The trees surrounding the Arthur Temple College of Forestry and Agriculture have long been a source of pride for the university. They are more than just trees; they are living pillars that uphold the image and mission of our beloved college.

The legacy surrounding the image of our tree-lined campus is under threat because of the proposed construction location of the Greg Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship. The plans include the removal of these mature, historically significant trees. Such an action not only disrupts the natural beauty of the campus but also removes trees that are utilized weekly for educational purposes by many Forestry, Environmental Science, and Geospatial Science students.

While university growth is worthy of promotion and should of course be encouraged, especially within the celebrated and growing Entrepreneurship program, the decision to place this facility has repercussions on persons of all disciplines as those utilizing the parking lot near the Early Childhood Research Center already regularly struggle with parking availability and traffic during the academic year.

To add to the impact of current faculty and students, the Forestry Lab Building, located at 2212 Raguet Street, was announced to be demolished sooner than anticipated. The offices and laboratory spaces of College of Forestry faculty and staff were only very recently displaced in the Fall 2024 semester in order to initiate the demolition of the old Forestry building so that the new one could be built in its place. These displaced individuals believed that they had at least a few years to inhabit this temporary space before being abruptly told they now only have around until the end of 2025 at the latest. College of Forestry faculty are already scattered among random offices in the Human Services Building and McKibben Education Building as they await the completion of the new facility. This has already damaged the sense of community shared by College faculty and students alike as they eagerly await the exciting completion of their new facility. It has also removed the privilege of personal laboratory and greenhouse spaces that were exclusively used by the College. The removal of the one remaining unifying Forestry building amid construction is a hard blow to take while already down.

This decision also has no clear benefit to Nelson Rusche College of Business faculty and students, as the proposed facility would be located halfway across campus from their existing facility. It would also add to the competition and discomfort students, faculty, and parents face in the mornings and afternoons while attempting to find parking and navigate around school traffic from both Raguet Elementary and the Early Childhood Research Center.

There are a number of other potential viable locations on campus for the construction of this building, including, but not limited to: the uninhabitable Hall 20 building sitting unused, a portion of the Hall 20 parking lot, the lawn where old Mays Hall was removed in the past few years, and the lawn area near the obstacle course by the Rec Center (this course could easily be relocated, perhaps near the tennis/volleyball courts).

The Stephen F. Austin State University campus has been celebrated for its natural East Texas beauty and commitment to sustainability. Alumni often recall fondly the memories of the many tall pines and oaks surrounding the entirety of the campus, with this natural image being one of the first descriptive items to come to mind. One of the trees that will be removed, a Carya myristiciformis (nutmeg hickory), is a rare, slow-growing species that is difficult to cultivate and extremely uncommon to find in its natural range present day. The college should honor its commitment to conservation and educational values by considering alternative locations for the new business building that do not involve sacrificing this cherished greenery.

By acting now, we can uphold our community's environmental ethos and ensure future generations of students, faculty, and alumni continue to enjoy and benefit from the lush landscape that has defined SFA for decades.

I urge University of Texas Board of Regents and Stephen F. Austin State University administration to rethink and relocate the construction of the Greg Arnold Center for Entrepreneurship. Let us explore other suitable locations that align with both developmental aspirations and sustainability commitments. Together, we can protect the green heart of SFA and promote responsible campus growth.

Please join me in this effort to preserve the natural beauty and heritage of Stephen F. Austin State University by signing this petition. Let us stand together to ensure that our university remains a proud Tree Campus where forestry, agriculture, environmental science, and geospatial science education continues to flourish amidst its cherished natural surroundings.