By NICHOLAS SIRIANNO
We’ve all heard the saying “violence equals violence.” It doesn’t matter how much we as humans set ourselves above the natural world, because in the cycle of life we are just a small piece of the earth. I know what you are thinking: “There are seven billion humans on the earth, how could we be a small part of it?” Well, with regards to how many trees are still standing, how many mosquitoes we wrongfully swat away, and how many species of flowers, mushrooms, grasses, trees, birds, and animals exist, we don’t even compare in numbers!
Humans aside, the earth has enough power to destroy itself. At any moment, every fault line could shift, every river could flood, every volcano could erupt and every lightening bolt could set fire to every plain. Against these forces, humans don’t stand a chance. The more violence we do to each other, the more violence the earth will do to us. There is also another aspect of violence: The more violence we do to the earth, the more violence we do to each other.
Some harrowing acts of violence have occurred and our little college town of Canton is suffering. We all know someone who has had their bike stolen, or their tires slashed. We all know about the fighting that occurred last week. Everyone has heard about the mob that marched down Park St. wreaking havoc on Commons, The Green House, The Outing Club, Ray Ross, Habitat for Humanity, and our beloved bookstore. Why is this year fostering all this violence? It may be a stretch, but this is the most modification St. Lawrence has done to the earth in four years. Trees are gone, cement has been poured into the once lovely grass triangles near the library, our watering hole is now missing a rope swing, and a building so out of character for St. Lawrence has been built next to the stump of our “mother” tree. These acts of destruction to the earth may not ring as heavily in your ear as they do in mine, but if people are going to complain about a “cowboys and Indians” mixer that happened last year, then they sure as hell should stand up for what American Indians based their lives upon—the earth has a spirit.
The more we strip the earth of its harmonies, the more justification we feel in harming the earth. Like I said earlier, we are a part of the earth, and harming each other is in turn harming earth and harming earth is in turn harming each other. This cycle needs to stop! There is talk of removing some of the great cottonwood trees on campus. If you’ve never stood under one of these great trees and peered up into its golden hair in fall, then you are truly missing out. Just from memory I can count three great cottonwood trees. There are two looking over the intramural fields near Java, and one huge one in the forest between University and ODY. If chopping down one great tree behind Whitman caused the violence that happened last week, just imagine what chopping down three beautiful and healthy trees might bring. Still, to this point I encourage that our safety be kept in mind and for dying or sick trees to be removed. The problem is how SLU has been cutting corners and harming what once felt like a home and sanctuary.
Hi Hill News,
I have a couple of comments.
First of all, I completely agree that we need to look at the physical and emotional violence we are all taking part in and step towards a more non-violent existence. I was shocked to find out about the physical attacks that occurred a few weekends ago, but I was under the impression it was not caused because people were upset about a tree being chopped down. Perhaps I heard from misinformed sources, but can you all really say that was the heart of the issue? Is this a “chunked up” issue that really is a ‘cover’ for a bigger underlying issue? I just want to make sure that I am correctly understanding this issue so we can work as a campus to more towards non-violence.
Additionally, I agree that we are doing harm to the Earth by removing many beloved trees from campus, however I know that some trees were a safety concern. As for the tree behind Rebert, that was removed to make space for the Whitman Annex, which houses many extremely important offices for our students here. This includes the First Year Program office, Academic Support Services (including the offices for those with special needs) and some Advising offices, HEOP and McNair, and last but not least a place I have called “home” for 3 years, the Center for Civic Engagement (CCE).
I can tell you that these offices did not choose to be removed from their old, spacious and homey offices in Whitman – it was a decision made from other levels that was in response to accepting a larger first year class in response to the Strategic Plan. I was personally devastated to hear that the offices were going to be placed in a “semi-temporary” modular unit. These offices play an essential in supporting our students, getting First Years acclimated, and becoming engaged in the community in which we reside. I’m sorry if this is a bit rude, but while I miss the tree behind Rebert as much as the next person, I miss being able to go to the old Whitman 166 to see the excellent staff members in the CCE. They, and all the other offices forced into the Annex, deserve a permanent location that shows just how essential they are to the well-being and success of the student body. These offices need a permanent space so that the modular can be taken away and more trees can be planted in memory of the great cottonwoods that were removed over the summer.
I want to end by saying that your claims and frustrations are valid and I respect what you have to say. However, there is another side to look at when considering the issues and I hope you will respect where I am coming from as a place I considered home was also completely changed. You may also consider actually having an article that includes a description of what is in the Whitman Annex, since this is now the second week where a picture of this building is going to be in the paper without really mentioning why it is on our campus. I would be happy to talk to any Hills News staff member about this (from a student perspective) or help you get in touch with any of the offices in the Whitman Annex as I know almost everyone in there.
Thank you very much for your time, and I appreciate your honesty in writing and respect for differing opinions.
Sincerely,
Lauren Stemler ’12
Community Mentor for the CCE (Spring 2008 – Present)