Moving the campus garden to make room for a 120-space parking lot had significant support from University of Memphis’s student government at Thursday’s meeting.
About 19 of the student senate members appear to be in favor of paving over the current campus garden location.
This development came during a Student Government Association Senate meeting when senators were asked how many were in favor of putting the garden somewhere else.
Nineteen student senators raised their hands in favor of moving the garden — there were 26 student senators at the meeting. This was not an official vote to move the garden.
University of Memphis administration is consider- ing paving over the garden near the Elma Roane Fieldhouse, known as the TIGUrS Garden, to create parking spaces behind the Zach Curlin garage.
However, David Zettergren, vice president of business and finance, said moving the garden and building a parking lot would only take place if the SGA favored the move.
“Any decision regarding the relocation of the garden will be made after receiving feedback from the SGA,†Zettergren said in an email to The Daily Helmsman. “If the garden is moved, the cost to relocate the garden will be incurred by the university and will not be taken from the Green Fees. Tuition will not be impacted by either the relocation of the garden or parking expansion. We enjoy the beauty and bounty of the various gardens located throughout the entire campus and will work to ensure green space remains prevalent.â€
Jared Moses, student president, and Natalie Moore, student vice president.
Student government President Jared Moses said that he would not consider moving the garden unless it was replaced.
“A common misconception right now is that the garden will not be replaced. That’s not true, if it is taken. First of all, it’s not true that the garden is going to be gone,†Moses said.
Moses asked the senators how many were in favor of moving the garden. He also asked how many “actually picked something or spent time in the garden for leisure.†About 10 senators raised their hands. Moses asked senators to informally survey the student body to understand how they felt about moving the garden.
“We will make a decision based on the feedback that we received from the people,†Moses said.
Moses said a decision would be made by Nov. 17 at the latest.
“Hopefully we will have something by the next town hall meeting, which is Nov. 16,†Moses said.
In an email to the campus community, University of Memphis President M. David Rudd said there were other possibilities to paving over the campus garden.
“I recently requested that our Student Government Association discuss and respond to available options, along with sharing any concerns. At this point, we are simply gathering information. We have not reviewed any options in depth, nor have we established a definitive timeline.â€
