UBC is currently in the process of cutting down 95 trees across campus to make room for upcoming developments.
“The trees needed to be removed to make way for several construction projects in that area over the next five years that will directly benefit students — new academic and recreational facilities, shops, transit and housing,” said Managing Director of Infrastructure and Development, John Metras, in an emailed statement to The Ubyssey. “An equal or greater number of trees will be replanted once the projects are complete.”
According to Metras, these projects include the new aquatic centre, a new diesel bus loop, the Gage South Student Residence, the new MacInnis Field and redesigning and construction on Wesbrook Mall.
“These projects will greatly expand transit use and offer new students much needed on-campus housing and improve the overall experience of students, faculty, staff and visitors," said Metras.
Reactions to the tree-cutting have been somewhat polarizing. When students first noticed trees being cut down, they took to twitter to air their concerns.
Welcome to @UBC, where trees have no intrinsic value or worth. They are just decoration. #UBC #shameonyou pic.twitter.com/Dt0j0D1RR9
— tendayjourney (@tendayjourney) May 17, 2016
Saddened 2 trees freshly chopped down by UBC bus loop overnight. This stump appeared to be… https://t.co/u4k7SSXida pic.twitter.com/A6BE1g5wgM
— Clare Yow (@clarewxy) May 11, 2016
Even once reasoning was given for cutting down the trees, reactions have been varied. Olivia Hester, a third-year environmental science student, agrees with those who are upset.
“What I don’t see are improvements to what makes UBC an educational institute,” said Hester. “As students we spend a significant portion of our days in classrooms that themselves are inside of buildings that would crumble if there was an earthquake to happen. There [are] really old buildings they could improve on, but they’re spending money on all these new buildings I don’t think we really necessarily need.”
Hester also feels the university needs to "practice what it preaches."
"In my classes I am taught to be an advocate for sustainable systems and practices that integrate ecosystems ... and that doesn’t entail ripping out trees that are 30, 40, 50 years old when we have buildings on campus that are almost entirely empty and could be utilized like the old sub," said Hester.
On the other hand, some students — like second-year forest operations student Cyril Moersch —think that the university's reasons for cutting down the trees are justifiable.
“If you look at the stumps [of those trees], they’re pretty dang rotten on the inside…so they’d have to be cut down eventually,” he said. “The reasons they gave — new residences, new rooms for future facilities — they’re facilities that are pretty well needed. We all know we need more housing on campus. We could use some upgrades to our public use facilities, so it’s not like they’re cutting them down for no good reason.”
"Of all the things that UBC loves to do pointlessly, this isn’t one of them," said Moersch.
Share this article
