Feature

Making a mountain into a starbase: The long, bitter battle over Mount Graham

The University of Arizona's determination to build a world-class observatory on Mount Graham creates a storm of controversy involving an endangered red squirrel and an Indian tribe's desire to protect the mountain as a sacred place.

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The university aimed for the stars and hit Mount Graham

The saga of Mount Graham demonstrates that the University of Arizona's shortcuts, questionable tactics and attempts to get around the law are ultimately responsible for creating an impossible situation.

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Related Stories

The astronomer

Astronomer Peter Strittmatter defends observatories as "benign places."

The administrator

University of Arizona vice president for research and graduate studies Michael Cusanovich defends the university's Mount Graham project.

The Apache activist

San Carlos Apache activist Ola Cassadore Davis talks about Mount Graham's sacredness and the coalition she founded to fight for it.

The diplomat ecologist

University of Arizona professor of ecology and evolutionary biology Conrad Istock believes an observatory may help save Mount Graham.

The biogladiator

Biologist Peter Warshall is the University of Arizona faculty's most outspoken critic of the project.

The petitioning ecologist

University of Arizona Ph.D. candidate in ecology and evolutionary biology Mark Fishbein explains his objections to the Mount Graham project.

The straight arrow

Former University of Arizona professor and one-time BLM head Frank Gregg believes the Mount Graham controversy shows a flaw at the heart of all universities when it comes to research and money.

Sound-bite slogans distort a complicated reality

Mount Graham has spawned such extremism that middle ground is almost impossible to find.

Mount Graham time line

A time line illustrates the history of Mount Graham and its squirrels, Apaches, astronomers and environmentalists.

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