News
The UW-SP Museum of Natural History showcases many Native American artifacts in the library lobby area, including this bear.
Museum in jeopardy
The Pointer
jspra793@uwsp.edu
The University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point’s Museum of Natural History may have to fight for its survival yet again due to university budget shortfalls for the 2009-2010 academic school year.
The 41-year-old museum, which houses exhibits ranging from the African Savannah to the native Menominee clans, could be closed down or moved in the upcoming year.
“All programs are being evaluated in how they fit the core mission of the university,” said Mark Nook, provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs. “We’re in the very early phases of how we will be evaluating our budget.”
The museum has experienced the difficulty of a fluctuating budget and neglected artifacts throughout its existence.
“It suffered because it never had a real clear mission statement,” said Ray Reser, interim director of the museum and director of the UW-SP archeology department. “You need a clear mission statement and focus to have a successful museum.”
Reser spoke to professionals at Split Rock studios, a museum outfitter, and they estimated that moving the museum would cost $800,000.
Although not opposed to the idea of moving the museum, Reser is concerned for the placement of artifacts, all of which have been donated.
Last year, Provost Nook developed a committee to make a value assessment of the museum.
“They turned in over 200 pages of recommendations, all in favor of keeping the museum and expanding its programs,” Reser said.
The museum serves to educate not only UW-SP students, but the general public also. Its displays show real-life habitats from around the world, as well as the unique and diverse characteristics of a variety of ancient cultures.
Hundreds of eggs collected from various birds and containing valuable documented scientific data can be found in one area. Down the next corridor, an array of ocean mammals can be viewed.
Claire Smith, museum employee and research assistant to Reser, would like to initiate slow-food movement dinners at the museum “incorporating local foods.” This would be an opportunity to bring in multiple departments she said.
The museum has granted visits to hundreds of schools around the state every year. It’s open to the public while UW-SP classes are in session and cost of entry is free.
In order to increase exposure of the museum, Reser and Smith proposed the idea of representing a timeline from the Cambrian period to the present by placing stone-relief carvings along the east side of the Learning Resource Center.
They were denied due to the permanent nature of the project and the uncertain future of the museum, said Nook.
The museum has also lacked a proper accession, or a complete inventory, including detailed description, identification and photos of its artifacts. This is the first step in determining the museum’s educational value and its research potential, said Reser.
This process will lead to professional accreditation which is vital for any possible grant funding, active research and exchange programs among national and international institutions, said Reser.
“We really do need to have this collection properly accessioned before a decision can be made for the future of the museum,” Nook said. “Without it being completed, we cannot move forward.”
Reser will submit his report of the accession by the end of May with his assessment of the educational value of the museum.
The administration will be meeting with others at the end of this month to further discuss the outlook of the museum.
