Thursday, November 12, 2009
The University should quit hiding behind neutrality and stand up for the protection of the Baker Wetlands.
The land owned by the University is located at 31st Street and Haskell Avenue, and is part of 573 acres of wetlands. It is being threatened by the proposed South Lawrence Trafficway, the construction of which would damage the ecosystem.
The land belonged to Haskell University until the 1950s, when the federal government deeded the land to the University, said Lynn Bretz, director of communications for the University.
“Under the terms of the deed, the land is supposed to be used for the public benefit,” Bretz said.
The University has not yet taken a side on the issue. The side it should take is using the land for educational use.
“The University understands and respects the interests of all parties,” Bretz said. “It is a controversial issue dating back more than 20 years with strong and legitimate opinions on all sides.”
If the University understands all sides of the issue, then it should be knowledgeable enough to take a position.
The trafficway would connect the K-10 and the Kansas Turnpike. Those who support its construction think it would make the two highways work more efficiently and would remove traffic between them from Lawrence.
The argument that the trafficway would increase traffic flow in Lawrence is ridiculous, said Jason Hering, Hutchison senior and president of Eco-Justice on campus. Hering said the city conducted a study and that the majority of the traffic is local.
“The need for this is not there,” Hering said.
Hering also said the University has taken a stance of approval for the trafficway by not taking action. He said if the University were to start using the land for research, it would show the University’s effort to not have the trafficway built.
Bretz said the University itself doesn’t conduct research.
“The University recruits and hires expert research faculty and staff scientists,” Bretz said. “They determine what they research.”
As a top research institute, the University should be encouraging students and faculty researchers to use this property for educational purposes. Herring said Eco-Justice has teamed up with Wetlands Preservation Organization at Haskell.
“The reason we are so concerned is because we still use the wetlands,” Millicent Pepion, president of the WPO, said. “The 20 acres KU owns is right behind Haskell.”
There are always students on the land whether they are praying or meditating, researching or studying or just taking a walk, Pepion said.
Pepion said she originally got involved to help bridge the gap between the University and Haskell.
“It’s KU students and Haskell students coming together to stop the SLT,” Pepion said.
The construction of the trafficway is something that will take away an area filled with tradition still used today. The University should quit playing it safe, take a stance and encourage its faculty to begin research in the area. Students from the University and Haskell need to keep working together to protect the wetlands.
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Editorial: Wetlands deserve protection
What makes a university turn neutral? Lust for gold? Power? Or was it just born with a heart full of neutrality?
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