The Lorax of USD speaks for the tree

New Learning Commons building poses threat to 65-year-old podocarpus tree

Amy Inkrott / News Editor / The USD Vista

Hidden behind the walls of Copley Library, the podocarpus tree stands tall offering shade to all those nearby. Originally planted near Camino Hall, this tree has been a part of the USD campus for the past 65 years. Throughout its time on campus, it has become an important aspect of the university to many students, faculty members, and alumni. 

Senior Zach Telles has formed many fond memories of this tree throughout his time at USD. 

“I’ve been in the visual arts department for the past five years and I have walked past this tree every single day,” Telles said. “It has become such an integral part of the community. It’s almost a cornerstone of our art department, and Camino and Founders.” 

When he learned about USD’s plans to remove the tree to build a new plaza alongside the Learning Commons, Telles was very upset.

“The building is not going to be impacted by the presence of the tree,” Telles said. “I think it’s ironic. Their whole plan is to create a new learning space, but the tree has already created that. There are so many students who have studied by this tree or eaten lunch under the tree.”

The USD administration believes that the tree will become a safety hazard within the next 10 years. However, the tree is expected to live for another 20 to 30 years, and has no visible signs of being unhealthy. 

Upon learning about the school’s plan to remove the tree, junior Eleanor Vanden Busch started a petition to save the podocarpus tree.

“Over the summer they cut down the two 80-year-old trees next to Founders,” Vanden Busch said. “I was shocked when I got back to campus because no one really knew that was happening. We want this tree to be a symbol of a new process of construction on campus where you really get to know the heart of the space, with a consideration for the wants of the students impacted by it.”

Vanden Busch vehemently rejected the administration’s claim that the tree will eventually die.

“That’s just the nature of any tree,” Vanden Busch said. “It’s just inconvenient for them to keep it alive and have to worry about it. It’s easier for them to cut down the tree now when there’s only a field there rather than in 30 years when there is a building. But with a little care, it can be done.”

By reaching out to the larger USD community, Vanden Busch’s petition to save the podocarpus tree received over 700 signatures. Students, AS senators, faculty, and alumni all reached out in support of her petition. 

While Telles and Vanden Busch do not object to the construction of the Learning Commons, they believe the university should make an effort to preserve the history associated with the podocarpus tree. Upon seeing the mass response from the community, Vice Provost Thomas Herrinton held a meeting of the Learning Commons Stakeholders Group on Nov. 8 to decide the fate of the podocarpus tree. 

Herrinton released the group’s decision in an email to the USD community. 

“Although the Stakeholders Group agreed that there were issues involved with keeping the podocarpus tree, they also considered the substantial feedback on the proposed removal,” Herrinton said. “It was determined that removing the tree is not essential to the building project. Given the community response, the Stakeholder Group voted to recommend keeping the podocarpus tree.”

This decision showed the administration’s willingness to listen to the voice of its students. Vanden Busch was excited about the committee’s final decision. 

“We had planned a rally on Tuesday, but we are replacing it with a celebration,” Vanden Busch said. “We thank administration for taking our feedback into account.”

Although construction on the Learning Commons will begin at the end of this academic year, the podocarpus tree will not be impacted. Thanks to the efforts of the community, both the building and the tree will be valuable elements of the USD community for the decades to come.