When news broke earlier this month that University Architect David Neuman had informed the Board of Visitors that it would be necessary to fell the magnolia trees surrounding the Rotunda as part of the renovations soon to be done to that building, students reacted with confusion and dismay. Subsequently, they created a petition on Change.org asking the University to refrain from cutting down the trees.
Prompting another student-led petition was Neuman's timeline for the project, which anticipated construction beginning in April 2012 and lasting for 12 to 14 months. This would mean the Rotunda would be under construction during not one but two graduation ceremonies, those of the classes of 2012 and 2013. As a result, current third- and fourth-year students would have scaffolding and a large tent rather than the Rotunda's majestic dome serving as the backdrop to their graduations.
The University administration's off-balance response to this opposition, as well as its initial failure to communicate the proposed renovation plans to the student body, indicates that it badly underestimated students' interest in the aesthetic qualities of Grounds. Nevertheless, students should remain open-minded about the administration's approach to the Rotunda renovations and must be willing to make sacrifices to ensure that the long-term soundness of the building and the University community are guaranteed through the project's successful completion.
The administration could have mitigated the current controversy by directly informing the University community about the nature of its plan to renovate the Rotunda, rather than waiting for outside media outlets to report on the architect's Nov. 10 presentation to the Board. In taking the latter approach, the administration signaled to students that they were not active participants in the discussions that were being had to determine the future of a building that serves as the centerpiece of their lives at the University from Opening Convocation until graduation.
To its credit, the administration attempted to rectify its error through a Nov. 20 email sent by President Teresa A. Sullivan to all third- and fourth-year students. Her message clarified that the construction schedule has not yet been finalized, and it specifically highlighted the trees' age and their proximity to the Rotunda as reasons for removing them. This rationale is different than the one originally provided by Neuman, however, who claimed the trees needed to be cut down to allow for the erection of scaffolding surrounding the Rotunda during renovations.
Consequently, students have remained agitated about the uncertainty surrounding the fate of the magnolias, as well as their own graduations. Yet there is no reason to believe the administration is acting irresponsibly in proposing to cut down the magnolias and initiate a construction timeline that will encompass two graduation ceremonies. It makes sense to remove the trees if their roots systems and branches pose a threat to the Rotunda's physical integrity as members of the administration have claimed. After all, the purpose of the renovations is to restore the Rotunda's condition so it can be enjoyed by future generations; it would defy logic to leave the trees standing if they would undermine this objective.
Moreover, the construction timeline may not be as flexible as some students and other outside observers have assumed it to be. The Rotunda's roof is already leaking water, which not only is a nuisance but also poses a growing threat to the building's structural soundness. If the University were to delay construction until after graduation for the Class of 2012, it would risk having to spend additional money to repair water damage that could occur in the interim. Furthermore, the University likely would have to pay more for the project if it hoped to complete it in fewer than 12 to 14 months. This might prove impossible since the University does not even possess the funds necessary to undertake the more substantial renovations that the building needs in addition to having its roof repaired.
Therefore, students should accept the fact that some sacrifices will be necessary to ensure the Rotunda's survival. If the administration hopes for students to come to this understanding, however, it must keep them informed and engaged as it finalizes its plans for moving forward with this essential project.
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