What's the Daffodil?
Students speak out against poisoning flowers, university responds
Aubra Whitten
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: News
Cooper later reacted to the response.
"There are many pressing issues that require his attention," Cooper said. "I should be worried about them, yet he is worried about a yellow flower."
Cooper said he wondered why the president is paying people to remove a flower if the university's funds are so tight.
"I'm not professional enough to give him landscape advice because the people he has have already graduated," he said, "but he didn't listen to our professors either, and they have PhDs."
Cooper said his main concern involves the dismissal of the plant and maintenance advice offered in the e-mail as well as the overall tone in response to the situation.
"[It] says our concerns are based on 'urban myths,' yet [it] won't say what we've gotten wrong," he said. "The tone of the e-mail was very condescending and unprofessional."
Cooper said removing the daffodils at the present time would not be prudent.
"At the time they're removing the bulbs, it's a horticulturally unsound decision," he said.
The bulbs are getting ready to bloom, and removing them from the soil could damage their roots and prevent them from growing properly.
Brian Trader, assistant professor for plant and soil sciences, said the uprooted bulbs should be fine for several weeks.
Generally, the usual or best time to uproot the bulbs would be during the fall or after the flowers bloom, Trader said.
The daffodils would typically be blooming in two to three weeks, Trader said.
"The bloom time is dependent upon the variety, usually mid-February into March," he said.
Trader said the bulbs can be difficult to remove and expensive to kill.
Several other plant and soil sciences professors declined to comment or did not return phone calls.
During her visit, Schultz asked that the workers hold the bulbs. Some of the bulbs are now by the greenhouses behind Dorman Hall where the Horticulture Club members are working to repot them.
"There are many pressing issues that require his attention," Cooper said. "I should be worried about them, yet he is worried about a yellow flower."
Cooper said he wondered why the president is paying people to remove a flower if the university's funds are so tight.
"I'm not professional enough to give him landscape advice because the people he has have already graduated," he said, "but he didn't listen to our professors either, and they have PhDs."
Cooper said his main concern involves the dismissal of the plant and maintenance advice offered in the e-mail as well as the overall tone in response to the situation.
"[It] says our concerns are based on 'urban myths,' yet [it] won't say what we've gotten wrong," he said. "The tone of the e-mail was very condescending and unprofessional."
Cooper said removing the daffodils at the present time would not be prudent.
"At the time they're removing the bulbs, it's a horticulturally unsound decision," he said.
The bulbs are getting ready to bloom, and removing them from the soil could damage their roots and prevent them from growing properly.
Brian Trader, assistant professor for plant and soil sciences, said the uprooted bulbs should be fine for several weeks.
Generally, the usual or best time to uproot the bulbs would be during the fall or after the flowers bloom, Trader said.
The daffodils would typically be blooming in two to three weeks, Trader said.
"The bloom time is dependent upon the variety, usually mid-February into March," he said.
Trader said the bulbs can be difficult to remove and expensive to kill.
Several other plant and soil sciences professors declined to comment or did not return phone calls.
During her visit, Schultz asked that the workers hold the bulbs. Some of the bulbs are now by the greenhouses behind Dorman Hall where the Horticulture Club members are working to repot them.
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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