- University of Wyoming Geological Museum: A Faltering Academic Institution's Rare Success Story Threatened by Religious Intolerance, Ignorance and Fear
As an alum of UW, and a PhD recipient from the Department of Geology and Geophysics, I am naturally profoundly disturbed at news of the closing of the Geological Museum and firing of the curator, Brent Breithaupt. The museum is one of the outstanding assets of the University and one of its most highly-recognized attributes. Internationally known and locally beloved, it is a gem--and a boon to the sciences of Geology, Paleontology and Biology; it should be prized, not closed.
In recent years as I have toured much of the Pacific Basin filming segments for my television show I have met literally hundreds of people who know UW only because of the Geological Museum, Curator Breithaupt and the paleontological collections. A University that can squander untold millions on useless athletic programs certainly can afford to continue one of its most outstanding outreach programs and most visible academic successes, especially given the comparatively marginal cost to do so.
People from all over the world know and love Brent Briethaupt and appreciate the incredible job he does...no one, NO ONE outside Wyoming remembers Fenis Dembo or any other Wyoming athlete. My father has a saying that applies directly: "Put your good where it will do the most"--and your "good" does the "most" by continuing to support and fund the UW Geological Museum and Brent Breithaupt, the curator.
To support the museum and express concern or protest, please write the following people:
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
Also, please sign the petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/geomuseum/
Sincerely,
Donald B. MacGowan, PhD
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