Our beloved campus at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is under threat of losing the unique and sustainable landscape that we, the students, faculty, and community members, have cherished and nurtured for years. This vibrant environment not only provides a beautiful setting but also serves as a living laboratory, enhancing our teaching and learning while fostering the sense of belonging and place attachment that are key to student retention and success, and which contribute to the well-being of all stakeholders.

The UW-Oshkosh administration plans to replace thriving native plants with generic sod, or otherwise remove them. They already have extended the use of broadleaf herbicides on all the lawns, reducing flowering plants and insect resources that support pollinators. Such activities will forfeit years of cultivated sustainability and threaten the ecological balance we have strived to maintain. 

Native plants are not just ornamental; they are integral to preserving our campus's ecological integrity. They offer habitat for local wildlife, improve air and water quality, and require less maintenance and resources than non-native alternatives.

Increasing the amount of lawn while reducing native plantings will disrupt the rich biodiversity and destroy habitats that support various species of birds, insects, and other wildlife. According to the National Wildlife Federation, native landscaping provides essential ecosystem services such as pollination, natural pest control, and carbon sequestration. These benefits contribute directly to combating climate change and promoting a land ethic, an ethos central to UW-Oshkosh, which earned a Bee Campus USA certification in 2024. This recognized the university's commitment to supporting pollinators through habitat, education and sustainable land practices. The certification requires participating campuses to maintain pollinator habitats, reduce pesticide use, provide educational opportunities and involve students, faculty and staff in ongoing conservation efforts. Among other problems, the administration's plan would put this in certification in jeopardy. 

Beyond the ecological impacts, the campus landscape changes described above will undermine the university's standing as a leader in sustainability education. Our institution has been at the forefront of teaching a practicing sustainability, earning national recognition. To dismantle this foundation not only will undo our past efforts but also harm the future generations of students who will miss out on invaluable outdoor learning and place-building experiences.

We urge the administration to reconsider its planned changes to the campus landscape and uphold the commitment to sustainability that has defined our university. Instead of smothering progress, we should celebrate and expand our native landscapes, leveraging them as educational tools and environmental bastions. Going forward, we ask that UW-Oshkosh administration consult with faculty, staff, and students before making any major changes to landscape features that function as teaching resources, places of belonging, and models of sustainable land practices.

Join us in calling for the preservation of our sustainable campus landscape. Sign this petition to help UW-Oshkosh remain a pioneer in environmental stewardship and an exemplary educational institution for future generations.