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Update August 26, 2008
Following a meeting with Dr. Elson Floyd and members of Capital Planning and Development (CPD) and the Department of Music, Friends of WSU Trees wishes to announce that in response to the tremendous outpouring on behalf of the trees in front of Avery Hall a compromise has been reached. Most of the trees west of Hello Walk will notbe removed as originally planned. Trees east of Hello Walk will be removed to accommodate the widening of the road in front of Kimbrough to permit busses and traffic related to music events to use the area for boarding. One silver maple will be culled west of Hello Walk due to disease. Another tree, close to the building will be culled to facilitate the grading design presented by CPD. Floyd also promised significant changes in the planning of future infrastructure projects, changes that will allow for more transparency of process and input from stakeholders, including WSU students, faculty, alumni, and emeriti.
While we all regret the loss of any of our irreplaceable trees, Friends of WSU Trees wishes to thank Dr. Floyd for his willingness to work towards a compromise on this project, which was planned several years before the current WSU administration became involved with it.
For further information, contact Michael Hanly at 509-335-4081.
Updates Archive
I thought it would be a good idea to send all of you a heads-up about what's been going on in the effort to save the trees in front of Avery.
President Floyd has been having a series of meetings with Capital Planning, and has been working very hard to come up with an alternate plan that would spare many of the trees currently slated for removal. This is terrific news.
At this point, any further agitation or publicity-seeking on our part would seem an act of bad faith. Look at it this way: if the president hadn't heard our concerns and weren't sympathetic to this cause, the trees would be gone already. So we need to trust him to do the best he can for us, and demonstrate our trust by "chilling out" for the time being. I am confident that something positive will be worked out in a short time. Thanks for your patience in this.
A related matter. Somebody pulled a prank yesterday, and in the words of good Queen Victoria, "we are not amused." When I came in to the building yesterday morning, all 14 of the trees in the Avery Grove were adorned with very official-looking, laminated yellow signs complete with CPD contact numbers that designated the trees as "protected." They were identical to the ones CPD had affixed weeks ago to trees slated for retention. Later on, Mr. Stone from CPD appeared in the English Dept. office carrying all the signs and asking if we had done it.
I said "we" had nothing to do with this hoax, and I'm sure Dr. Floyd believes me, but it still has to make him wonder about our sincerity. That kind of doubt could erode his support for us. It's quite likely not one of our number who did this, but rather some independent jokers who find it funny to stir up confusion. If you know anything about it, please tell these people to knock it off, that this stuff isn't helping. We're probably going to get an announcement over the next week or so, so we can certainly lie low until then.
Thanks. We've really made great progress in this matter, and you should all be proud of yourselves. I'll let you know the first thing I hear. All best--
Michael
Daily Activities Archive
WHEN: Daily from 11:30 to 1:30.
WHERE: Avery Hall Grove.
Bring your lunch and something to sit on and enjoy their cool beauty!
Show WSU you care about these trees and what they mean to you! There is always some extra food as well. On Thursday the Celtic music group ''Potato Head'' is performing at lunch!
Tell your friends!
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