[NHCOLL-L:2229] University of Iowa Herbarium in Crisis

[Diana Horton]

- Yesterday, our attorney sent a Cease and Desist letter to the Office of 
the University Counsel at Iowa State University, respectfully requesting 
that Iowa State University and its employees cease and desist from moving 
forward with either the packing or the removal of any Herbarium specimens.

- At 4 PM this afternoon, four people from Iowa State University, including 
Director Lynn Clark and Curator Deb Lewis, arrived at the University of 
Iowa Herbarium accompanied by University of Iowa Department of Biological 
Sciences Chair Jack Lilien, and three other Department of Biological 
Sciences faculty, Joseph Frankel, Gary Gussin and John Meninger.

- When I informed Chair Lilien and Dr. Clark that, as Curator, I did not 
give them permission to access the Herbarium, Chair Lilien responded that 
he was giving the Iowa State people access.  I explained to them that by 
accessing the Herbarium over my objections, they are violating standard 
Herbarium and Museum regulations.  Chair Lilien said that he was giving 
them permission to pack the collection.

- We have learned just now that the Iowa State people intend to work 
through the night and to transport the collections to Iowa State in the 
morning.  Earlier, Dr. Clark told me that the collection would be packed 
beginning today, March 1st and transported to Iowa State beginning March 15th.

- Just a few moments ago, Phillip Jones, the Vice President for Student 
Services, and Marcus Mills, Senior Associate Counsel for the University of 
Iowa 'joined the crowd' of University of Iowa Adminstrators, and Charles 
Green, Director of Campus Security also is here.


Diana Horton
Director and Curator, University of Iowa Herbarium
Associate Professor, Biological Sciences
312 CB
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA  52242-1297