Spring Break
What's the Daffodil?
Students speak out against poisoning flowers, university responds
Aubra Whitten
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: News
Schultz said she was surprised by the announcement about the daffodils.
"We [Horticulture Club] just thought that was kind of ridiculous because they look so pretty in the spring," she said.
Senior horticulture major Mark Cooper said he heard about the decision during a Horticulture Club meeting.
"We were all rather dumbfounded that [the university] would want to remove the daffodils because they're a really pretty part of campus," he said.
The Horticulture Club sent an e-mail to Foglesong expressing its concern but received no response, he said.
However, Cooper sent a separate e-mail and did receive a reply from the president's account, though it could not be confirmed as of Thursday night that Foglesong himself wrote the message.
"You may want to ask the faculty and staff if I listen to them since you question that - ask them about the pay raises they got," states the e-mail. "Ask them about the jobs we are getting for you students when you graduate and the jobs we are bringing into the state for our citizens."
Cooper said he never questioned the MSU president's listening ability. Cooper's message emphasized the proper care and treatment of the daffodils, including maintenance tips and drought concerns.
"To many [students] this flower is the first sign of winter's end and the spring to come," Cooper wrote in the e-mail. "When other plants are dormant and days are dreary, daffodils are blooming brilliantly, adding color to an otherwise gray landscape."
The e-mail response addressed the suggestions Cooper offered, stating that MSU has "experts who have already graduated who plan [MSU's] ground cover - they make decisions based on lots of facts - [versus] urban myth." The response cited many of the university's accomplishments and problems, several of which were already mentioned in Foglesong's Nov. 26 State-Gram titled "Time For Some Straight Talk."
To these issues, which included everything from budgetary concerns to infrastructure replacement, the e-mail states, "Maybe you can give me some help on the major issues that I noted above."
"We [Horticulture Club] just thought that was kind of ridiculous because they look so pretty in the spring," she said.
Senior horticulture major Mark Cooper said he heard about the decision during a Horticulture Club meeting.
"We were all rather dumbfounded that [the university] would want to remove the daffodils because they're a really pretty part of campus," he said.
The Horticulture Club sent an e-mail to Foglesong expressing its concern but received no response, he said.
However, Cooper sent a separate e-mail and did receive a reply from the president's account, though it could not be confirmed as of Thursday night that Foglesong himself wrote the message.
"You may want to ask the faculty and staff if I listen to them since you question that - ask them about the pay raises they got," states the e-mail. "Ask them about the jobs we are getting for you students when you graduate and the jobs we are bringing into the state for our citizens."
Cooper said he never questioned the MSU president's listening ability. Cooper's message emphasized the proper care and treatment of the daffodils, including maintenance tips and drought concerns.
"To many [students] this flower is the first sign of winter's end and the spring to come," Cooper wrote in the e-mail. "When other plants are dormant and days are dreary, daffodils are blooming brilliantly, adding color to an otherwise gray landscape."
The e-mail response addressed the suggestions Cooper offered, stating that MSU has "experts who have already graduated who plan [MSU's] ground cover - they make decisions based on lots of facts - [versus] urban myth." The response cited many of the university's accomplishments and problems, several of which were already mentioned in Foglesong's Nov. 26 State-Gram titled "Time For Some Straight Talk."
To these issues, which included everything from budgetary concerns to infrastructure replacement, the e-mail states, "Maybe you can give me some help on the major issues that I noted above."
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 12
sarah
posted 2/15/08 @ 1:04 PM CST
Those daffodils are (or were?) one of the most attractive features of MSU's campus.
I am confused why they were removed and why our president was unable to give a clear answer. (Continued…)
Ash
posted 2/15/08 @ 3:24 PM CST
If daffodils is the only thing you tree huggers have to worry about, quit school and join Team Obama and his travelling turd burglers.
Daffodils??????? The next thing you'll be whining about is those craptacular "VOTE FOR ME" signs that Doc won't let you trash the campus with. (Continued…)
Jed Pressgrove
posted 2/15/08 @ 3:35 PM CST
Ash, you had me inspired at two points: (1) turd burglers and (2) craptacular. Please share more.
Bob Ross
posted 2/15/08 @ 7:54 PM CST
"We don't make mistakes, we just have happy little accidents." I like to make my own little happy world with friendly little daffodills.
Pete
posted 2/16/08 @ 7:04 PM CST
Ahh . . . we can tell the Young Republicans are out of their basements when authority worship, "turd burglers," and hits on Barack Obama pollute the Reflector comments. (Continued…)
Mississippi Muddpuppy
posted 2/16/08 @ 8:49 PM CST
Speaking of the Air Force's love for its general, you might want to check out the YouTube video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLPk2YlTrwI
Quite enlightening. (Continued…)
Carmon
posted 2/18/08 @ 3:18 PM CST
Thanks Pete! You are right. This is just the tip of the ugly iceberg. I am a female grad student that has been trying to get a light turned on outside of Allen Hall for over a semester. (Continued…)
Sisyphus
Sisyphus
posted 2/18/08 @ 3:38 PM CST
My apologies Carmon. I typed your name wrong in my original post.
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