We won! This webpage now serves to document our efforts and success.
If you have not heard, we won our campaign requesting the WMU Administration to consider moving the location of the new dining hall in the Goldsworth Valley Woods. See below to see our the principles behind our argument. We thank WMU for listening to its community.
See below for an archive of the facts of the campaign.
THE FACTS
What's at stake for the campus community?
The woods surrounding the dorms near the Goldsworth Valley Pond at Western Michigan University (WMU) serves students, faculty, alumni and community members alike. This particular area has served as a way for campus community members to get away from the hustle and bustle of main campus. As has been expressed in many of the "reasons for signing" that can be viewed on the online petition, the loss of a significant patch of woods in The Valleys will be seen as a severe loss to the campus atmosphere by both current and former students. Not only is the intrinsic value of the forests strengthened by student use and appreciation of the woods, but it is also used by faculty for teaching purposes.
Besides its use by campus members, what about this patch of woods makes it valuable and worth protecting?
The value of these woods stems from the fact that it is composed of native Oak and Hickory trees and plays host to a diverse set of wildlife. These woods also play a critical role in maintaining the presence of wildlife in the fragmented urban ecosystem in The Valleys. Oak-Hickory forests represent a type of forest historical in southwest Michigan, making it a valid site for preservation by WMU. Please refer to the Forest Composition page to view a list of trees, other plants and diverse wildlife that is slated to be disturbed should the currently proposed location become developed.
Why should WMU administration reconsider the placement of the new dining hall to preserve these forests?
WMU has put itself on the map as one of the most sustainable universities. It has successfully implemented many projects and initiatives that related to sustainability including waste reduction and energy conservation. Given its role as a leading university in sustainable practices, it should be held accountable for campus planning decisions that contradict its proclaimed principles of sustainability. As a result of this current contradiction of principle to policy, the university is at risk of tarnishing its reputation with members of the community that understand the true value of these woods to the campus and wider community.
How does the currently proposed placement of the dining hall contradict WMU's principles and policies related to sustainability?
The mission statement for Office of Sustainability at WMU and the most recent Campus Master Plan seems to set a new paradigm for campus planning in the name of sustainability. There are many documents that articulate the goals for WMU. As can be seen in the Points of Pride section of About section of the WMU website, WMU has successfully implemented many energy conservation initiatives and such programs have been recognized by the Sustainable Endowments Institute. The new dining hall does fulfill goals outline by the university to practice sustainable construction by seeking to design buildings to meeting guidelines for LEED certification.
The contradictions between planning for the placement of the new dining hall and the documents that further articulate WMU's goals for campus planning and sustainability are outlined below. These documents directly concern the treatment of trees on campus, address ecological responsibilities and contain details of policies for campus planning. The documents and webpages from which this information is derived can be viewed by clicking on the hyper-linked text.
In conclusion, this publicly available evidence serves to demonstrate the plain contradictions that this dining project has against WMU's professed mission of sustainability.
We advocate not only the preservation of these valuable woods, but also for Western Michigan University to strive for excellence in maintaining their principles of sustainability in all campus projects. Current contradictions of principle may very well be consequential of as-yet-unrealized short-comings in implementation of the policies that are intended to reflect principle. However, if WMU fully addresses the contradictions of these current dining hall plans by and allowing itself to be held accountable by its community, it has a chance to improve upon procedures so that it can continue on a path to excellence in sustainability ratings and diminish the risk of tarnishing its reputation.
The contradictions between planning for the placement of the new dining hall and the documents that further articulate WMU's goals for campus planning and sustainability are outlined below. These documents directly concern the treatment of trees on campus, address ecological responsibilities and contain details of policies for campus planning. The documents and webpages from which this information is derived can be viewed by clicking on the hyper-linked text.
- Tree Campus USA: The nationally recognized Arbor Day Foundation awards this designation to campuses that, according a quote from John Rosenow (founder of the Arbor Day Foundation), "have made a major commitment to protecting, caring for, and adding to their campus forest. The results of this commitment will have a lasting, positive impact, not only on campus but in the overall community." The 2012 Tree Campus USA submission, includes policies related to planning on campus. This document is the basis by which WMU reapplies for this honorable designation each year. It declares that "prior to site design, the Director of Landscape Services will appoint a subcommittee of the WMU Tree Campus USA Advisory Committee. This subcommittee must be consulted to ensure that campus planning activities are aligned with the Tree Care Plan and Policies." The ecological impact of the currently proposed site for the new dining hall is in direct conflict with WMU's designation as a Tree Campus USA and the destruction of 570 trees does not indicate that policies outlined in this document were sufficiently implemented in the planning process.
- Talloires Declaration: The Talloires Declaration (pronounced: Tal-Whar) is an international agreement of university leaders to commit to sustainability. It is composed of a ten point plan that all signatories commit to upon signing. This document was signed by President Dunn in 2009. The introduction to this document reads "Local, regional, and global air and water pollution; accumulation and distribution of toxic wastes; destruction and depletion of forests, soil, and water; depletion of the ozone layer and emission of "green house" gases threaten the survival of humans and thousands of other living species, the integrity of the earth and its biodiversity, the security of nations, and the heritage of future generations. ". One of the points refers to the role of signatories in practicing "institutional ecology" and states: "set an example of environmental responsibility by establishing institutional ecology policies and practices of resource conservation, recycling, waste reduction, and environmentally sound operations". The campus community demands to sees an articulation of such principles through the preservation of ecologically valuable forests that are already an asset to the campus community.
- Campus Planning Master Plan: The current development plans are in direct contradiction to the goals expressed in this Campus Planning document. One of the priorities for the campus planning division as outlined in this document is to "Protect the Valleys: Preserve and enhance the open space character of Goldsworth and Arcadia Valleys. Restrict building development and enhance natural features, landscaping, and maintenance levels within these corridors". The statement that these guidelines are in "continued review and interpretation within the University's planning, development, and governance processes" prevents this document from being a binding document. It should be pointed out that the current plans are the result in a large logical jump from this plan to protect The Valleys and then to suddenly develop them.
In conclusion, this publicly available evidence serves to demonstrate the plain contradictions that this dining project has against WMU's professed mission of sustainability.
We advocate not only the preservation of these valuable woods, but also for Western Michigan University to strive for excellence in maintaining their principles of sustainability in all campus projects. Current contradictions of principle may very well be consequential of as-yet-unrealized short-comings in implementation of the policies that are intended to reflect principle. However, if WMU fully addresses the contradictions of these current dining hall plans by and allowing itself to be held accountable by its community, it has a chance to improve upon procedures so that it can continue on a path to excellence in sustainability ratings and diminish the risk of tarnishing its reputation.