Police suspect arson by anti-biotechnology groups in separate but simultaneous fires May 21 that destroyed an urban horticulture facility in Seattle on the campus of the University of Washington, and a research facility in Clatskanie, Oregon. The Seattle facility also housed the Master Gardener Program sponsored by the Washington State University Cooperative Extension Service.

In the last two years similar arsons or vandalism have damaged or destroyed life-sciences facilities at Rhinelander, Wisconsin; Berkeley, California; and East Lansing, Michigan.

These repeated attacks are making universities and extension services consider how to reduce their vulnerability to such attacks and how to speed the recovery of research programs and the rebuilding of facilities. Increased security measures are expensive. They divert money from research, teaching and extension. They cannot guarantee security: fences can be cut, walls can be climbed, cameras can be disabled.

In addition to fences and cameras, universities are considering other preparations and precautions, such as investing in the capacity for routine backup of records and storage of seed stock in several sites. A state or federal disaster assistance fund could help restore research and extension programs and quickly rebuild public facilities wrecked by acts of terrorism. Such a program would also reaffirm the resolve of the government to carry through the work universities in teaching, researching and outreaching.

Source: http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/local/24095_fire22.shtml