Wednesday, January 28, 2015

St. Louis Chapter of AIA Capitulates to Academic Bullies

In a sad  reversal, the St. Louis Chapter of the AIA has capitulated to the academic bullies that run the national organization by replacing its board.  Presumably, after considering the matter further, it was decided that the St. Louis Chapter had no future as an independent organization.  That's too bad. There is a need for an archaeological organization that reaches out to collectors rather than marginalizing them.  The fact that the St. Louis' Chapter's "crime" was the sale of well-provenanced artifacts that were no longer displayed for purposes of promoting archaeology speaks volumes about what the AIA has become. 
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3 comments:

  1. Wayne G. SaylesJanuary 28, 2015 at 11:06 AM

    I think "capitulates" is perhaps the wrong word. I would suggest that "belittles" better fits. Who really won in St. Louis?

    ReplyDelete
  2. John HJanuary 28, 2015 at 11:40 AM

    This is deeply disturbing news. I along with others expected more. Bullies rule now?

    Just as well this kind of 'courage' wasn't present at Iwo Jima.

    Best wishes

    John Howland
    England

    ReplyDelete
  3. Dave WelshJanuary 30, 2015 at 12:55 AM

    "There is a need for an archaeological organization that reaches out to collectors rather than marginalizing them."

    I could not agree more.

    The only way that I can envision this taking place would be for collectors to organize an archaeological organization whose charter emphasizes the virtues and benefits of cooperation with private collectors and private museums.

    So long as archaeology is viewed as a discipline dominated by funding whose sources are governmental and academic, its orientation won't change.

    Dave Welsh

    ReplyDelete

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