Editor:

With the closure of the Dinosaur Museum, the public image of the University of Wyoming has been severely damaged. A world-class museum has been closed to the public and it's outstanding director, fired. The people of Wyoming have been extremely fortunate to have Brent Breithaupt as the curator of the museum for so many years - he is in the same class of educators as Wilbur and Sam Knight and the many, many University of Wyoming geologists and anthropologists, past and present, who have and still are, contributing so unbelievably much.

Now is the perfect time to increase funding for the museum and its former director from zero to about $200,000 a year. The money is needed, not only to pay personnel, but to continue the collection and restoration of all of the dinosaurs currently being discovered throughout Wyoming. Kids love this stuff and so do professionals, educators, Wyoming residents and tourists from all over the world. The dinosaur museum is a darn good way to attract visitors to Wyoming. As President Barack Obama says, we have not only a vision of the future, but the ability to change our decisions in the public interest. So let's all encourage the governor and university officials to go for it.

JOHN McKAY, Laramie

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