Sorry, but this IS an issue of general professional concern and importance,
and is, therefore, highly appropriate for this list to discuss OPENLY. The
fact that the heading is seen as a cause of concern suggests just how
sensitive an issue nudity is for U.S. audiences. I must strongly disagree,
however, with the suggestion that we discuss such sensitive issues offlist,
that defeats the purpose of having a list; or use euphemisms - that would be
silly and compound the problems associated with exhibits that might offend
certain elements of our communities.
 It is interesting that the nudity of the subjects is seen as a concern,
rather than that an exhibit about human beings is in a museum that largely
deals with geology and animal life. I know there are historical reasons for
the delineation between natural history museums and history museums and the
assignment of non-white peoples largely to the former rather than the
latter, but is the continuation of this practice ethically neutral?

Bill Mulligan, Murray State University