LSU removed important trees
I was appalled to have discovered the recent removal of 5 Sabal mexicans (Mexican Fan Palms) in front of the new Cox Student Athletics Building. These Sabal mexicanas were planted there 50 years ago by Steel Burden himself and happened to be some of the only Mexican Fan Palms living in Louisiana.
As a landscape architecture major, we spend semester after semester studying trees and shrubs of all variety and rarity. We were fortunate enough to read about this species — certainly even more so to see it growing so vigorously.
Native to West Texas and New Mexico, these trees were more than trees, they were a legacy left for us, and they are sadly missed. The most depressing part of the story is that they were removed over Spring Break while the campus was vacant of professors and students aware of their importance. Very clever!
I am sick that the 5 Sabal mexicanas were CHOPPED down and not carefully removed for re-planting. These trees were as historic and important as our sacred live oaks that were also planted by Burden around the same time. LSU has the mentality of “Only Live Oaks,” and it’s time that changes.
Molly McClanahan
4th Year — Landscape Architecture