A request from the University of Arizona that the University join them in their large binocular telescope project, now underway in Arizona, has sparked criticism for its imposition on environmental and Native American rights.
By helping to fund construction for the Mount Graham, Ariz., telescope, the University would be allowed access to it for research purposes. However, environmental and Native American cultural concerns are stalling a final decision from the University.
Michael Nixon, an attorney specializing in Native American and environmental law, visited the University last week to argue against the telescope's presence on Mount Graham.
His visit followed a rally last Wednesday at the University of Minnesota, another institution participating in the project.
Nixon said Mount Graham is important to the San Carlos Apache Indians for religious purposes, and that the astronomy department would demonstrate a "profound lack of understanding" if it decides to fund the project.
The Apache Survival Coalition, represented by Nixon, issued a letter to University President John T. Casteen III last December in opposition to the LBT project. In its letter, ASC Chairperson Ola Cassadore Davis said that the University's participation would be an "assault on Native American people, their culture and their religion."
University students also have raised concerns about the project.
"The construction of the telescope has been a complete slap in the face to the Native American community there," said third-year College student Nicholas Graber-Grace, who serves as editor of the liberally oriented Critical Mass.
In addition to cultural concerns, the telescope's construction could threaten endangered species, Graber-Grace said.
For this reason, the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund and other advocacy groups filed a lawsuit in 1989 to halt observatory construction permanently. Among the endangered plant and animal species, red squirrels have caused the most concern among environmentalists.
The astronomy department, which met with Nixon during his visit, continues to deliberate the issue.
"It's something we've studied very carefully for quite some time," Astronomy Department Chairman Robert Reed said.
Reed said that because only a Mount Graham subspecies of red squirrels would be threatened, he is comfortable with the environmental issues.
"It strikes me as strange" that red squirrel advocates didn't speak up before the development of the conservatory, he said.
Until 1985, red squirrel hunting was legal, and a paved road, summer homes, an artificial lake and communication facilities had already been erected on the mountain, he added.
Reed said only a small minority of Apache Indians expressed disapproval over the LBT project, and that although minorities are entitled to their rights. They seem to want a lot and are totally unwilling to compromise, he said.
An overlap between the red squirrel advocates of ten years ago, and those now arguing the violation of Apache cultural rights at Mount Graham, suggests to Reed the possibility of "a vendetta to block this project."
Despite such speculation, Reed added that other options still are being explored, including a project with Cornell University and the University of Texas.
The astronomy department has yet to make a final decision on the LBT project.
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