It's criminal
03.04.2005Walked up to campus, to pick up some late papers to grade from my office. As I passed underneath the clock tower by Waldo Library, headed towards Friedmann Hall, I was shocked. A single thought entered my mind, and I couldn't shake it. What have they done? The trees in the rolling open space between Waldo, Knauss, and Wood were gone. Chopped at the base, the ground around them plowed haphazardly, scarring the light hills. What have they done! All I could do was stare, bewildered & bitter.
Finally made my way into the office, stopping to speak to our department secretary. What have they done? And she knew exactly what I meant. She, too, was exasperated. And we wondered where the university was going, who was leading this haphazard assault on the very aesthetics of our campus.
A new chemistry building'll go on the open green space. The one where coeds sit in late spring & early autumn to read, or play guitar, while others toss frisbees, or rollerblade. That space that opened gloriously from the arms of the library & computing center. It's gone now, gone, gone, gone. Instead of tearing down one of the several dilapidated buildings (like McCracken, the old chemistry building, that carcass of a brick block in which I'm expected to teach Latin American politics), they've decided that it'd be best to liquidate the most beautiful open green area (and some of the oldest trees) on campus. Couldn't they've at least waited until after the semester? Couldn't they've at least given us one more brilliant spring?
They should know better! It's beyond immoral; it's downright criminal. If we're to build a new building, then let's tear down the ones that are currently useless, and do that first. How can we teach students the ethics of conservation, ecology, aesthetics, basic decency when some of the oldest trees on campus are destroyed. What have they done!!
When I first arrived on campus, I was met w/ a glorious autumn. The walk from Friedmann Hall to Waldo Library was a joy. Our then-president, Dieter (we all called him by his first name), always kept our campus beautiful & bright. And now? I'll walk from my office to the library to see construction.
I can't wait to defend my dissertation. I want to leave. I want to join the faculty & staff who're retiring, fleeing because they "can't take it anymore". What have they done?
Posted by Miguel at 02:30 PM
Comments
Join the ranks my friend. It seems to be a global trend.
Posted by: MB at March 4, 2005 04:06 PM
Were there announcements and at least discussions with the student government abt where the new building was to be?
It's shocking. I loved that wide open space behind Waldo. Now it's just a memory.
Posted by: Stephanie at March 4, 2005 04:55 PM
Discussions? W/ students? From this university president? I don't think Bailey knows what the word "dialogue" means.
Posted by: Miguel ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.centellas.org/miguel/nav-commenters.gif)
at March 4, 2005 05:19 PM
Worth an editorial, don't you think???
Posted by: Melli at March 4, 2005 05:20 PM
Sumbitch. I loved that space, too.
I recall my freshman year what seems like many years ago, sitting in the grass w/my high school sweetheart. Early autumn, hands clasped behind my head, leaned back into the plush bed of green grass. Sun overhead. Smell of freshly cut grass lingering warmly in my nostrils. Students about, talking, laughing, hustling, bustling. The trees dotting the hill, casting small, dark clouds of angular shade on the hill.
What the hell have they done?
Posted by: tom at March 5, 2005 12:14 AM
Write an article about this in the Western Herald!!!
Posted by: Stephanie at March 5, 2005 08:03 AM
Wow, I wasn't even aware that to be the case when I met you there. I thought they were cleaning, possibly to put up new trees instead of "damaged" ones or sth (I guess Euopean way of thinking). There's gonna be a building now? How long they gonna disturb us there with building it? It's a shame. The library building will be hidden now. I never saw this coming. And still, like you mentioned, noone does anything about that "abandoned" McCracken Hall beside the library. Such a shame.
Posted by: Nenad at March 5, 2005 08:11 AM
Thats crazy! Impeach the President. For every WMU alum out there, who sat on that grassy knoll, or talked to Monks who would set up shop on the hill to talk to people, man... even the crazy guy will be missed who used to harass the masses from that spot.
IMPEACHMENT! There can be no other answer. I remember when I was on a presidential committee for WMU the plan was to put the building possibly on East Campus, or tear down McCraken and build there. This is crap!
Posted by: sam at March 6, 2005 02:09 PM