The students of SCSU voted to build a new $9.7 million, 5,000-seat stadium. (At least those students who showed up to vote did.) Now, we should take care in seeing that the project is done properly. The student body gave the OK for the project to be put into motion. Now we need to see to it that it is not built on land that is, and should continue to be, protected by the state's Wild and Scenic Rivers program. SCSU, of all organizations, should be a protector of the river. As a group of educated citizens, we should at least have educated guesses as to how badly the Mississippi needs our care, not more parking lots on its banks.
A front-page article appeared in the St. Cloud Times on Feb. 7. It stated that SCSU "will comply and work with the DNR" and I think the student body should be aware of the situation and allow their voices to be heard. An opinion article in the Feb. 15 edition of the St. Cloud Times suggested that SCSU "provide long-term, contractual research regarding environmental issues, to the DNR and St. Cloud, in exchange for this project."
The fact is, SCSU has been a questionable neighbor to St. Cloud and to the Mississippi River. We need to make an effort to do the right thing in this case.
I am sure the new stadium will be a wonderful facility for the people of this city and state to use for years to come. But I am absolutely certain that the Mississippi is a beautiful, natural, life-giving river that could be enjoyed by people all through the country, and we need to take care of it.
"Whatever befalls the earth befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life: he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web he does to himself."
-Chief Seattle
Amber J Heckman
Graduate Student
