Recently, we have noticed a rather unfortunate trend on campus which reflects poorly on NIU students. Several student organizations, including the John Lennon Society and the Theatre Arts Committee, have stapled their fliers to a number of the trees on campus. The amount of damage done to the trees, however slight, is completely unjustifiable. This irresponsible maltreatment of the environment should be halted immediately. The trees on this campus are not here to be used as billboards for advertisements. However, the major issue involved here, besides the amount of damage done, is the callous disrespect shown to the natural environment by these students. We have no desire to impede an organization’s right to free speech, but we do feel that the medium for such speech should be chosen appropriately. It is clearly improper to abuse a living organism to advertise a club function.

The main problem is that the students who place these fliers either do not think or do not care about their actons. The attitude seems to be that the environment is only valuable for its usefulness. It would be best for all of us to learn to appreciate and respect nature in all its forms. As naturalist Louis Agassiz wrote, “The study of Nature is intercourse with the higher mind. You should never trifle with Nature.”

William Kreller

graduate student, philosophy

Kelly Salsbery

graduate student, philosophy

Annette Salsbery

graduate student, geology