Posted on 11/10/2002 1:09:08 PM PST by Lassiter
Dressed as a tree, Maggie Beedles, Lawrence senior, eludes a Boise corporate lumberjack played by Scott McKenzie, Salina junior. Students put on the performance yesterday to protest the paper company´s destruction of old-growth forests. John Nowak/Kansan.
Protesting deforestation caused by logging companies, members of the KU Environs simulated a clash between old-growth forests and executives of the Boise corporation on Wescoe Beach yesterday.
Two members of the group, dressed as businessmen, pretended to “tear down” another student dressed as a tree to highlight what they said was Boise´s (formerly known as Boise Cascade) abuse and neglect of the environment.
Members of the group also wielded a chainsaw, minus the chain, to symbolize a battle between clear-cutting machinery and endangered old-growth forests harvested for printing paper.
The Environs believed dramatizing the issue would attract the attention of students walking along Jayhawk Boulevard.
“People who would normally walk by might stop and learn about the issue,” said Trisha Shrum, Olathe sophomore. “It´s also symbolic of CEOs beating up on nature.”
A representative of Boise had a different opinion about the company´s position on the environment.
“We respect everyone´s right to free speech, but with that right comes the responsibility to tell the truth,” said Ralph Poore, senior communications associate for Boise. “These types of groups have ignored information we´ve provided time and again.”
Poore said Boise was given the World Summit Business Award for sustainable development partnerships in 2002. He added that the company´s forest stewardship had been certified by independent, third-party auditors.
According to the Boise corporation Web site, the company derived less than 1 percent of its wood supply from old-growth forests in 2001 and intended to phase that amount out by 2004.
But that hasn´t discouraged the Environs.
The Kansan reported in October that the Environs had mounted a semester-long campaign to stop the state of Kansas from renewing its contract with Boise for printing and office supplies. The University of Kansas is bound to the contract, which was signed in 1999.
The University buys approximately 10,000 cases of paper per year from Boise at a cost of $250,000. The Environs hope the University will switch to recycled-content paper.
The group encouraged students to sign a petition declaring their opposition to Boise´s policy on the environment.
“If students look the other way and don´t care, then there´s no one else. Students are in a unique position to hold principles over profit,” Shrum said.
Maggie Beedles, Lawrence senior, who dressed as the tree for the stunt, said she thought the dramatization was a success.
“By being noisy we´ve gotten a lot of people to ask why we´re opposed to Boise,” Beedles said.
Some students didn´t see it that way.
“It was kind of dumb,” said Christina DiGiacomo, Apple Valley, Minn., senior and Kansan columnist. “It didn´t make that much of a statement.”
Nick Kroeker, Overland Park senior, was confused about the event´s message.
“Interesting approach, I´ll put it that way,” he said.
— Edited by Amanda Sears
 |
Look at the bright side...she's not naked. |
|
Or safety sneakers. |
One must give some leaway for mere college seniors in today's educational environment.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.