Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

Knoxville, TN - The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) has proposed a parkway to link the University's agriculture and main campuses. The parkway will at the very least, disturb and may destroy, an Indian Burial Mound, believed to be the ancestors of the Cherokee People, stands in the path.

The Tennessee DOT (TDOT) and the Governor's office have failed to solicit public input or provide a public hearing for the taxpayers and the community concerning the planned four-lane connector on the campus of UTK. Therefore, Citizens for a Pedestrian-Friendly Campus (a group of concerned faculty, staff, alumni and graduate students) have organized an independent public forum. The forum will take place, Thursday, February 11, 7:30 p.m. in Hodges Library Auditorium.

The forum will feature guest speakers involved in opposing and promoting this project. It will also feature a question and answer session from the public. Speakers have been given 5-10 minutes to make a statement, then the floor will open to questions and public comment:

Moderator: Dr. Dave Feldman, Energy, Environment and Resources Center.

Dr. Frank van Manen, Representing Citizens for a Pedestrian-Friendly Campus on the agriculture campus.

Dr. John Nolt, Representing Citizens for a Pedestrian-Friendly Campus on the main campus.

Joe Johnson, President of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Professor Hal Deatherage, UTK professor, Civil Engineering Last year, Prof. Deatherage's class produced a two-lane pedestrian/bicycle bridge design. Deatherage will present this design at the forum.

TDOT reps: Bill Moore (Executive Director of the Bureau of Planning and Development) and Glenn Beckwith (Director of the Planning Division).

The Governor's office has been invited and contacted several times over the past month. As of February 5, they have yet to respond with the name of a representative from that specific office.

Samuel Owl a Cherokee attending UTK is very upset and has requested a chance to speak. An invitation, has also been sent to the Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Joyce Dugan.

The following organizations are sponsoring forum:

* Wildlife Society at UT
* Collegiate Institute of Planners at UT
* Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville (SPEAK)
* Foundation for Global Sustainability (FGS)
* Graduate Researchers in Ecology, Behavior and Evolution (GREBE)
* Southern Appalachian Society for Conservation Biology
* Canoe and Hiking Club
Knoxville Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society
The Graduate Student Association (GSA)
Pi Alpha Xi (an agricultural honor society)
Horticulture Club at UTK
Forestry Club at UTK

(Other sponsors are pending)

An asterisk (*) indicates that the group is publicly oppose the four-lane bridge connector as proposed by Governor Sundquist and the Tennessee DOT. Instead, these organizations favor a pedestrian-friendly connector such as the one called for in the UT Master Plan.

** For more detailed information go to http://web.utk.edu/~speak on the web. This site contains our latest press releases, petition information and current petition tally, listing of sponsors, etc.