We, the students, faculty, staff, and community members associated with Western Michigan University are concerned about the removal of trees for construction of the new South campus residence hall. We believe in the intrinsic value of these trees as beautiful, living components of the campus landscape, and the ecosystem services these trees offer: carbon sequestration, stormwater management, and islands of habitat for wildlife on campus. We believe in the value of functional, established landscapes and the essential social, ecological, and spiritual benefits it provides to those who work, live, and study on campus. We believe that the removal of these trees will not only reduce our personal and educational time with this habitat, but also damage the relationship between students and faculty with the current administration, tarnish the university’s reputation in the eyes of the wider community, and cause ecological damage within the campus landscape. As a Tree Campus USA member and a university supposedly proud of its commitment to sustainability, this is unacceptable.

We, the undersigned, petition Western Michigan University’s administration to alter the plan of the new South campus residence hall to accommodate the impressive natural features capable of positively enhancing the project’s aesthetics. We request a public polling of the current design against the altered design that includes the trees as a way to gather relevant input for this issue. We believe that other, more sustainable options are available when moving forward with this project and insist that Western Michigan University make development decisions consistent with the public desire for the sustainability the university promotes.