The Casper Star-Tribune has an online poll today to vote for either a full time, part time or closed Geological Museum. My friend Thomas brought this to my attention today and we all need to show the administration at the University of Wyoming what we think of their recent decisions. So head on over to the Casper Star-Tribune website and scroll half-way down the page and vote!
© ReBecca K. Hunt-Foster
Showing posts with label University of Wyoming Geological Museum. Show all posts
Showing posts with label University of Wyoming Geological Museum. Show all posts
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Shut up and leave us alone!
*rant*
Now, I don't know about you, but I do not go to a bank and expect the security guard to complete my transaction. I do not go to the mall and expect the security guard to check me out when I purchase something. I do not go to a baseball game and expect the security guard to play all the positions in the game.It is not their job to do so.
So how exactly is a security guard going to answer questions asked by museum visitors? How will they ring up and purchases, should someone decided they would like a Big Al t-shirt? How will they clean and maintain the exhibits? How will they train volunteers? How will they make sure the information present in exhibits is up to date? You get the idea................
So this is the way I see this whole thing playing out in UW President Tom Buchanan's mind (and remember, this is all just in my imagination - I have NO idea what is going though this mans head): he is inundated with letters, emails, calls, and investigations into the closing of the museum. People start to bring up his inflated salary. Question his reasoning behind the decisions. Question his devotion to science education. He is getting alot of bad press and the Board of Trusties (who are also feeling the pressure) tells him to "fix" the situation. His solution - reopen the museum, with private money, but only on a shoe string budget, and without the staff the museum deserves. Why? Because, frankly, he just does not care (once again, just my opinion and view - he is welcome to correct me). He does not understand why the museum is important to anyone other than little kids. He does not understand that science is important. He does not understand how a museum operates and what sort of staff it needs to do so. So he decided to do all of this and (at least this is how I see it) is telling us all to "Shut up and leave us alone already!"The flaw in all of this is that they are still missing the point. I am sitting here at my computer and frankly saying "WTF - do they not get it!" It is not just about having the museum open. It is about caring of the collections! It is about doing good science and fulfilling the universities core missions of teaching, research, and outreach (all things the museum has done for years under the guidance of their curator!). I am sure the president of the university does not appreciate my concern and probably is thinking that nothing he does will make any of us happy. But I really do not feel like they have any interest in ever letting the museum have a curator again. They do not seem to understand the importance of having an individual in this position. They so not understand what they do and why it is important. It is simply infuriating! Basically it makes as much sense as this does:
I guess we just have to keep on them [UW Administration] and let them know why it IS important to have a curator!
*/rant*
New links:
New links:
University of Wyoming Press Release
Laramie Boomerang
Laramie Boomerang
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
Billings Gazette (thanks for the heads up MDR)
Billings Gazette (thanks for the heads up MDR)
Blog links:
Chinleana
© ReBecca K. Hunt-Foster, "Jesus and Dinosaurs" from the internet, no idea who created it (not me!). Just google "Jesus Dinosaur." Paul Blart: Mall Cop is © Columbia Pictures and I urge them to consider making the sequel about a museum security guard - oh, wait, is that idea already taken (Night at the something-er-other) because I think the scenario taking place at the University of Wyoming will be MUCH MORE funny (and disastrous!)!
© ReBecca K. Hunt-Foster, "Jesus and Dinosaurs" from the internet, no idea who created it (not me!). Just google "Jesus Dinosaur." Paul Blart: Mall Cop is © Columbia Pictures and I urge them to consider making the sequel about a museum security guard - oh, wait, is that idea already taken (Night at the something-er-other) because I think the scenario taking place at the University of Wyoming will be MUCH MORE funny (and disastrous!)!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
A message from the Friends of the S. H. Knight Geological Museum
On Tuesday, June 30 at 5:00 p.m. the University of Wyoming Geological Museum closed its doors. It was a sad moment for all of us who care about the museum. The museum was closed as a result of budget cuts announced by UW President Tom Buchanan on June 4, 2009 that included the museum’s small operating budget and the salary of the long-time director Brent Breithaupt and his part-time office assistant Jennifer Durer.
The outpouring of support for the museum from both the paleontological community and the general public has been overwhelming. Through on-line and paper petitions, Facebook and MySpace groups, blogs and emails, and newspaper articles and letter writing efforts, the President and Provost of the University of Wyoming as well as the Board of Trustees and the Governor are now very aware of the importance of the museum to the people and its role in research and in the education of everyone from children to college students to seniors.
Although the UW administration has not reversed the decision to close the museum, the overwhelming support shown for the museum has allowed the Department of Geology and Geophysics to begin to work with the administration to move towards new ideas for the permanent funding of the museum. These ideas include the establishment of an endowment that would fund the museum operations, including the salary of a director/curator. Obviously setting up and funding an endowment will take time and of course money, but we are hopeful that through these efforts the museum will re-open as a stronger and even more vital part of the Wyoming community.
We want to thank everyone for their support and hard work in helping us reach this point – it could not have been done without you! We will be continuing to gather support through this citizens group, the Friends of the S. H. Knight Geological Museum. There are links to the other on-line support activities on this blog, and we will keep it updated with the latest news about our efforts.
Now is the time to keep our efforts visible – we don’t want to lose this great momentum we’ve gained. If you signed the petition, now write a letter. If you’ve written letters, write more. And keep letting people know about our situation and how important the museum has been to you!
Again, thanks so much for all your support!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
A Very Sad Day
Today is a very sad day!! At the end of the business day the University of Wyoming Geological Museum will be closing its doors to the public and the two employees of the museum will loose their jobs. This amazing image pretty much sums up the last nearly 30 years of paleontology at the museum - a history which the University no longer finds important. A very very sad day for everyone.
(please click on image for a larger, better view)
© ReBecca K. Hunt-Foster, art © Anton Wroblewski
(please click on image for a larger, better view)A great article where we finally have a chance to hear how museum director Brent Breithaupt is taking all of this can be read here (a very emotional read). There is also a poor set of excuses and bad attempt to save face from the powers that be at UW here, and a word from the Governor of Wyoming supporting the cuts here. You might not like my description of these articles, but I am mad that this is happening and aggravated at the short-sightedness that the university administration obviously has. How can this museum not fulfill the universities core mission of teaching, research and outreach. It does ALL of these!
Please visit the "Keep Laramie Dinos" page for more information on what you can do to save this wonderful museum. An account has been set up to try and build an endowment to reopen the museum, hopefully in the very near future, as the S.H. Knight Geological Museum. Stay tuned for further developments as they occur.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Video on the Geological Museum closing
A short video about the University of Wyoming Geological Museum closing. We finally get a chance to see and hear Brent Breithaupt, the director, talk about these cuts in his own words and about what might lay ahead. Here is a link to the story. And don't forget to sign the petition if you have not had a chance. We are over 2000 signatires now, which is great. I sent 1200 of these to the board on Friday and plan to send the next batch at the end of this week!
Thanks to Thomas for the link to the story!
Thanks to Thomas for the link to the story!
Sorry to not have many regular post recently. It is summer, my busy season (as it is for many), and I have not had to much time to update the blog. Thank you for coming by and please keep checking back!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Press Surrounding the UW Geological Museum
News surrounding the UW Geological Museum closure has slowed a bit recently. A Board of Trustees meeting was held yesterday, but there was no time scheduled for public comments. The Provost stayed afterward to speak to the members of the public that had come to the meeting, and told the members of the board they could do the same, and all hung up. The Provost did indicate that if private funds could be raised to keep the museum open that would be an option (prior to what some potential donors had been told - that their money could go to better things).
The museum will in fact be closing its doors to the general public at the end of the day on June 30, 2009. It will remain open upon appointment to UW students and visiting researchers.
The petition is doing good and it now has over 1500 signatures. Way to go folks! I will be mailing a copy of the petition signatures in with my letter to the Board of Trustees. Please keep passing it around and take a moment to sign it if you have not yet.
I did send an email to Matt Haigler, President of the Associated Students of the University of Wyoming. He told me that he supports the budget cuts and they he does support the effort to raise private funds for the museum, and that he would be happy to provide support and help in this effort. He said that he had several ideas and would be willing to speak to me about them, but I was unable to reach him by phone. I plan on attempting to contact him again soon (I have been sick for the last two days).
If you would like to send in a letter to the editor, please consider these local Wyoming publications: Casper Star-Tribune, Wyoming Tribune Eagle, & Laramie Boomerang. It would also be beneficial to contact the local TV news stations (Email: K2 ABC, KCWY13 NBC, KGWN CBS 5). It might also be benificial to contact the Wyoming State Tourism Board & the local Laramie Chamber of Commerce.
The petition is doing good and it now has over 1500 signatures. Way to go folks! I will be mailing a copy of the petition signatures in with my letter to the Board of Trustees. Please keep passing it around and take a moment to sign it if you have not yet.
I did send an email to Matt Haigler, President of the Associated Students of the University of Wyoming. He told me that he supports the budget cuts and they he does support the effort to raise private funds for the museum, and that he would be happy to provide support and help in this effort. He said that he had several ideas and would be willing to speak to me about them, but I was unable to reach him by phone. I plan on attempting to contact him again soon (I have been sick for the last two days).
If you would like to send in a letter to the editor, please consider these local Wyoming publications: Casper Star-Tribune, Wyoming Tribune Eagle, & Laramie Boomerang. It would also be beneficial to contact the local TV news stations (Email: K2 ABC, KCWY13 NBC, KGWN CBS 5). It might also be benificial to contact the Wyoming State Tourism Board & the local Laramie Chamber of Commerce.
Below is a list of the recent press surrounding the mueum closure.
(6-16-09) Museum comments sidestepped [Wyoming Tribune Eagle]
(6-15-09) UW reacts to concern about the closing of the Geology Museum [Wyoming Public Radio]
(6-12-09) Paleontologists don't dig closing Wyo. dino museum [AP story, covered in the Fort Mill Times, NewsTimes, San Francisco Chronicle, Casper Star-Tribune, KJCT News Grand Junction, Local News 8]
(6-11-09) Dinosaur museum in Laramie closing [Wyoming Tribune Eagle]
(6-4-09) University Response to State Budget Reductions [University of Wyoming News]
Letters to the Editor:
(6-16-09) Museum exemplifies UW's mission [Casper Star-Tribune]
(6-16-09) Money for sports but not museum? [Casper Star-Tribune]
(6-16-09) UW must not ignore public [Casper Star-Tribune]
(6-14-09) Museum is too valuable to cut [Casper Star-Tribune]
(6-11-09) Pouring gas on UW's fire [Casper Star-Tribune]
(6-10-09) Museum is part of UW's mission [Casper Star-Tribune]
(6-8-09) Keep Geological Museum open [Casper Star-Tribune]
(6-8-09) Keep Geological Museum open [Casper Star-Tribune]
Memos:
Friday, June 12, 2009
Museum officially closing
This story was just brought to my attention, from the Wyoming Tribune:
Dinosaur museum in Laramie closing
A particuarly interesting and infuriating comment from the Provost: "Although there is an online petition effort to keep it open, Provost Allen said the museum closure is a done deal.
But when asked if the museum might come back in flush economic times, he said, "I wouldn't rule it out."
"So, UW President Buchanan got a $50,000 RAISE just a year ago, millions are being poured into new skyboxes at the stadium, and the university can't find $80,000 to fund the museum?
Shame on the Board of Trustees for cutting academic resources for the benefit of unnecessary athletic amenities and bloated administrative contracts. "
Dinosaur museum in Laramie closing
A particuarly interesting and infuriating comment from the Provost: "Although there is an online petition effort to keep it open, Provost Allen said the museum closure is a done deal.
But when asked if the museum might come back in flush economic times, he said, "I wouldn't rule it out."
There are to many emotions going though my mind to comment politly on that statement.
There are many interesting and one silly comments on the story. One that caught my eye:
"So, UW President Buchanan got a $50,000 RAISE just a year ago, millions are being poured into new skyboxes at the stadium, and the university can't find $80,000 to fund the museum?
Shame on the Board of Trustees for cutting academic resources for the benefit of unnecessary athletic amenities and bloated administrative contracts. "
I really hate university politics. Things like this make me sick. We need $80,000 a year to keep the museum running. If the president would have simply refused his raise and decide to not dump so much money into the stadium, they could easily do this. But no. We are more worried about the athletics and lifestyle of the president than keeping a wonderful educational facility open. Because going to a university has nothing to do with education these days obviously. At least the president and provost show us where their priorities lie.
© ReBecca K. Hunt-Foster
© ReBecca K. Hunt-Foster
Focusing Our Efforts
Word has come down that it may be time to focus our efforts on the UW Board of Trusties (contact information below), to help keep the University of Wyoming Geological Museum open and the jobs associated with it. Hopefully there will be more information as to why soon. Please keep checking back for additional updates as they become available. Remember that is was only last week when Brent Breithaupt, director of the museum, got the university a ton of free press when he was featured in an article on MSNBC, which reached people around the globe! I guess globall free press is not important to the university.
Mr. Chuck Brown, President of the UW Board of Trustees
P.O. Box 789
1554 Cottonwood Ave.
Wheatland, WY 82201
Jim D. Neiman
P.O. Box 218
Hulett, WY 82720
(307) 467-5252
jimd@neiman.biz
Warren A. Lauer
512 Grand
Laramie, WY 82070
(307) 742-7288
warrenlauer@lauerlegal.com
Dave Bostrom
President, Mountain Benefit Associates, LLC
809 S. Railway Avenue
Worland, Wyoming
(307) 347-6151
mba-db@mbawyoming.com
Richard 'Dick'Davis
P.O. Box 728
40 South Main
Sheridan, WY 82801
(307) 672-7491
dick@davisandcannon.com
Betty Fear
P.O. Box 340
Big Piney, WY 83113
(307) 276-5331
bfear@centurytel.net
Taylor H. Haynes, M.D.
P.O. Box 904
Cheyenne, WY 82003
(307) 635-4241
rangebeef@aol.com
David F. "Dave" Palmerlee
11 North Main Street
Buffalo, WY 82834
(307) 684-1414
dpalmerlee@vcn.com
Bradford S. Mead
Attorney
Mead & Mead
185 E. Hansen
P.O. Box 1809
Jackson, WY 83001
(307) 733-0166
bradmead@wyoming.com
Ann Rochelle
152 N. Durbin Street, Suite 120
Casper, Wyoming 82601
(307) 266-5000
arochelle@casperlaw.net
James Trosper
P.O. Box 1111
Fort Washakie, WY 82514
(307) 332-6120
jltrosper@wyoming.com
Howard Willson, M.D.
P.O. Box 710
Thermopolis, WY 82443
(307) 864-5624
Tom Buchanan
University President
1000 E. University Avenue, Dept. 3434
Laramie, WY 82071
(307) 766-4121
tombuch@uwyo.edu
David Freudenthal
Governor of Wyoming
State Capitol Building, Room 124
200 W. 24th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002
governor@state.wy.us
Jim McBride
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Cheyenne Office
2300 Capitol Avenue
Hathaway Building, 2nd Floor
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0050
(307) 777-6234
supt@educ.state.wy.us
Kelsey Day
asuwpres@uwyo.edu
© ReBecca K. Hunt-Foster
I would love to thank those of you who have helped to spread the word: Julia, Sarah, PZ Myers, Brian, Rissa and MDR (and all of you I may have missed)!
The petition has gone from ~450 signatures yesterday to 801 as I write this. Awesome work folks! Please keep spreading the word!!
The petition has gone from ~450 signatures yesterday to 801 as I write this. Awesome work folks! Please keep spreading the word!!
Board of Trusties Contact information:
Mr. Chuck Brown, President of the UW Board of Trustees
P.O. Box 789
1554 Cottonwood Ave.
Wheatland, WY 82201
Jim D. Neiman
P.O. Box 218
Hulett, WY 82720
(307) 467-5252
jimd@neiman.biz
Warren A. Lauer
512 Grand
Laramie, WY 82070
(307) 742-7288
warrenlauer@lauerlegal.com
Dave Bostrom
President, Mountain Benefit Associates, LLC
809 S. Railway Avenue
Worland, Wyoming
(307) 347-6151
mba-db@mbawyoming.com
Richard 'Dick'Davis
P.O. Box 728
40 South Main
Sheridan, WY 82801
(307) 672-7491
dick@davisandcannon.com
Betty Fear
P.O. Box 340
Big Piney, WY 83113
(307) 276-5331
bfear@centurytel.net
Taylor H. Haynes, M.D.
P.O. Box 904
Cheyenne, WY 82003
(307) 635-4241
rangebeef@aol.com
David F. "Dave" Palmerlee
11 North Main Street
Buffalo, WY 82834
(307) 684-1414
dpalmerlee@vcn.com
Bradford S. Mead
Attorney
Mead & Mead
185 E. Hansen
P.O. Box 1809
Jackson, WY 83001
(307) 733-0166
bradmead@wyoming.com
Ann Rochelle
152 N. Durbin Street, Suite 120
Casper, Wyoming 82601
(307) 266-5000
arochelle@casperlaw.net
James Trosper
P.O. Box 1111
Fort Washakie, WY 82514
(307) 332-6120
jltrosper@wyoming.com
Howard Willson, M.D.
P.O. Box 710
Thermopolis, WY 82443
(307) 864-5624
Tom Buchanan
University President
1000 E. University Avenue, Dept. 3434
Laramie, WY 82071
(307) 766-4121
tombuch@uwyo.edu
David Freudenthal
Governor of Wyoming
State Capitol Building, Room 124
200 W. 24th Street
Cheyenne, WY 82002
governor@state.wy.us
Jim McBride
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Cheyenne Office
2300 Capitol Avenue
Hathaway Building, 2nd Floor
Cheyenne, WY 82002-0050
(307) 777-6234
supt@educ.state.wy.us
Kelsey Day
asuwpres@uwyo.edu
© ReBecca K. Hunt-Foster
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
More information to help save the University of Wyoming Geological Museum
My friend Kenshu Shimada of DePaul University has put together an easily accessable list of contact information that you can use if you would like to contact the powers that be at the University of Wyoming in order to help save the University of Wyoming Geological Museum.Please remember that all letters of support should be sent in ASAP as these cuts take affect on July 1, 2009.
The petition is just over 300 signatures, but the more we can get (regarless of if you are a paleontologist or not) the better!! Please take a short moment to sign it. And, as suggested by Scott Hartman on the vertpaleo list, it would be great to contact local papers "(http://www.casperstartribune.net/& http://www.laramieboomerang.com) and to politicians at the local (Albany County) and state level."
I would really like to take this moment to encourage my fellow bloggers to post/repost this information on thier blog and share it on facebook/twitter/myspace/anywhere!! Please!
"In order to facilitate your letter writing process, below, I have put together a list of contact addresses of key people who you should send your letters to. 'SET 1' gives a string of e-mails (which you can simply copy and paste to the "To" box of your send command) of the members of the University Board of Trustees, including Governor Freudenthal as Ex Officio. "SET 2" lists e-mails of the president and provost of the University of Wyoming. Since the e-mail of the Board President, Mr. Chuck Brown, and that of another board member, Dr. Howard Willson, were nowhere to be found, I have listed their postal address in "SET 3" so that you can write them personally. I should note that you will receive a rather discouraging standard message from the university president and provost, but it is important that we put our unified voice on record to these people. If we don't, there will be absolutely no chance to resurrect the museum even if the budget situation improves. Thanks for your cooperation."
_____________
SET 1
"Dear members of the Board of Trustees of the University of Wyoming,":
E-mails: jimd@neiman.biz; warrenlauer@lauerlegal.com; mba-db@mbawyoming.com; dick@davisandcannon.com; bfear@centurytel.net; rangebeef@aol.com; dpalmerlee@vcn.com; bradmead@wyoming.com; arochelle@casperlaw.net; jltrosper@wyoming.com; tombuch@uwyo.edu; governor@state.wy.us; supt@educ.state.wy.us; asuwpres@uwyo.edu
At the beginning of your message, add: "[I would truly appreciate if you could also forward this message to the board president, Mr. Chuck Brown, and another board member, Dr. Howard Willson, because I was not able to locate their e-mail addresses]"
_____________
SET 2
"Dear University President Buchanan and Provost Allen,"
E-mails: tombuch@uwyo.edu; allen@uwyo.edu
_____________
SET 3
Mr. Chuck Brown, President of the UW Board of Trustees
P.O. Box 789
1554 Cottonwood Ave.
Wheatland, WY 82201
Dr. Howard Willson, Member of the UW Board of Trustees
703 Highway 20 N.
Thermopolis, WY 82443-9469
_____________
© ReBecca K. Hunt-Foster
"In order to facilitate your letter writing process, below, I have put together a list of contact addresses of key people who you should send your letters to. 'SET 1' gives a string of e-mails (which you can simply copy and paste to the "To" box of your send command) of the members of the University Board of Trustees, including Governor Freudenthal as Ex Officio. "SET 2" lists e-mails of the president and provost of the University of Wyoming. Since the e-mail of the Board President, Mr. Chuck Brown, and that of another board member, Dr. Howard Willson, were nowhere to be found, I have listed their postal address in "SET 3" so that you can write them personally. I should note that you will receive a rather discouraging standard message from the university president and provost, but it is important that we put our unified voice on record to these people. If we don't, there will be absolutely no chance to resurrect the museum even if the budget situation improves. Thanks for your cooperation."
_____________
SET 1
"Dear members of the Board of Trustees of the University of Wyoming,":
E-mails: jimd@neiman.biz; warrenlauer@lauerlegal.com; mba-db@mbawyoming.com; dick@davisandcannon.com; bfear@centurytel.net; rangebeef@aol.com; dpalmerlee@vcn.com; bradmead@wyoming.com; arochelle@casperlaw.net; jltrosper@wyoming.com; tombuch@uwyo.edu; governor@state.wy.us; supt@educ.state.wy.us; asuwpres@uwyo.edu
At the beginning of your message, add: "[I would truly appreciate if you could also forward this message to the board president, Mr. Chuck Brown, and another board member, Dr. Howard Willson, because I was not able to locate their e-mail addresses]"
_____________
SET 2
"Dear University President Buchanan and Provost Allen,"
E-mails: tombuch@uwyo.edu; allen@uwyo.edu
_____________
SET 3
Mr. Chuck Brown, President of the UW Board of Trustees
P.O. Box 789
1554 Cottonwood Ave.
Wheatland, WY 82201
Dr. Howard Willson, Member of the UW Board of Trustees
703 Highway 20 N.
Thermopolis, WY 82443-9469
_____________
© ReBecca K. Hunt-Foster
Monday, June 8, 2009
University of Wyoming Geological Museum cuts
An open letter regarding the University of Wyoming cuts. Please feel free to post this on your blogs and try to share this information with as many as you can! Please sign this petition as well to keep the museum open and pass the link around. Thanks! ~ ReBecca
"We are dismayed to report that the University of Wyoming has decided to include the Geological Museum in the programs to be cut as a result of a decrease in funding by the state. 45 people across the University lost their jobs, including the Director of the Geological Museum Brent Breithaupt and the part-time museum secretary. This decision was made by the University administration, and in no way reflects a lack of support from the Department of Geology and Geophysics.
The museum itself and the paleontological research program that has been built around it is an amazing educational resource that is utilized daily by everyone from university professors to preschool children. The museum was founded in 1887 by Wilbur C. Knight, shortly after the university itself was founded. One of the first curators was William Harlow Reed, one of the railroad workers who discovered the first dinosaurian fossils at Como Bluff, WY. The current museum building was built under the direction of Samuel H. “Doc” Knight, for whom the S. H. Knight Geology building is named. The museum’s physical connection to the Geology Building allows it to be routinely incorporated into laboratory and classroom activities. In addition, public and private school classes frequently tour the museum as part of their curricula, making this museum a significant educational resource not just for Laramie but for the entire state of Wyoming.
The museum houses many fossils of interest to children and researchers alike, including one of the only mounted skeletons
"We are dismayed to report that the University of Wyoming has decided to include the Geological Museum in the programs to be cut as a result of a decrease in funding by the state. 45 people across the University lost their jobs, including the Director of the Geological Museum Brent Breithaupt and the part-time museum secretary. This decision was made by the University administration, and in no way reflects a lack of support from the Department of Geology and Geophysics.The museum itself and the paleontological research program that has been built around it is an amazing educational resource that is utilized daily by everyone from university professors to preschool children. The museum was founded in 1887 by Wilbur C. Knight, shortly after the university itself was founded. One of the first curators was William Harlow Reed, one of the railroad workers who discovered the first dinosaurian fossils at Como Bluff, WY. The current museum building was built under the direction of Samuel H. “Doc” Knight, for whom the S. H. Knight Geology building is named. The museum’s physical connection to the Geology Building allows it to be routinely incorporated into laboratory and classroom activities. In addition, public and private school classes frequently tour the museum as part of their curricula, making this museum a significant educational resource not just for Laramie but for the entire state of Wyoming.The museum houses many fossils of interest to children and researchers alike, including one of the only mounted skeletons of Apatosaurus (“Brontosaurus”) which recently was re-mounted with its tail in the air. Visitors from across the country come to see “Big Al” the Allosaurus as well as numerous other exhibits. Several holotype specimens are on display and have been available for research. Other specimens currently under study include the Columbian mammoth (ancient DNA) and microvertebrates from the Mesaverde Fm. A working preparation station has been integrated into the museum, and visitors can ask questions while watching fossils being prepared.
We want to stress that the Collection of Fossil Vertebrates is separate from the museum, and is not affected by these cuts at this time.
...We will keep the community apprised of any further developments in regards to the status of the University of Wyoming Geological Museum.
Letters of concern and support can be addressed to:
Tom Buchanan
Office of the President
Dept. 3434
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071
tombuch@uwyo.edu
Myron Allen
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dept. 3302
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071
allen@uwyo.edu
Please also sign the on-line petition at: ipetitions.com/petition/geomuseum/"
We want to stress that the Collection of Fossil Vertebrates is separate from the museum, and is not affected by these cuts at this time.
...We will keep the community apprised of any further developments in regards to the status of the University of Wyoming Geological Museum.
Letters of concern and support can be addressed to:
Tom Buchanan
Office of the President
Dept. 3434
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071
tombuch@uwyo.edu
Myron Allen
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Dept. 3302
1000 E. University Ave.
Laramie, WY 82071
allen@uwyo.edu
Please also sign the on-line petition at: ipetitions.com/petition/geomuseum/"
Friday, June 5, 2009
Another Museum in Danger!!!
In case you have not heard yet, yesterday the University of Wyoming decided to cut 45 jobs (without even notifying those whose jobs they are cutting from what I understand - not very considerate!!). Due to an $18.3 million budget cut from the state of Wyoming’s block grant, these job cuts will include the only two jobs at the Geological Museum, and cutting the museum itself, closing the facility. [read more here]
This is HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!! This museum has long had a history of public outreach and good scientific work. More information regarding this is forthcoming, so please stay tuned for information on how you can help us to try and save this museum and the two jobs associated with it.
© ReBecca K. Hunt-Foster
© ReBecca K. Hunt-Foster
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