A petition objecting to removing a redwood tree on Illinois State University’s campus has more than 1,000 signatures.
Recent ISU graduate Cassie McGinnis organized the change.org petition to raise awareness about what she thinks is one of the oldest redwoods in Central Illinois.
The dawn redwood, an endangered variety of the hardwood trees, is set for removal as part of a construction project transforming the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts complex.
McGinnis studied biological sciences, with an emphasis on conservation. In an interview with WGLT, she said she started the petition in hopes of gathering enough signatures to stop the tree from being cut down during construction.
“I realized that some of the trees that seemed closer to the buildings being worked on were meant to remain,” she said, “whereas the redwood was outside of where the buildings were being expanded to.”
McGinnis went to a Tree Campus Higher Education Committee meeting, where she learned there was work to be done on a sewer or storm drain system underground. The entrance to the system would be close to the base of the redwood tree. The committee didn’t have an answer if the piping would run directly underneath the trunk, or just nearby under the roots, but said there’s still a chance it could be saved.
“For the time being, our voices have been heard, and it appears that construction continues while attempting to keep the tree standing," she said.
McGinnis said the tree would be unlikely to survive being moved. It could be propagated, but would take decades to reach the same size as the current tree.
“They provide tons of shade. They also are environmentally helpful. They sequester carbon from the atmosphere. They're a habitat for insects and birds. They're beautiful to look at. They can be inspiration for artwork. They're just all around, I feel, like a source of joy for the community,” McGinnis said.
Scott Irelan, dean of the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts, said the project team is aware of concerns about the redwood.
“Our ISU facilities team is on top of that. I trust in that expertise to handle that situation,” he said at last week's groundbreaking ceremony.
Whether or not the tree will be salvaged is still unknown.
“That’s a great question for ISU facilities as we work through the project,” he said.
