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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2002

"On Thursday, the regents will consider whether to enter into a contract allowing University astronomers to be given access to the Large Binocular Telescope being constructed at the Mount Graham International Observatory in Arizona. Under normal circumstances this would be a no-brainer; I know of no one who would not like to see these scientists make substantial contributions to the literature in their field. But Mount Graham is a special case. Apart from containing a unique ecosystem and being home to an endangered species of red squirrel, it is a sacred site to the Western Apache people, a fact reinforced by the recent National Park Service decision designating the mountain eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places as a “traditional cultural property.” By investing in the telescope development, the University would be endorsing Mount Graham’s desecration. It’s that simple. . ."

Get the Story:
Scott Laderman: Telescope endorsement embarrasses University (The Minnesota Daily 10/8)

Relevant Links:
Mount Graham: Sacred Mountain, Sacred Ecosystem - http://www.seac.org/seac-sw/mtg.htm
Mount Graham International Observatory - http://mgpc3.as.arizona.edu

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