My nature spot faces several challenges in the coming years. Perhaps the biggest challenges the Arboretum will face are the threat of negative human interactions such as pollution and smoking and the change it may be the site of a new campus building if IU keeps growing. The sources of these challenges are social, economic, and political.
Another challenge I fear the Arboretum faces is possible use as the site of another building. I know that earlier in this blog I stated that the old Stadium used to lie atop the current grassy area of the Arboretum. As our economy struggles to right itself and more students are studying at in-state colleges, I fear that IU will be forced to construct more new structures either to house more students or another academic building. I'm unsure of what the current building laws are, but the Arboretum would seem to be a prime spot to place one of these possible structures considering its relatively central location on campus and all of the empty, "unused" space it contains.
In 5 years, I would say it is a safe bet that the Arboretum will most likely remain relatively unchanged. Perhaps a couple changes or updates will be made to the walking paths and ponds, but other than that I think it will look about the same. In 10 years, I fear it may be a different story. 10 years would definitely be enough time for construction to be complete on several new campus buildings, for the entire layout of the Arboretum to look differently. It's quite possible that the area may only contain one of the manmade ponds and that much of the area will be destroyed by the construction. In 20 years, it could likely be more of the same. The area could be completely leveled out and there could be an abundance of new campus buildings there— possibly even a new student living quadrangle! I sincerely hope this is avoided, especially since the area is located so closely to SPEA. Perhaps if plans of a new student housing area are made for the area SPEA students will rise up and petition against it.
I've already noticed the amount of cigarette butts on campus, many of which seem to be in the Arboretum. I'm worried that if something isn't done such as putting a "butt holder" near one of the walking paths through the Arboretum. Although they just put in a couple new recycling containers, I strongly feel that a cigarette disposal receptacle of some sort is needed. I worry that the litter in the Arboretum will be unbearable otherwise.
Another challenge I fear the Arboretum faces is possible use as the site of another building. I know that earlier in this blog I stated that the old Stadium used to lie atop the current grassy area of the Arboretum. As our economy struggles to right itself and more students are studying at in-state colleges, I fear that IU will be forced to construct more new structures either to house more students or another academic building. I'm unsure of what the current building laws are, but the Arboretum would seem to be a prime spot to place one of these possible structures considering its relatively central location on campus and all of the empty, "unused" space it contains.
In 5 years, I would say it is a safe bet that the Arboretum will most likely remain relatively unchanged. Perhaps a couple changes or updates will be made to the walking paths and ponds, but other than that I think it will look about the same. In 10 years, I fear it may be a different story. 10 years would definitely be enough time for construction to be complete on several new campus buildings, for the entire layout of the Arboretum to look differently. It's quite possible that the area may only contain one of the manmade ponds and that much of the area will be destroyed by the construction. In 20 years, it could likely be more of the same. The area could be completely leveled out and there could be an abundance of new campus buildings there— possibly even a new student living quadrangle! I sincerely hope this is avoided, especially since the area is located so closely to SPEA. Perhaps if plans of a new student housing area are made for the area SPEA students will rise up and petition against it.
