2008 Woodie Awards
Do You Like the Geese on Campus?
Point: Our finely feathered friends
Matthew Jacobs
Issue date: 11/6/03 Section: Opinions
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A stunning honk reverberates through the air as a large V of birds swoop down from the sky and alight upon the ground near the pond. These Canadian Geese are a very special part of our campus. They add a sense of wonder and a natural look to our campus. To lose them would be to lose a unique part of what Lakeland Campus is about.
The Canadian Geese have been coming to this campus for the last several years. If you are wondering why, just look around you. We are in an ideal spot for them to rest at during their trip south. We have a nice big body of water surrounded by lots of food (cornfields) and they are not bothered here. There is also plenty of room for them to nest and eat. Look at all the building that has been going on in the area. Houses, golf courses, and other building endeavors have decreased the space in which they previously roosted. Not to mention that there are not a lot of areas to hunt them around here.
Now, we all know the bad side that comes with having wild animals around. They leave their mess just about everywhere, exactly like college students. This does not bode well with some because stepping in their mess while showing visitors around just does not send them the right image. This is one of the main reasons for some who want the geese removed, or at least away from the Lagoon. It appears that the methods used for this have been working out since they have taken up residence in the pond.
The geese add a special style and flair to this campus. Just watching them swim gracefully along the pond brings out interesting emotions, especially when you see them in the spring with their young. There are little goslings waddling around peeping at their parents while others swim gracefully in the water. It just brings back memories of how you felt when you were little. In addition, few other college campuses can boast of having a flock of geese to add to their majesty.
Lakeland College needs to keep the geese on campus. Curtail their activities on the Lagoon and restrict them to the pond, but let them stay. They are a representation of the natural beauty of the world and it is our duty to watch over them. As Kathy Marr, Associate Professor of Biology, said, "They bring a certain amount of beauty and appreciation of nature." The geese are an integral part of life here at Lakeland. Sure, we would still have a campus without them, but it would be pretty boring and dull looking out at an empty pond or Lagoon (if they manage to sneak back there).
The Canadian Geese have been coming to this campus for the last several years. If you are wondering why, just look around you. We are in an ideal spot for them to rest at during their trip south. We have a nice big body of water surrounded by lots of food (cornfields) and they are not bothered here. There is also plenty of room for them to nest and eat. Look at all the building that has been going on in the area. Houses, golf courses, and other building endeavors have decreased the space in which they previously roosted. Not to mention that there are not a lot of areas to hunt them around here.
Now, we all know the bad side that comes with having wild animals around. They leave their mess just about everywhere, exactly like college students. This does not bode well with some because stepping in their mess while showing visitors around just does not send them the right image. This is one of the main reasons for some who want the geese removed, or at least away from the Lagoon. It appears that the methods used for this have been working out since they have taken up residence in the pond.
The geese add a special style and flair to this campus. Just watching them swim gracefully along the pond brings out interesting emotions, especially when you see them in the spring with their young. There are little goslings waddling around peeping at their parents while others swim gracefully in the water. It just brings back memories of how you felt when you were little. In addition, few other college campuses can boast of having a flock of geese to add to their majesty.
Lakeland College needs to keep the geese on campus. Curtail their activities on the Lagoon and restrict them to the pond, but let them stay. They are a representation of the natural beauty of the world and it is our duty to watch over them. As Kathy Marr, Associate Professor of Biology, said, "They bring a certain amount of beauty and appreciation of nature." The geese are an integral part of life here at Lakeland. Sure, we would still have a campus without them, but it would be pretty boring and dull looking out at an empty pond or Lagoon (if they manage to sneak back there).