A Note from the Author, Dok Tael Stevens The following is the Western Herald's article, "Concern for environment often little more than PR" After I wrote this article and after my first article about the Asylum Lake research and business park, I was told that I was writing about this topic too much - which was ironic, because it was in the Kalamazoo Gazette on almost a daily basis - so I argued it was rather timely... The editor told me that WMU's then-President Diether Haenicke called him personally and instructed him to get me off this topic. That was something new. That's when I decided to investigate further to find out more about this research and business park, to see what was special enough to merit such personal attention. My research led me to start my own publishing company and produce my first book, "Haven: A Treatise on Asylum Lake." And my, what a roller coaster it's been since then! Concern for environment often little more than PR Claiming to be environmentally concerned or ecologically sound is a practice common among blatant and secret ecological offenders alike. Biodegradable plastics create a non-recyclable compound that often doesn't break down as intended. The only way the Asylum Lake research and business park would be considered ecologically concerned is if they didn't build it next to Asylum Lake. Biodegradability is achieved by mixing a biologically metabolized compound, such as yeast, with plastic. Under certain conditions of sunshine, temperature and moisture, indigenous bacteria should metabolize the degradable compound, leaving behind bits of plastic. In a landfill situation, waste is covered with a few inches of soil at the end of every day, limiting the sunshine reception. Upon completion of a landfill cell, it is capped with several feet of clay to reduce the amount of water entering the system. Under these conditions, biodegradable plastic break down is either halted or proceeds at a severely retarded rate. Many plastic recycling programs are in effect nationwide. In recycling plastic, the biologically metabolized compound is foreign to the process, interfering in the reclamation of plastic for reconstitution. Since biodegradable plastics cannot be recycled and often do not break down in a landfill as they are designed, they are not beneficial ecologically. A similar environmentally conscious claim is made by Western Michigan University, with the development of their Asylum Lake Research and Business Park. In the University's Research Park Study Committee's Feb. 4, 1991 "Report to the Faculty Senate Executive Board on the Proposed WMU Research and Business Park," environmental concern is utilized as a public relations tool rather than a true construction goal. The reasoning behind the development of a participatory decision-making mechanism is described as necessary "...to build community confidence that the proposed research and business park will be built in such a way that preserves open space in an environmentally sensitive manner." The report doesn't state that the research and business park will be built under these restrictions, only that it wishes the community to perceive these considerations as primary goals. Members of the planning committee are quick to point out that the land immediately adjacent to the lake will not be developed. It's true; the parking lot won't extend to the shore of Asylum Lake. However, any impacts from the development will affect Asylum Lake directly; the proximity is too close to expect any buffering ability to isolate the lake basin from the park activities. If the university were truly concerned with local ecology, they wouldn't develop the Lee Baker Farm and Colony Farm Orchard. The site is the largest tract of undeveloped land in the area. Rather than developing open space, the university could relocate the research and business park to a pre-existing site, renovating and recycling building space. The fact that the university already owns the Lee Baker Farm and Colony Farm Orchard doesn't justify the exclusion of other site considerations. Many of the empty properties upon which they could develop the park are comparably inexpensive when considering ecological costs of developing near Asylum Lake. Clean-up of alternative sites is another common excuse for limiting construction consideration to the university properties. These fears are unsubstantial; WMU could qualify for a waiver upon assuming ownership of a different site, alleviating their responsibility for the area's contamination in exchange for providing local economic rejuvenation. WMU is not considering ecology or the environment when planning the research and business park; if they were, members of the WMU scientific departments would be invited to join the University Research Park Study Committee. The only scientist on the board is W. Thomas Straw, chair of the geology department. Although his qualifications are unquestionably impeccable, additional members of the scientific community would be involved if the plan was truly environmentally concerned. David Hargreave, chairman of the environmental studies department, stated that no invitation from the administration to join the committee has been extended to instructors in his program. Environmental concern is mentioned in the plan as a public relations package to alleviate local tensions concerning Asylum Lake. Exhibited concern for the environment is often masking an agenda that doesn't consider ecology as important. The public is fooled into believing a company, project or idea is environmentally beneficial when, in fact, it is highly detrimental. Scrutinization of all sides of the issue is required to accurately determine the intent of an organization claming to be ecologically aware. |
Western Herald Opinion Article "Too Controversial" |
Asylum Lake Controversy Kalamazoo County, MI |
A Note from the Author, Dok Tael Stevens The following is the Western Herald's article, "Concern for environment often little more than PR" After I wrote this article and after my first article about the Asylum Lake research and business park, I was told that I was writing about this topic too much - which was ironic, because it was in the Kalamazoo Gazette on almost a daily basis - so I argued it was rather timely... The editor told me that WMU's then-President Diether Haenicke called him personally and instructed him to get me off this topic. That was something new. That's when I decided to investigate further to find out more about this research and business park, to see what was special enough to merit such personal attention. My research led me to start my own publishing company and produce my first book, "Haven: A Treatise on Asylum Lake." And my, what a roller coaster it's been since then! Concern for environment often little more than PR Claiming to be environmentally concerned or ecologically sound is a practice common among blatant and secret ecological offenders alike. Biodegradable plastics create a non-recyclable compound that often doesn't break down as intended. The only way the Asylum Lake research and business park would be considered ecologically concerned is if they didn't build it next to Asylum Lake. Biodegradability is achieved by mixing a biologically metabolized compound, such as yeast, with plastic. Under certain conditions of sunshine, temperature and moisture, indigenous bacteria should metabolize the degradable compound, leaving behind bits of plastic. In a landfill situation, waste is covered with a few inches of soil at the end of every day, limiting the sunshine reception. Upon completion of a landfill cell, it is capped with several feet of clay to reduce the amount of water entering the system. Under these conditions, biodegradable plastic break down is either halted or proceeds at a severely retarded rate. Many plastic recycling programs are in effect nationwide. In recycling plastic, the biologically metabolized compound is foreign to the process, interfering in the reclamation of plastic for reconstitution. Since biodegradable plastics cannot be recycled and often do not break down in a landfill as they are designed, they are not beneficial ecologically. A similar environmentally conscious claim is made by Western Michigan University, with the development of their Asylum Lake Research and Business Park. In the University's Research Park Study Committee's Feb. 4, 1991 "Report to the Faculty Senate Executive Board on the Proposed WMU Research and Business Park," environmental concern is utilized as a public relations tool rather than a true construction goal. The reasoning behind the development of a participatory decision-making mechanism is described as necessary "...to build community confidence that the proposed research and business park will be built in such a way that preserves open space in an environmentally sensitive manner." The report doesn't state that the research and business park will be built under these restrictions, only that it wishes the community to perceive these considerations as primary goals. Members of the planning committee are quick to point out that the land immediately adjacent to the lake will not be developed. It's true; the parking lot won't extend to the shore of Asylum Lake. However, any impacts from the development will affect Asylum Lake directly; the proximity is too close to expect any buffering ability to isolate the lake basin from the park activities. If the university were truly concerned with local ecology, they wouldn't develop the Lee Baker Farm and Colony Farm Orchard. The site is the largest tract of undeveloped land in the area. Rather than developing open space, the university could relocate the research and business park to a pre-existing site, renovating and recycling building space. The fact that the university already owns the Lee Baker Farm and Colony Farm Orchard doesn't justify the exclusion of other site considerations. Many of the empty properties upon which they could develop the park are comparably inexpensive when considering ecological costs of developing near Asylum Lake. Clean-up of alternative sites is another common excuse for limiting construction consideration to the university properties. These fears are unsubstantial; WMU could qualify for a waiver upon assuming ownership of a different site, alleviating their responsibility for the area's contamination in exchange for providing local economic rejuvenation. WMU is not considering ecology or the environment when planning the research and business park; if they were, members of the WMU scientific departments would be invited to join the University Research Park Study Committee. The only scientist on the board is W. Thomas Straw, chair of the geology department. Although his qualifications are unquestionably impeccable, additional members of the scientific community would be involved if the plan was truly environmentally concerned. David Hargreave, chairman of the environmental studies department, stated that no invitation from the administration to join the committee has been extended to instructors in his program. Environmental concern is mentioned in the plan as a public relations package to alleviate local tensions concerning Asylum Lake. Exhibited concern for the environment is often masking an agenda that doesn't consider ecology as important. The public is fooled into believing a company, project or idea is environmentally beneficial when, in fact, it is highly detrimental. Scrutinization of all sides of the issue is required to accurately determine the intent of an organization claming to be ecologically aware. |
AUTHOR'S NOTES I knew a lot about garbage at this point in my life... I was the assistant to the landfill manager at Cork Street Landfill in Kalamazoo, MI. |
My hypothetical question about other departments being threatened was answered after I became more involved in the Asylum Lake controversy... In December 1993 I was told to graduate from the geology department before finishing my master's thesis. According to my advisor, the accelerated graduation schedule was at President Deither Haenicke's demand that I be forced out of his university. |
By the way, W. Thomas Straw was one of my graduate program advisors. |
