All the guy did was tell the truth. One day maybe the world will get over believing in something created by folks attempting to explain the world around them. Doubtful in a few hundred lifetimes, but we can dream.

Check with your school's Technology Transfer group. While it is true that Universities generally want control over everything created while you are working for them, most of the time the value to the University is not worth their time or trouble. If your work will generate actual revenue for the University (revenue that will actually offset the work involved in licensing and all that), they'll be very interested. If not, they will most likely leave it up to you to do with it what you will. At least that is how it works at my school.