Lincoln (Neb.) - Oct. 16, 2001 - University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman has released a letter he wrote to Lancaster County Attorney Gary Lacey and Rob Bozell, associate director of the Nebraska State Historical Society, to provide more information about former university practices regarding the handling of cadavers used for teaching purposes in anatomy classes and human teeth from dental extractions.
"I am writing to provide further background information about the use of the Veterinary Science incinerator that was in operation on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln East Campus from 1919 to 1977," Perlman wrote.
"New information has very recently come to our attention that indicates that donated cadavers that were used in University of Nebraska anatomy classes during the 1960s and early 1970s were disposed of in the incinerator. As well, extracted teeth from procedures conducted at the University Dental College were disposed of in this same manner.
"At the present time, the Nebraska Anatomical Board, comprised of representatives from UNMC and Creighton Medical Schools, is responsible for the proper disposition of cadavers used for medical teaching purposes. This group makes certain that donation forms are in order for each cadaver. The board is also charged with making certain that the remains of each individual are returned to the family or are buried at Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery (in Omaha). A memorial service is held each year for these individuals.
"Unfortunately, this procedure was not in place for the University Dental College prior to 1975.
"In light of your investigations pursuant to the recent discovery of human remains near the former incinerator site, I thought it important to provide you with the most complete information possible about the history of the site, and to let you know immediately about this information.
"It is my hope that this new information will not lead to calls for
destructive testing of the remains recovered at the former site of the
incinerator on Oct. 2, 2001, but rather add to the knowledge about the
area's history. I wish to emphasize that this new information about the
past use of the incinerator in no way negates the fact that Native
American remains from the University archaeological collection were
incinerated in an incident at this site sometime between 1965 and 1967.
The University is aware that destructive analysis of the remains, for any
purpose, of the human remains recovered from the site on Oct. 2, 2001,
would be highly offensive to the traditions and beliefs of many Native
Americans. The University is prepared to assume that the human remains
recovered near the former incinerator site are Native American."
For questions regarding these releases, contact:
tsimons1@unl.edu
(402) 472-8514, Fax: (402) 472-7825