2008 Woodie Awards
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 11/26/08 Section: News
Financial crisis forces firing of 18 Penn Museum researchers
Scholars fired as part of ongoing "restructuring" process
Kathy Wang
The Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology is the latest to be affected by the financial crisis.
Museum director Richard Hodges announced in a memo last Friday that the museum would discontinue 18 "research specialist" positions that have been part of the curatorial departments and the Museum Applied Science Center for Archaeology, in addition to disbanding the MASCA division as a whole.
"We're facing the same challenging financial issues as anyone else, and as a museum, our endowment and, in particular, donations are key parts of our financial strategy," Hodges said.
The terminations will take effect on May 31 next year which will give the employees - many of whom have worked at the museum for many years - a chance to reposition themselves or find other work at the University, according to Hodges.
The decision is a result of the Museum's ongoing "restructuring" process, which focuses on strengthening its "core mission and values, while maintaining fiscal stability," according to the memo.
He added that although Penn has been supportive throughout the process, the Museum has been forced to "tighten our belts" in order to make sure the venue itself stays open. Within the past year, the museum has also restructured its management and discontinued other positions. It also has a smaller staff compared to previous years.
Hodges called the changes the result of a balancing act and added that the research positions were chosen for discontinuation as a last resort because "there really isn't anyone else I can look to."
University spokeswoman Lori Doyle said "the University is supportive of the Museum's efforts to streamline and refocus its operations to meet the challenges of a changing cultural environment."
She added that the "change is difficult but in this case necessary to retain its position as one of the nation's and world's leading museums of anthropology and archaeology."
Students who have collaborated with the Museum will also feel the effects of the changes - but not in a wholly negative way.
"The entire world is experiencing an economic downturn, so it's only natural that it would affect the Penn Museum, which is very vulnerable because of its pre-existing financial condition," said College senior Abby Seldin, who recently co-curated an exhibit at the Museum. "Though it is very sad to see these people leave, it doesn't come as a surprise."
Hodges described Seldin's exhibition as having strengthened the image of the Museum, which in turn has helped generate income.
He added that one of the Museum's priorities moving forward - which is in part a result of Seldin's exhibit - is paying particular attention to providing educational and research opportunities to Penn students.
"Not everything is as bleak as it might seem," he said.
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Museum director Richard Hodges announced in a memo last Friday that the museum would discontinue 18 "research specialist" positions that have been part of the curatorial departments and the Museum Applied Science Center for Archaeology, in addition to disbanding the MASCA division as a whole.
"We're facing the same challenging financial issues as anyone else, and as a museum, our endowment and, in particular, donations are key parts of our financial strategy," Hodges said.
The terminations will take effect on May 31 next year which will give the employees - many of whom have worked at the museum for many years - a chance to reposition themselves or find other work at the University, according to Hodges.
The decision is a result of the Museum's ongoing "restructuring" process, which focuses on strengthening its "core mission and values, while maintaining fiscal stability," according to the memo.
He added that although Penn has been supportive throughout the process, the Museum has been forced to "tighten our belts" in order to make sure the venue itself stays open. Within the past year, the museum has also restructured its management and discontinued other positions. It also has a smaller staff compared to previous years.
Hodges called the changes the result of a balancing act and added that the research positions were chosen for discontinuation as a last resort because "there really isn't anyone else I can look to."
University spokeswoman Lori Doyle said "the University is supportive of the Museum's efforts to streamline and refocus its operations to meet the challenges of a changing cultural environment."
She added that the "change is difficult but in this case necessary to retain its position as one of the nation's and world's leading museums of anthropology and archaeology."
Students who have collaborated with the Museum will also feel the effects of the changes - but not in a wholly negative way.
"The entire world is experiencing an economic downturn, so it's only natural that it would affect the Penn Museum, which is very vulnerable because of its pre-existing financial condition," said College senior Abby Seldin, who recently co-curated an exhibit at the Museum. "Though it is very sad to see these people leave, it doesn't come as a surprise."
Hodges described Seldin's exhibition as having strengthened the image of the Museum, which in turn has helped generate income.
He added that one of the Museum's priorities moving forward - which is in part a result of Seldin's exhibit - is paying particular attention to providing educational and research opportunities to Penn students.
"Not everything is as bleak as it might seem," he said.
Related Stories
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 18
mathias
posted 11/26/08 @ 8:40 AM EST
But Dr Gutmann got a 40% raise this summer, so hey, it all balances out. The University really needs the people responsible for financial decision making to make responsible decisions. (Continued…)
Michael
posted 11/26/08 @ 12:38 PM EST
It remains unclear how the University can continue the constant, shrill claim that the museum is a global leader given the intellectual gutting the museum is currently experiencing. (Continued…)
RDK C'73
posted 11/26/08 @ 1:09 PM EST
This is an ill-advised decision. It will diminish the reputation of the Museum, the Anthropology Department and Penn as a whole. Penn can hardly claim to be a place of academic excellence when it is simultaneously firing droves of researchers. (Continued…)
Bernhard
posted 11/26/08 @ 2:19 PM EST
A long term oriented organization as the PennMuseum allways was shouldn't be blown out that fast when the direction of the wind changes.
Behind such a fast desicion seems to be a more substantial financial crisis. (Continued…)
Sarah
posted 11/26/08 @ 9:27 PM EST
This is an awful decision. It will deprive Penn of some of its most accomplished and talented researchers, and inevitably the student body will suffer. (Continued…)
concerned penn graduate student
posted 11/28/08 @ 6:17 PM EST
Contra Abigail Seldin, this comes as a *huge* surprise to graduate students who work closely with researchers in the museum. Her glib remarks clearly show that she is NOT a spokesperson for the student body at large, and we graduate students are very concerned about who will be affected by this terrible decision. (Continued…)
Absolutely Nuts......
posted 11/29/08 @ 7:52 AM EST
Just as the university never addressed the outrage over Dr. Gutman's 40% increase, or the naming of Claudia Cohen Hall, they will not address this. Basically, because they don't have to. (Continued…)
Earl Neller
posted 11/29/08 @ 8:21 PM EST
This news sound bite from The Daily Pennsylvanian gives the reader almost nothing that tells the story. What research is being cut? What experience and expertise is being cut? What is being retained? What do the anonymous sources have to say? How do these cuts relate to the Museum's budget? I want details. (Continued…)
jmyers8888
Jeff Myers
posted 11/30/08 @ 8:31 AM EST
One would think there were other places (administration or athletics?) to cut. I suppose all those billions we're raising through the campaign can't just be thrown away on scholars and museums. (Continued…)
Benthead
posted 12/01/08 @ 9:01 AM EST
I have to concur with these comments. The university is choosing to cut out one of its core missions: creating new knowledge through research. The motto is "from excellence to eminence," but you don't do that by giving the axe to researchers and scrimping on salaries for professors while you pump up salaries of administrators. (Continued…)
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