By Nicole Majewski
An understaffing problem is hurtingthe Whitworth-Ferguson Planetarium, and making its future on the Buffalo State College campus uncertain.
Planetarium Director Arthur Gielow said the facility needs more people to run the shows. He said public shows are limited to sporadic observation nights. Presently, it has three operators – two of whom are still in training – and himself.
“For a good 15-year span we were open a lot for public shows,” Gielow said.
The planetarium has shown the stars to Buffalo State College students, faculty and the public for almost 40 years. Built in 1967 and rebuilt in 1980 after a fire, it is located in Room 115 of the Science Building. It runs programs for preschoolers to adults and is frequented by scouting troops and some classes at BSC, includingastronomy classes, creative studies classes and theAstronomy Club.
In the past, students involved in Astronomy Club ran the shows, some of which still come back to do them. He said a shift in the science faculty staffing in 1995 stopped the public shows, along with the graduation of student operators. This year’s Astronomy Club is working to fix this problem also, he said.
“Members of the current Astronomy Club are working on doing some public programs and once that occurs the public shows might happen again,” he said.
He said any student can help run the planetarium, no matter what their major is. Planetarium show operators, however, must take the planetarium seminar course before they can host.
“Someone might like to write programs, or be talented in computer imaging,” Gielow said. “This is all needed for a modern planetarium.”
He said the planetarium can also offer any science program, whether it be the different gases that the stars are made up of, the evolution of the stars, how the stars and planets are changing or the question of life on other planets.
Stephen DuBois is a former member of Astronomy Club who schedules some of the groups. He said being a planetarium operator can prepare students for teaching careers because of the hands-on experience the facility provides.
“Our dome is not a flat chalkboard, but rather a realistic representation of the night sky that can move and turn to demonstrate the motions of the planets, sun, moon and Earth,” DuBois said. “Planetarium operators become better teachers because it gets them to think and teach out of the box,” he said.
He said the darkness forces operators to learn how to use their voices effectively because body language can’t be seen.
Holly Ann Harp, president of this year’s Astronomy Club, said the facility also teaches its operators how to deal with children of all ages.
“It’s perfect so you can run the gamut of all grade levels and get a feel for the maturity and mentality of kids,” she said.
Contact Nicole Majewski at cerealboxes84@yahoo.com
|
The Whitworth-Ferguson Planetarium has shown the stars to Buffalo State College students, faculty and staff for almost 40 years.