This petition is to modify the building plan of the new residence hall to include the two (almost) 200 year-old trees instead of cutting them down.

The 192 year-old Hackberry and 171 year-old Black Walnut are Iowa native trees and happen to be the oldest of their species on campus. Used for landscape architecture classes and shade for students on sunny days, the trees are an irreplaceable living resource that is "monetarily, culturally, historically, and academically valuable." (quote from the Des Moines Register article found here) 

Both trees are in excellent health, which is surprising considering that Hackberry trees usually don't stay in such good health for this long. 

Iowa State needs to remember that where it came from is just as important as where it is going. The University needs to include a part of Iowa State's history with the growth instead of just cutting it down and taking away a part of history that was here before the campus ever was.

#savethetrees