Plans to build a sustainability garden on campus have stalled and supporters of the project aren't happy. The plan was for the College of Business to use such a garden outside Hyland Hall for out-of-class learning incorporating hands-on experience. Students would learn to grow a garden, sell, produce and promote sustainability. Lecturer Sharon Roy, who proposed the idea in May, said she plans to address the issue next week in a meeting with Chancellor Richard Telfer. Roy received a Strategic Initiatives grant of $31,800 to pay for the garden, but the Campus Landscape and Planning Committee has yet to approve the plan. Originally, the garden was to be located on the southeast end of Hyland Hall, but more recent plans call for the vegetable garden to be on the north end of Roseman Hall and the international portion near Hyland Hall. Beth Lueck, chair of the Campus Landscape and Planning Committee last year, said there were concerns about the proposal, such as whether the garden would impede traffic, be vandalized or wouldn't fit in with the design that had already been approved for Hyland Hall. After the May meeting, the committee requested to see a business plan, a future plan for maintenance showing it wouldn't put a burden on the groundskeepers, and a specific design for placement, Lueck said. "I think [the Campus Landscape and Planning Committee] supported it from the beginning," Lueck said. "We've worked really hard to beautify the campus, and the landscaping, like other departments, have had their budgets cut and cut, so we are very glad when somebody is willing to do a garden." The committee is waiting to see what will be presented at a fall meeting. Shannon Erb, president of Students Allied for a Green Earth, said she thinks the garden would be a great learning experience and would reduce the carbon footprint "This is what SAGE stands for," Erb said. "By using the space we have and what's available to us, we can contribute to the earth and sustainability." Whitewater Student Government President Tim Scully said he supports the garden, but thinks there has been too much back and forth. He said solutions have been suggested to address the Campus Landscape and Planning Committee's concerns. He said the faculty heavy committee has not listened to student suggestions. "If faculty isn't willing to listen, then why bother trying to have our voices heard?" he said. Scully said students supporting the garden were opposed to it being moved from Hyland Hall and think the real place for the garden is where everyone can see it. "[The garden] has the support of students," Scully said. "It's something students want to see. We don't have that much land space to operate a large garden, but something as small as this is great." Scully said UW-River Falls, UW-Superior and UW-Stout have sustainability certificates for their business programs. UW-Whitewater has one of the most prominent business programs in the state, but no such program exists, he said. Roy said student support of the project has been inspiring. "I had no idea of the political complexities that the Enviro-Biz grant would encounter," Roy said "Through all the rudeness, road blocks and hidden agendas, our students came to hostile meetings, often on beautiful Friday afternoons in the spring. They were heard, even if they had to talk from the hallways as directed. They were awe-inspiring through it all. "The true character of this university was demonstrated by their undeterred efforts to make a difference."
Campus sustainability garden plans still in growing stage
Published: Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Updated: Sunday, January 31, 2010 11:01
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