Ignored cost of University's progress

Harvard professor emeritus E.O. Wilson defines biophilia--a word he popularized--as "the innate tendency [in human beings] to focus on life and lifelike process. To an extent still undervalued in philosophy and religion, our existence depends on this propensity, our spirit is woven from it, hopes rise on its currents." Humans undeniably share a special bond with nature and are drawn to the wilderness time and time again for recreation and relaxation. Natural scenery constantly soothes and comforts people, no matter their predicament, thus reinforcing humanity's need for interaction with all organisms. It is this connection with nature that helps attract students to Duke University. Why else do undergraduate brochures hype the Sarah P. Duke gardens or the slogan "a university in the forest?"

Changes on the horizon will ensure that Duke leaves its legacy as a school in touch with nature to resemble yet another institution devoid of nature. Our unique identity shall fade with the destruction of that which we as a community have cherished--nature's beauty. University long-term plans presented to the Duke Student Government provide call for the forested area between Towerview Drive and the Medical Center along Science Drive will be eliminated save a select few trees. These serene areas will be replaced by an expansion to the Bryan Center to hold retail stores, a new engineering school building and a parking garage. Yes, a parking lot, the antithesis of forest, will destroy some of West Campus' beauty. No longer will the stroll from West Campus to Science Drive sooth students before exams in biology and chemistry. Nay, the future walk consists of a few trees, buildings and more cars!

Some will say that there is no alternative; that renovations must occur and progress is to be had regardless of the impact upon the campus atmosphere. Why can the parking garage not be built upon the current bioscience parking lot or the one at Wallace Wade? Why can the interior of the current Bryan Center not be used more efficiently even at the expense of a theater for more student space? Why do we need to expand Pratt undergraduate population--Can Cameron Indoor Stadium afford any more engineers?

Duke's aesthetic beauty will be sacrificed in the name of progress. But do institutions truly advance when they must sacrifice an essential aspect of their identity for a supposed step forward? These changes that will soon occur do not benefit the majority of the student body. Only visitors and employees are to have access to the parking garage, while students increase their Blue Zone habitation, eventually to claim it all for their own. The Bryan Center will still stand as an abominable waste of space with lobby areas and rooms such as the Von Canons and the Armadillo Grill remaining empty the majority of the time. The current plans to not cure the roots of the problem; rather, the future holds nothing more than reactionary expansive sprawl.

This is unfortunately the way that most current decisions are made: The quickest, and most shortsighted opinion wins out all too often. As a result of this, humans as a whole have lost touch with nature while inhabiting our urban paradise. Albert Einstein advised, "Look deep, deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." How then, with a decreasing natural presence on campus will Duke connect to a greater degree with the world? It will be a sad day, indeed, when Duke University destroys a portion of its uniqueness for a quick fix. There are alternatives to advancing the campus into the next century. The trouble is finding them, instead of becoming "a university in the urban sense."

Kevin Ogorzalek is a Trinity sophomore.