing such advice. Year's forecasts on politics, celebrities, Durer first asked the question, Bezdek is Jillson, one-time actress on die racy weather, etc." None foresaw Florida's historic reported to have spent just two weeks solving it. 1960s television scries Peyton Place, garnered run of four major hurricanes or the role worldwide publicity for her astrology busi- —David Parle Musella Jeanne would play. ness in 1988. She claimed that she was actu- ally a guest at the White House in 1981 fol- According to staff writer Billy Cox, Shiraa lowing the attempted assassination of Roccelle "was certain [Jeanne] wouldn't splat- President Reagan. Through their spokesper- ter into Florida." Roccelle is quoted as saying Recent Deaths sons, the Reagans denied that was true. (or seering), "My sense is that it will come Jillson's claim followed revelations by for- much closer to Georgia or South Carolina, Ernst Mayr, considered by some the leading evolutionary biologist of the twentieth century, mer White House chief of staff Donald T and it'll miss us." one of the architects of the modern evolution- Regan in his book. For the Record In addi- Next Elizabeth Cooper came to the plate: ary synthesis that reconciled Darwin's theories tion to characterizing President Reagan as "It's going to dissipate—1 don't think it'll be of evolution with new findings in genetics, pop- likeable but disturbingly susceptible to a hurricane." ulation biology, and diversity, professor emeri- manipulation, especially by a meddling First Batting third, and playing way out in left tus of zoology at Harvard (the Museum of Lady, Regan exposed what he called "proba- field, Chris Jones: " Georgia is the first word Comparative Zoology), promoter of evolution- bly the most closely guarded domestic secret that comes to mind with Jeanne," Jones said. ary biology as a discipline and the philosophy of of the Reagan White House." He revealed "Jeanne is full of steam, but she'll hit land biology as a field, author of such works as Birds that the First Lady relied on an astrologer to and blow out ratiier quickly." Jones was of the Southwest Pacific, Animal Species and determine the best time for every presiden- instead more concerned about Hurricane Evolution, The Growth of Biological Thought, tial move, from travel to speeches and more: Karl, which, alas, never approached the The Evolutionary Synthesis, This is Biology The astrologer, according to Time magazine, United States. cast the charts of Reagan (an Aquarius) and Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev (a —Gary Posner Pisces) and "determined that 2 P.M. on Dec. Gary P. Posner is founder of Tampa Bay 8, 1987, was die most propitious moment Skeptics and a CSICOP Scientific Consultant. for them to sign the intermediate-range nuclear forces treaty." Don Regan did not name the prognosti- cator except to say that she was "an Centuries-old Puzzle astrologer in San Francisco." Joyce Jillson Solved by Calgary Teen was instead from Los Angeles, but she quickly claimed that she had "spent a lot of In the early part of the sixteenth century, time of the White House" after the assassi- German artist, engraver, and master of per- nation attempt and had recommended spective Albrecht Durer, who often brought George H.W. Bush as Reagan's running his powerful interest in geometry into his mate in 1980. However, as Time reported, artistic pursuits, wondered whether all "Neither the President nor the First Lady polyhedral forms could be reduced to two- Ernst Mayr. recalls ever meeting Jillson."

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Soon, reporters had identified die real Apparendy Mrs. Reagan did not stop to astral consultant as J o a n Quigley, who was said recall die adage diat hindsight is always to be "not unlike many of the First Lady's 20/20. Astrologers, like other mystics, often California friends": a wealthy conservative make such retroactive claims. (One psychic, socialite. Quigley had authored three books on Tamara Rand, seemed especially accurate in astrology and had been advising the Reagans predicting die attempted assassination of ever since die early 1970s when television talk- Reagan, reputedly on a T V show on January show host Merv Griffin introduced her to 6, 1981. She mentioned the initials "J.H." and other details, saying Reagan would be Mrs. Reagan. A long-time acquaintance de- shot in the chest during a "hail of bullets," scribed Quigley as "a little wacky." and that it would transpire in late March or President Reagan tried to minimize his con- early April. Indeed, John Hinckley shot nection to astrology, but, according to Time. Reagan on March 30. However, an AP Both Reagans have always been supersti- reporter discovered the video was a fake, filed tious, observing such harmless rituals as die day after die assassination attempt.) knocking on wood and walking around, not under, ladders. The President puts a —Joe Nickell certain coin and a gold charm in his H. Narasimhaiah. pocket each morning, and routinely tosses Joe Nickell is CSICOP's Senior Research Fellow. salt over his left shoulder not just when he the Bangalore Science Forum, been the vice- spills some but before all his meals. chancellor of Bangalore University from 1972 to 1977 and known worldwide because Also, in his autobiography, written in 1965, of his commitment and activities to promote Reagan described his and his wife's attraction Indian Rationalist science. I have never met someone so promi- to published astrological forecasts. H. Narasimhaiah nent and humble at the same time. Reagan's son Michael told me, when I Dies at 84 Full-page newspaper reports in several was on his radio show, that his father often Bangalore newspapers reviewed his lifelong mentioned how his dog Rex would refuse to Eminent rationalist H. Narasimhaiah, achievements. They lauded his humor and enter the Lincoln bedroom which was sup- founder of die Bangalore Science Forum, discussed many of tricks he used to lure posedly haunted. Reagan's daughter, Patti CSICOP Fellow, and eminent skeptic, died students into science classes. Among Davis, recalled he once replied when asked January 31, 2005, at the age of 84. He was the honors bestowed on him were the about Lincoln's ghost: "1 haven't seen him one of die greatest minds in India, promoting Sir M. Visweswaraya Award for the popular- yet. But 1 do believe he's here." die public understanding of science and die ization of science and die Padma Bhushan In her 1989 memoir, Nancy Reagan also spirit of critical inquiry. He was cremated in Award of the Government of India. his native Hosur village with full state honors. attempted to play down the astrology issue, stat- Skeptics worldwide will miss him. ing it had had no impact on American policy "Do not accept anything widiout ques- matters. However, die following year Quigley tioning" was his guideline. During the infor- —Amardeo Sarma wrote in her own book, What Don Joan Say?, mation technology revolution, he remained Amardeo Sarma is chairman of the German that her involvement with Mrs. Reagan gave her committed to promoting pure science and a skeptics group GWUP and a member of the "a direct line to the President." She said she per- scientific outlook to life. His outstanding con- CSICOP executive council- suaded him, for instance, to soften his "evil tribution was the founding of the Bangalore empire attitude" toward Gorbachev prior to Science Forum in 1962, which is dedicated to their Geneva Summit meeting. promoting the scientific temper. Developing There may have been further unintended scientific temper is incidentally one of die Quoteworthy Fundamental Duties enshrined in die Indian consequences. According to Jack Anderson constitution, and he was one of die few who and Dale Van Atta, syndicated columnists, the "Science is always more unsolved questions, took diis duty seriously in a country where Soviet consulate was believed to have tapped and its great advantage is you can prove courting fraudulent god men, whom he vehe- into unsecured phones lines over which Mrs. something is true or something is false. You mendy opposed, has become fashionable. Reagan and her stargazer routinely discussed can't do that about human affaire—most national policy matters. Reportedly, White Narasimhaiah strongly opposed super- human things can be right from one point of view and wrong from another. It is the most House sources, the CIA, and rhc National stition and obscurantism and had challenged wonderful feeling when you come to a real Security Council believed that the Soviets had god men, including Sai Baba. Ten years ago, answer. This is it, and diis is correct! In sci- recorded hundreds of such calls. I was fortunate to have a brief talk with him. ence, you know you know." However credible the superstitious Students I asked immediately knew where his Reagans initially found astrology, "In 1981," office was. I was struck by the utter simplic- reported Time, "Quigley made Nancy a ity of his office, equipped widi a few simple, —Nobel laureate physicist Hans believer by showing how the astrologer's toldablc chairs and small table. I learned th.it Bethe. who discovered how the sun he had also been living in a similarly simple charts could have foretold that the period on and other stars generate their room wirhout even a bed for fifty-three years. or around March 30, 1981, would be energy and who died March 6, This was a man who had, besides founding extremely dangerous for the President." 2005. at the age of 98. D

SKEPTICAL INQUIRER May/June 2005 9