If people you respect all tell you the same fantastically detailed, supposedly true story — and point you to lots of supposed evidence — you have a choice.
You can
(A) go see for yourself, and then maybe argue about the details, or
(B) just argue about the details.
If A is how you live your life,
we suggest you celebrate today as “Darwin Day“.
If B is how you live your life,
we suggest you celebrate today as “Academic Freedom Day“.