Wednesday, May 3, 1995 -The Michigan Daily - 9
pnola Gay debate comes to campus symposium
By Christine Williams
For the Daily
In a joint forum with the Smithsonian
last Wednesday, the University hosted a
national discussion on the responsibili-
ties museums assume when handling
potentially controversial exhibits.
The symposium, "Presenting History:
Museums in a Democratic Society,"
ught curators, historians and experts in
m around the country and attracted me-
dia coverage in both Japan and Germany.
A yearlong debate surrounding the
Smithsonian's display of the Enola Gay, a
World War II B-29 display bomber, pre-
cipitated the event. The $1 million project
featuring the B-29 that dropped the atomic
bomb on Hiroshima was decried by veter-
ans groups as "pro-Japanese,""revisionist"
and full of "outright lies."
"The behavior of the Japanese from31
to 45 was glossed over," said Herman
Wolk, a senior historian for the Air Force
History Support Office. He referred to the
exhibit's original version during the sym-
posium. "I had the feeling that an agenda
was being formed in that script."
Wolk was one of many critics who
pressured the museum for change last
year.
Volatile text soon deleted included
the observation that, "for most Ameri-
cans ... this was a war of vengeance. For
most Japanese, it was a war to defend
their unique culture against Western im-
perialism."
For 18 months curators at the mu-
seum revised other portions that of-
fended critics. By December's fifth revi-
sion, many were satisfied.
However, veterans groups and 81
congressmen enraged at a last-minute
text change in January forced the
Smithonian to strip down the exhibit,
originally scheduled to open this
month, to bare bones artifacts. Cura-
tors had reduced casualty estimates to
one-fourth of what they had been, rais-
ing questions about whether many
American lives were even at stake at
the time the Enola Gay bombed
Hiroshima in World War II.
The joint symposium with the Univer-
sity was announced by the Smithsonian in
January, along with the cancellation.
"The symposium was more to take a
look at thebroad issues so they can think in
terms of the future, rather than having a di-
rect impact on the the Enola Gay exhibit,"
said Gary Krinz, the event organizer.
Wolk. a panelist, said inclusion of both
historical and personal perspectives in
museum displays could avoid problems
like those encountered with the Enola
Gay.
"It's not history versus memory," he
said, in reference to museums' historical
exhibits. "History and memory is good
history."
Panelist Daniel Martinez, a Park His-
torian from the National Park Service,
said the uniqueness of a museum's role is
often not understood.
"There is such a gap between us that
work in public history and those of you
in academic history," he said. "That
chasm that exists is part of the problem."
Martinez also cited the need for pub-
lic affairs people and confidentiality for
the museum to use in cases of debate. In
the Enola Gay exhibit, "the horse was out
of the barn."
Organizers received mostly positive
comments about the symposium, although
some felt the panels were unbalanced.
"It would have been very nice if veter-
ans could have defended themselves," said
Jack Giese, adding that such groups were
called "Neo-McCarthyites" by some.
"At least a step was taken," he said. "At
least most sides got heard. What will they
do with the information, that's the key."
The National Air and Space Museum
is under an extensive management review.
Air Force Association officials were inter-
viewed by the Smithsonian's review team
just days after the symposium. Investiga-
tors are expected to gather comments from
museum curators and members of Con-
gress as well.
jU' fills lobbyist, secretary positions
By Ronnie Glassberg
Daily Editor In Chief
Cynthia H. Wilbanks, who last sum-
mer lost the Republican nomination in
the Congressional race won by Demo-
crat Lynn Rivers, will head the effort to
prove the University's troubled rela-
ons with Lansing.
"The position is pretty well focused
with respect to state relations. I think the
overall goal is to have the University in
good stead," said Wilbanks, who will
serve as associate vice president for Uni-
versity relations. "Our ultimate objective
is to maintain good, solid relations."
The state House provided the Uni-
versity with no increase in its appropria-
ns because non-resident enrollment has
sen above 30 percent. University offi-
cials hope to turn the tide in the Senate.
"I spent two months interviewing
around Lansing," said Vice President for
University Relations Walter Harrison.
"Her name came up more than any other.
Given the strong support, I was very
happy she decided to apply."
The University Board of Regents ap-
proved Wilbanks' appointment atits
April meeting. Wilbanks will assume her
office on June 12.
Wilbanks will fill the position of
Keith Molin, who served as associate
vice president for government relations.
Molin took a position in the Athletic De-
partment last fall.
In 1977, Wilbanks joined the staff of
U.S. Rep. Carl Pursell of Plymouth.
Since 1993, Wilbanks has served as
president of Michigan's Children, a non-
profit, statewide advocacy organization
that represents children and their interests.
Wilbanks received her bachelor's
degree in political science from the Uni-
versity in 1973.
In another administrative move, the
University named the vice president for
government affairs at Wayne State Uni-
versity as secretary of the University.
The regents approved the appoint-
ment of Roberta R. Palmer, effective
July 1, at their April meeting.
Palmer takes the post from past Uni-
versity Secretary and Vice President for
Government Relations Richard L.
Kennedy, who retired last summer.
Palmer only will serve in the position
of secretary.
"At this point, the president and the
regents felt a full-time secretary was
needed," Palmer said. "I'm very happy
to be selected."
In her new position, Palmer will act
as the University's secretary, serving as
a liaison between the administration and
the Board of Regents.
"I think she'll be terrific. She worked
at the University for a number of years so
she knows how the place operates," said
Regent Laurence Deitch (D-Bloomfield
Hills).
Palmer served as the government re-
lations coordinator at the University, as-
sistant to the vice president for state rela-
tions, and later as director of state rela-
tions and assistant to the vice president
for government relations from 1977-88.
She received a bachelor's degree in
1968 and a master's degree in 1969 from
the University. She is working on a doc-
torate in higher education administration
at the University.
A new forum for English
inmates at the Egeler Correctional Facility in Jackson perform in the play
"Justice, or is It Just Us?" which they co-wrote with the English 319 Theater
and Sncial Change class.
Radioactive spill reported in 'U'
lab; experts say no health hazard
By Beth Echlin
For the Daily
A small radioactive spill occured in a
laboratory on the University medical cam-
us on April 21, the University's Radiation
ety Office reported.
Phosphorous 32, a radioactive mate-
rial used in biomedical research, was re-
ported to have been spilled in a labora-
tory on the fourth floor of Kresge II.
"The contamination which occurred
is not a health hazard to members of the
public, nor to the researchers who were
in the laboratory," said Mark Driscoll, a
University radiation safety officer.
Traces of the chemical were found
n the floor of the laboratory, in the hall
and in the entryway of the facility, as
well as on the soles of shoes of several
people who had entered the lab. Two
cars driven by those in contact with the
material also showed contamination.
Access was restricted for about three
hours while crews cleaned up the spill.
"It's like stepping in baby powder,"
said Elizabeth Hall, a public information
officer. "Each step spreads contamination."
However, Driscoll said that the spill is
contained. "It is very unlikely that others
who passed through the building on
Thursday and Friday would have con-
taminated shoes and other items." he said.
Use of the lab where the spill occured
will be suspended until all researchers in
the lab are retrained.
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