Letters to the Editor
Don’t bring out the dead
To the Journal editor:
A “body farm” is proposed within Marquette city limits. Northern Michigan University wishes to establish a 2 to 3 acre cold-weather research site that will include unburied dead human bodies exposed to the elements, as part of their new program in forensic anthropology.
The Marquette City Commission heard the proposal on Oct. 31, preceded by an article in the Sept. 14 Mining Journal.
NMU prefers a site within 5 miles of their main campus, with room for expansion. Their first choice is on Department of Corrections property, on an open hillside north of and next to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources office on U.S. 41.
The site is clearly visible from the highway and lake, and although the program may start small, the site is large enough to potentially see placement of over 100 dead human bodies.
The project has support from law enforcement agencies. However, there is citizen concern about the location. The proposed site is at the southern gateway to our city, and slopes toward the DNR parking lot and office, the highway, and Lake Superior.
A fence around the area is planned, but will exposed decomposing bodies attract predators and scavenging birds? Will birds flocking to the site create a visual reminder of the corpses to motorists as they enter the city? Will birds carry off and drop body pieces or defecate digested remains? Will the stench of rotting bodies impact nearby offices? Will property values and citizens’ peace of mind beyond the general area of the site be affected?
There are six “body farms” in other parts of the country. Other proposed sites were halted by protest and controversy. Besides the concerns mentioned above, many think rotting corpses create a grotesque situation, and disrespect the deceased.
Although there may be value in such research, this proposed location seems unacceptable. Since the UP has abundant vacant property, NMU should expand their search and find an isolated location, well distanced from residences, businesses, offices, tourist sites, and high-use recreational areas.
An isolated location would minimize impingement on citizens’ rights to freedom from negative physical and psychological impacts of a human body decomposition research site.
Consider asking questions and expressing your concerns to the City Commission, NMU, the Michigan Department of Corrections and legislators. The benefits of such research should be balanced with the valid concerns of our citizens.
Dennis Nezich
Marquette