As the student naturalist and a member of the St. Olaf Land Use Committee, I feel compelled to share some information regarding the construction of the Northfield Hospital on St. Olaf land. Last year St. Olaf agreed to lease a portion of college-owned property to the city to construct a new hospital. At this time, St. Olaf agreed to give the city access to the hospital through St. Olaf property. The hospital will be accessible from Cedar Ave., but it was deemed necessary to construct a second entrance. Last week the City Council voted in a 4-3 decision that this second road should be constructed in such a way that it would run through a significant portion of the natural land that surrounds our college. The city council's decision was passed despite the College's recommendations to direct the road further west where it would not disturb the restored prairies and woodlands.

If the city goes ahead with its construction plan, the road will threaten the sustainability of the natural lands. Our prairies and hardwood forests provide habitat for dozens of species of plants and animals. However, in order for stored ecosystems to be successful habitats, they must exist and large, continuous tracts of land. The proposed road will only fragment these habitats.

The proposed road also fails to provide benefits to the larger community. It would have to contain several curves, which would make it less safe, and it would create another intersection in an already busy stretch of highway 19.

The road that the city council intends to build is inconsistent with the College's philosophy of good stewardship to the land. It would be detrimental to the St. Olaf community, and would fail to benefit Northfield. I urge the members of our community to make their concerns regarding this development known to President Thomforde as well as the Northfield City Council.

Kelley Zophy is a senior at St. Olaf College.