Dear Editor,I write to comment on the article in last Thursday’s issue of the East Tennessean “ETSU, Carnegie abandons land swap.” and to rectify certain errors and omissions regarding my role in this story.

I am not, as reported, a member of the Faculty Senate. I am an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, and I did make a presentation to the ETSU Faculty Senate in support of the preservation of the University Woods.

At that meeting, the Faculty Senate also heard statements from two student SGA members, Dalton Collins and Shae Keane.

The Faculty Senate voted unanimously to support the students’ request for a public forum to discuss the “land swap,” and after further discussion voted to adopt a resolution requesting that ETSU preserve the University Woods in its natural state.

It is important to publicize this Faculty Senate resolution, since this conversation has become confusing and controversial.

The proposal states, “The ETSU University Woods – a 30-acre old growth forest adjacent to the CSX railroad tracks and Southwest Drive beside the main campus – is a valuable and irreplaceable resource for the university community.

“It is an outdoor laboratory for biology classes, and a training area for recreation science class, bicyclists and runners.

“Its large trees are decades older than our 100-year-old university, and its spring wildflowers include species rare in our region.

“It is imperative that the woods be maintained so that future generations at ETSU may enjoy them and learn from them.

“We, the ETSU Faculty Senate, request that the responsible authorities at ETSU take necessary action to preserve the University Woods in its natural state for present and long-term use.”

The Student Government Association met the following day, which is reported in the ET story.

A crucial point that was not clear in the article is that the student resolution, which passed unanimously, also called for the preservation of the woods at this time.

I am concerned about the protection of this small but significant old growth forest (mistakenly termed “Old Grove” in the ET article).

This moist mixed broadleaf forest is the type most characteristic of our Southern Appalachian mountains, and though once widespread, these old forests are now rare.

The largest trees in this wooded area are well over 200 years old, dating to the era of the American Revolution.

My hope is that with support from students, faculty and administration, this area can be preserved as an ETSU treasure for generations to come.

-Dr. Tim McDowell

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