Fw: another museum threatened

[Scott L. Gardner]

another museum threatenedALL:

This just in from Phil Myers.  This is appearing to be a trend and the Bean Counters have gotten completely out of control.

Anyone who uses the collections there should write.

Scott Gardner


----- Original Message ----- 
From: Phil Myers 
To: MAMMAL-L at SI-LISTSERV.SI.EDU 
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 5:13 PM
Subject: another museum threatened


The systematics collections of the Michigan State University Museum are under assault.  Plans are under consideration that would greatly reduce both support staff and curators.  The collections would likely remain at Michigan State but simply be unavailable for most research purposes. 

The MSU Museum has outstanding collections of small mammals from South America, Mexico, and Africa, as well as extensive holdings from the Great Lakes region.  It also has a remarkable collection of large African mammals, notably bovids.  Its ornithological, herpetological, ichthyological, and paleontological holdings are also in jeopardy.

Dean Estelle McGroarty of the MSU College of Natural Science is collecting letters and e-mails about this threatened action.   She has said that the most helpful communications will be from people who know the collection and who might be affected by changes to its accessibility, rather than general comments about the importance of natural history collections.  She is also be interested in hearing about research that uses natural history collections in new and innovative ways.  Dean McGroarty's e-mail address is mcgroar1 at msu.edu.




--
Philip  Myers
Assoc. Prof., Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Assoc. Curator, Museum of Zoology
University of Michigan

tel. (734) 647-2206
FAX (734) 763-4080