Description
On Monday, Philadelphia City Council members focused a hearing on what it would take for Drexel to reopen the Academy of Natural Sciences museum to the public.
The hearing marked the first time that a legislative body was able to ask questions about the closure that has garnered international attention and criticism since Sept. 1, when Drexel and the Academy announced that the museum would no longer be open to the public after nearly two centuries in operation.
Drexel president Antonio Merlo did not attend the hearing, which drew repeated criticism from Council members, who called his absence “disrespectful.”
Melissa Richman, Drexel’s executive director of operations said Merlo had to be on campus for a site visit by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is undergoing its regular reaccreditation process that happens every five years.
Councilmember Jeffery Young Jr. said the body would be issuing subpoenas to compel certain people to testify at a future hearing, now scheduled for Nov. 16.
Read more about Monday’s hearing: https://www.inquirer.com/education/academy-natural-sciences-closure-philadelphia-city-council-20261026.html
📝 by Peter Dobrin and Susan Snyder / Staff
📹 by Lauren Schneiderman / Staff
📸 by Tom Gralish / Staff
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