By Bill Barrow
News Editor

CONTRIBUTED This drawing, from the University architect's office, was used in presenting the proposed site to the Board of Trustees. The circle represents 15,000 square feet in the 13­acre arboretum. The museumıs precise size, design and location are undetermined.

One week after a Concourse rally protesting Donald E. Davis Arboretum as the site of an art museum, the debate continues.

The student senate joined the opposition against the site as it unanimously passed a resolution calling for an "an alternate site for proposed art museum on a less sensitive portion of this campus."

The vote came after lengthy discussion which involved presentations from Tom Tillman, of the University architect's office, and Roland Dute, chair of the arboretum committee.

In his address to the senate, Tillman sought to dispel "erroneous statements" made by those on the opposite side of the issue.

The construction, he said, would not "destroy" the arboretum, he said.

"Previous construction (such as the pavilion) in the arboretum proves that we can build successfully inside the boundaries of the arboretum. We have a good history of construction in the arboretum," he said.

Tillman also disputed the contention that the arboretum committee was not consulted before the site was recommended to the board of trustees.

He said, "I personally met with two members of the committee. I got one question out of the two of them: Who will maintain the facility? There was no concern over the ecosystem."

Concerns over the potential construction impact, Tillman said, are valid. But, he said, the effects would not be severe.

"Because we have good architects and because we have good landscape architects, the impact of this building will be minimal."

Also, Tillman cited the plans for arboretum expansion included in the trustee's resolution.

Dute called the expansion "compensatory space."

Tillman said the overriding circumstance his office is forced to consider is the University­wide effect of the facility.

"The art museum is not just the art department's. It belongs to all of us. The arboretum doesn't just belong to one of us, it belongs to all of us.

"That's where we begin. My job requires a comprehensive look at what is best for the entire University."

In Tillman's view, what is best for the University is both facilities together. "Both are collections of something. We feel like the collection of art and the collection of nature go hand in hand. The two are certainly compatible."

Dute countered Tillman's presentation with an argument stating the arboretum's research and instruction function must not be diminished, which he said the construction would definitely do.

"Anything that negatively affects those things negatively affects the arboretum," Dute said.

The 13­acre arboretum, he said, cannot afford to give up 2.5 acres to the art museum.

"They say the museum will be put in a small portion of the Œnew' part of the arboretum.

"The new part of the arboretum looks like a field, but it is a prairie ecosystem. It has large trees and underdeveloped (young) trees, which are hard to move," Dute said.

Moving these trees and destroying any part of the arboretum is not acceptable, he said.

"The new part has been growing for 15 years. I don't know about you, but I'm not going to be around in 15 years. I don't have time to sit around and wait for another new part to grow because we started over," he said.

Don Stoeckel, author of the senate resolution, said, "I'm very pleased the students' voice will be heard in this matter. I just hope the administration takes seriously."

As the issue continues to be a not campus topic, not only are student government officials taking notice, trustees are noticing as well.

Sen. Lowell Barron, a trustee from Fyffe, said he has followed the issue and remains in support of the board's decision.

"I think the board made a good decision. We are only talking about a small piece of the arboretum here. I think the two resources will enhance each other," he said.

The trustees, he said, are in a difficult situation in the matter. "It's hard, the job of trustee. trying to govern and work with a university of such diversity.

"You've got bright people who feel very strongly about their area of study, but at some point somebody's got to make a decision, and that's what the board's done," Barron said.

"One hundred percent of the people will never be pleased, but we thing they'll be pleased somewhere down the road."

Bessie Mae Holloway, a trustee from Prichard, would not say whether the board would reconsider the issue.

However, she did say she is learning as much about the issue as possible.

"I've gotten letters from people that worked in the arboretum," she said. "I'm getting my hands on everything I can. I'm just reading and listening to everything I can on the issue."

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