Nobel Laureates Criticize York University Affiliation with Chiropractic

Michael DeRobertis 416-736-2100 ext 77761
Lewis Vaughn 716-636-1425 ext 216
Matt Nisbet 716-636-1425 ext 219

AMHERST, N.Y. -- Two Nobel laureates joined leading scientists, academics and science writers from across the world today in announcing their opposition to plans by York University to affiliate with the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College(CMCC.) Last May, the York Senate voted in favor of affiliation with CMCC, despite strong objections from members of the York science faculty. Final approval is set for this spring. York, located in Toronto, is the third largest university in Canada. It would become the first major university in the world to voluntarily associate with a chiropractic college.

Nobel laureates Arthur Kornberg of Stanford University and Baruj Benacerraf of the Dana Farber Institute endorsed a statement by the Council for Scientific Medicine that strongly criticized the pending York decision. "We believe that such affiliation is likely to adversely affect science education both at York and elsewhere, to undermine York's reputation within the scientific community, and to weaken further the public understanding of science at a time when a full appreciation of it is sorely needed."

Kornberg and Benacerraf were joined by dozens of other notable scientists, researchers and science journalists from across the world including Dutch astrophysicist Cornelis de Jager, National Center for Science Education Executive Director Eugenie Scott, science writer Martin Gardner, Skeptical Inquirer magazine editor Kendrick Frazier, McGill University philosopher Mario Bunge, Biosystems Research Institute Director Elie Shneour, and Reading University philosopher Antony Flew.

The statement raised specific concerns that "the affiliation would serve to legitimize the unscientific and even anti-scientific philosophies and practices associated with chiropractic," and that "it would encourage other schools known for their unscientific approaches, such as homeopathic and naturopathic colleges, to seek affiliation with various universities around the world."

Nowhere is there greater concern over York's pending decision than among the University's own science faculty. Like most in the scientific community, they question the scientific integrity of chiropractic, the lack of a legitimate research culture in the field, and the effect on York's reputation. Members of the science faculty are also wary of the potentially disastrous influence on the school's ability to attract research monies and recruit top students and faculty.

Last May, the York Senate approved affiliation over the objections of the science faculty. In debate before the vote, Senate members spoke derisively of scientists, labeling them as "narrow-minded," "biased," "grant-fixated," as well as "elitist and unable to admit other ways of inquiry than their own."

For a full report on the controversy, see York University physics professor Michael DeRobertis' commentary article that appears in the Fall/Winter 1998 issue of the Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine

Also visit a website maintained by York University science faculty at http://www.ndir.com/chiro.

For copies of the SRAM commentary by DeRobertis, contact Prometheus Books at 1-800-691-0133. To obtain a copy of the full statement by the Council for Scientific Medicine contact Matt Nisbet at 716-636-1425 X219.

Related Information

• York University

• Concerns About Chiropractic at York University
  Website maintained by York University science faculty.

• Chirobase
  A skeptical guide to Chiropractic history, theories, and current practices.

• Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine

• Skeptical Inquirer

• National Center for Science Education

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