THE FULLERTON ARBORETUM MIGHT BE DEMOLISHED FOR DORMS IN 2020!

The funding agreement for the protection of the arboretum expires in 2020 and the current administration at CSUF are threatening to remove this fundamental piece of our community (or unspecified "parts of it") for the construction of new dormitories.

Why this matters: As stated in the Fullerton Observer Article "Is the Arboretum in Jeopardy?" by Jesse La Tour, "The Fullerton Arboretum is a benefit not just to the campus community, but the surrounding community as well. There are numerous events and programs, such as third graders who visit the Heritage House as part of their local curriculum." Also, according to Scott Hewitt, professor of chemistry and member of the Friends of the Arboretum, "Students go there for their biological science classes. Every college on campus has classes that interact with the Arboretum...and it has internships for students." Perhaps the most paramount argument in its favor is that The Fullerton Arboretum is an accredited level 4 arboretum, and there are only 25 such accredited arboretums in the world. On arbnet.org, it states that to earn this accreditation, Level IV arboreta must "employ well-qualified tree scientists engaged in publishing sophisticated research, manage living tree collections for the purpose of conservation, and take an active role in supporting tree conservation through the Global Trees Campaign."

Why I Care: My name is Sarah Rubalcaba and I have been a resident of the surrounding Orange County area for all of my life and whenever I think of home- I think of the Fullerton Arboretum. My mother, Robin, would take me "exploring the jungle" with her when I was a toddler up until my early teens and these memories would grow to mean the world to me when she later passed away from cancer in 2012. To me, my mother's spirit is in every monarch butterfly, age-old red wood tree, and smiling daffodil of this arboretum and for that reason, it's not only the heart of California State University Fullerton, but mine as well. I was even planning on having my wedding ceremony there in May 2020, but that won't be possible if the Arboretum is demolished for dormitories. So, for the local third graders, CSUF students, educators, nature-lovers, surrounding community members, and my sweet mother, Robin- I am creating this petition to convince those in a position of authority to protect our beautiful piece of nature nestled in suburbia. 

If the Fullerton Arboretum has a special place in your heart, like it does in mine, join me in signing & sharing this petition to SAVE THE FULLERTON ARBORETUM!