LETTER: Trees on temp field permanently removed is affront to students
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Thursday's grapevine informed me that there was going to be a harvest of the three bur oaks located on the grounds of the old golf course on the north side of campus. These trees are estimated to be 150 years of age. At first I thought that these trees must pose a hazard to the students of the university. If they did indeed pose a hazard, due to rotting or disease, then I agree that they should be removed. Then the rumors began to fly.
Being a natural resource and ecology management major and a student of the university, I, along with all others who utilize this campus, have a vested interest in these trees, along with all of the other campus trees. So you can imagine my surprise when I heard the news: The trees were going to be cut down to make room for a temporary marching band practice field! This field was to be created as a result of the loss of the current location for a period due to the construction of the biorenewable energy building. I was overwhelmed with feelings of anger and demanded to know what could be done to stop the harvest of these specimens.
It was at this time that I was informed by one of my professors that the trees had already been cut down. Why would these sentinels of the ISU campus be destroyed to make a "temporary" practice field? Where did the orders to cut the trees come from? Were any other alternatives explored?
In this day and age it is not difficult to send information to the masses regarding any management action that the university might plan. This being said, why were the people who utilized these trees for all purposes not informed of the decision to cut them? This resembles yet another underhanded decision made by the university that is not in the best interests of the students, faculty, staff or, for that matter, the entire state of Iowa.
I am sending you this letter to express my displeasure in the decision to cut the trees. They did not pose a hazard and were healthy specimens. I challenge the Daily to report on the decision to cut the trees. I, along with many other people, would like to know the facts and answers to our questions at this time.
On a side note, I was entering Beardshear Hall one day and one of the columns impeded my travel to the front door. Since this column was an obstacle to my movement, does that mean that I should have removed it, or did I do the right thing in simply maneuvering around it?
Jeff Seago
Junior
Forestry
Being a natural resource and ecology management major and a student of the university, I, along with all others who utilize this campus, have a vested interest in these trees, along with all of the other campus trees. So you can imagine my surprise when I heard the news: The trees were going to be cut down to make room for a temporary marching band practice field! This field was to be created as a result of the loss of the current location for a period due to the construction of the biorenewable energy building. I was overwhelmed with feelings of anger and demanded to know what could be done to stop the harvest of these specimens.
It was at this time that I was informed by one of my professors that the trees had already been cut down. Why would these sentinels of the ISU campus be destroyed to make a "temporary" practice field? Where did the orders to cut the trees come from? Were any other alternatives explored?
In this day and age it is not difficult to send information to the masses regarding any management action that the university might plan. This being said, why were the people who utilized these trees for all purposes not informed of the decision to cut them? This resembles yet another underhanded decision made by the university that is not in the best interests of the students, faculty, staff or, for that matter, the entire state of Iowa.
I am sending you this letter to express my displeasure in the decision to cut the trees. They did not pose a hazard and were healthy specimens. I challenge the Daily to report on the decision to cut the trees. I, along with many other people, would like to know the facts and answers to our questions at this time.
On a side note, I was entering Beardshear Hall one day and one of the columns impeded my travel to the front door. Since this column was an obstacle to my movement, does that mean that I should have removed it, or did I do the right thing in simply maneuvering around it?
Jeff Seago
Junior
Forestry
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