Officials will explore alternatives to funding new Bell Museum

The University of Minnesota will explore new partnerships with other organizations before it once again asks lawmakers for money to build a new Bell Museum.

Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoed tens of millions of dollars in state funding to replace the aging natural history museum in each of the last two sessions.

U of M president Bob Bruininks said the school will consider partnerships with science organizations before asking lawmakers for funding again.

"Given the fact it was vetoed twice, I felt we need to take some time to reflect on an alternative way of bringing the building forward," Bruininks said.

Bruininks will ask lawmakers to fund other building projects at the U next year. He said he'll request $194 million during the 2010 session to pay for classroom and laboratory renovations, new science facilities at the school's Twin Cities campus, and an American Indian learning center for the U's Duluth campus.

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