Letter to the Editor: Swans should stay

Letter to the Editor
April 15, 2004, Page 4

Dear Editor:
We are outraged about the students’ comments in this last issue of The Owl. We are going to defend the swans.
First of all, the reason they are more aggressive now is because of everyone aggravating them. They are more defensive because some of the immature and inappropriate students that we seem to have on campus insist on annoying the beautiful swans.
The swans would not be as aggravating if the students just minded their own business.
For example, instead of stopping and “kicking the swans in the head” when the male swan approaches the student, keep walking in your initial direction.
If the swan follows you then run in the direction you are headed. The swans should not be removed from the lake. Also, there is no way that you should remove the male swan during their nesting period.
If administration is thinking about doing anything then they should block off all access to the stone path in-between the nest and the bridge. We are in favor of putting up the temporary fence around the lake.
It would be the safest way to keep our wonderful swans in their nest and still keep the students away from them. If there is an issue about cost or labor, money can be raised and students can put it in (group, “community” effort). Just say the word and it can be done.
Another thing, what are the Crete youths doing by our swans anyway?
If everybody can respect the swans and what they are going through, then there shouldn’t be a problem. I just think that there are not enough respectable students.
We previously thought that highly of the Doane student community. They have proven us wrong if they are assaulting our beautiful creatures in the lake.
Thank you and we hope something reasonable can be done.
Just please do not remove them from the lake.

Heather Poysa
Holly Bitzinger