This old article contains some interesting tidbits about Temple U. and its programs. Martin Gardner, the author, wonders why Temple has UFO believers and proponents of other controversial theories and ideas on the payroll. Apparently, Temple has a program, called the Center for Frontier Science, through which scholars and scientists can get together and discuss their unorthodox ideas.

This probably does not mean much, but there is a person working for the Pentagon on the editorial board of Frontier Perspectives, the journal of the Center. His name is David Stein.

Although the “skeptical inquirer,” as he refers to himself, has some valid points, he also should be a little more skeptical about his editing skills:

“…C. Alan Bruns, at Franklin and Mitchell College, in Lancaster, sent a copy…”

There is not, in fact, a Franklin and Mitchell College in Lancaster, and I couldn’t find one anywhere else, so I assume he means Franklin and Marshall, located in Lancaster, PA. Perhaps I am being harsh, but skeptical inquiry can go either way.

Gardner claimed Temple is “sliding into absurdity,” and part of his evidence was David Jacobs, a history professor here at Temple U. He is also a huge UFO buff, which is what Gardner felt was contributing to Temple’s slide to irrelevance.

Jacobs does seem a little bit off the wall. He is a professor of 20th century American history and culture, and according to his biography, has done over 900 hypnosis sessions on over 140 “abductees” since he became interested in UFO’s during the nineteen sixties, but only began trying to “ascertain the proper methodological techniques” for hypnosis and therapy in recent years.