A House subcommittee within the Science and Technology committee has called on DOE Secretary Bodman to continue funding SREL until a full investigation can be completed. This will not happen without continued public support and messages to Bodman et al (www.savesrel.org for complete info).
Memo from House committee here: http://science.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=1831 This is a great opportunity for you all to phone the committee members and voice your concerns. Remember, they work for you. And positive messages of support for SREL and the environment will do more to help than negative messages of frustration. If they are initially dismissive because you are not in their district, remind them of their role on the House Science Committee. Their contact information is here: http://science.house.gov/about/members.htm I realize that you may be tired of hearing about SREL now, but I wanted to remind you all how much bigger this issue is than the closure of a little science lab. SREL is considered by many to be the posterchild for the Bush Administrations war on science and oversight. There is simply no other rational explanation for the persistent political push from Washington DC to close SREL. Read more here: http://www.savesrel.org/perspectives.htm And it goes without saying that the UGA administration is failing us miserably. Although I cannot confirm this information, it is being said that UGA administrators have contacted various GA political delegates to ask them to "lay off of this issue" regarding attempts to prevent SREL closure. I am unsure of the motives for the interference coming from UGA but it is shameful to say the least. SREL is located within a unique setting, has an emphasis on long-term ecological studies (some 30 yrs+), and has produced 3,000+ manuscripts, 300 graduate degrees, and 50+ books that SREL, all of which have brought notoriety to UGA. If you value SREL, please voice positive messages of support to the current UGA administration, particularly the Chancellor: Erroll B. Davis, Jr. Chancellor, Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia Suite 7025 270 Washington Street, SW Atlanta, GA 30334 Telephone: (404) 656-2202; Fax: (404) 657-6979 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Michael F. Adams President, University of Georgia Telephone: 706/ 542-1214 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Arnett C. Mace, Jr. UGA Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Telephone: 706/ 542-5806 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Dr. David Lee Vice President for Research Telephone: 706-542-5969 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Thanks from all of us at SREL, past and present. Chris Christopher T. Winne SREL Graduate Research Fellow and PhD Candidate University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory Drawer E Aiken, SC 29802
