Forestry professor Dr. John Seiler compiled a timeline of the event leading to the reprieve from construction that Stadium Woods currently enjoys. This is adapted from the slides from his Stadium Woods talk given to the NRV Bird Club in early March 2012.
| January 20, 2011 | Virginia Tech Arboretum Committee informed but asked to “keep it quiet” |
| August 7, 2011 | A Washington Post article indicates plans for a new facility. “Virginia Tech’s new indoor facility will be located in a wooded area adjacent to the Hokies outdoor practice fields, just beyond the north end zone of Lane Stadium. Gabbard said part of the project will involve removing 30 feet of elevation and moving approximately 80,000 cubic yards of dirt from the woods” (emphasis Dr. Seiler’s) |
| August 8, 2011 | Virginia Tech Arboretum Committee told it was “a done deal”; asked to provide information for remediation of canopy cover loss. This became interpreted as “tree folks are on board” |
| November 3, 2011 | Arboretum Committee asked for an official position |
| November 11, 2011 | Arboretum Committee sent their “strongly opposes” position |
| November 19, 2011 | Friends of Stadium Woods (FSW) begins on-line opposition petition |
| November 30, 2011 | FSW has organizational meeting in town library |
| Early December, 2011 | Faculty Senator Dr. Jim Kuypers begins drafting resolution supporting protection of stadium woods. |
| December 6, 2011 | Dr. Sherwood Wilson sends letter to faculty senators |
| December 13, 2011 | Faculty Senate unanimously approves resolution supporting protection of Stadium Woods. |
| December 15, 2011 | Several concerned faculty meet with Athletics and University planning and walk through woods. |
| December 17, 2011 | President Steger walks through Stadium Woods and orders an ecological assessment |
| January 5, 2012 | Dr. Seiler meets with Provost McNamee. |
| January 19, 2012 | President Steger appoints a committee to study siting of building. |
There are three things you can do right now to help preserve Stadium Woods.
- Sign the online petition
- Tell the Virginia Tech committee in charge of siting the proposed building that you want it elsewhere by emailing apfsec@vt.edu.
- Spread the word!
