Death of paleontology in Nebraska

["Patty Ralrick" <pattyralrick@hotmail.com>]

Hi All,

The spreading disease that hit Dinosaur National Monument has now crept into 
Nebraska.  Nebraska is in a $300 million budget shortfall and paleo is going 
to take a major hit.  The worst of it will be the elimination of the 
research division of the University of Nebraska State Museum in Lincoln, 
resulting in the "loss of 8 tenured faculty positions and forcing 7 
scientific collections to be transferred to other institutions" (according 
to the local news).   Also hit is the Masters in Museum Studies degree 
program, which is to be terminated.  This hit especially hard as I was to 
start this program in the fall with a minor in vert paleo.

It's scary to think that a pillar in paleontology like Dr. Mike Voorhies 
will no longer be doing research here in Nebraska.  I suppose that he could 
find a position somewhere else, but if we're in such a budget shortage, I'm 
sure it's happening everywhere and positions will be even fewer and more far 
between than before.

I'll post more as events warrant.  I'm ever hopeful that we can stop the 
spread of this horrifying disease here, but doubt it seriously.

Thanks for listening,

Patty

**********************************************
"Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death!"   Rosalind 
Russel - Auntie Mame.

Patty Ralrick
2108 Power Dr.
Bellevue  NE  68005




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