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Roanoke Times
Changes to Blacksburg mass gathering ordinance proposed
The town is proposing tweaks to its mass outdoor gathering ordinance, a nearly three-decade-old measure that was adopted in response to the student parties that occurred at the Stonegate Apartments during the early 1990s.
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WSLS
Blacksburg Town Council still discussing how to tame Center Street tailgating
The biggest tailgating spot for Virginia Tech games is causing a headache for some Blacksburg Town Council is continuing to discuss ways to address the massive crowds at Center Street on Virginia Tech game days, and with football season right around the corner, the clock is ticking to find a solution.
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WSLS
Blacksburg officials draft plan to address off-campus safety after DUI crash
People came with issues and concerns about Virginia Tech students partying and safety, and now, the town of Blacksburg is putting a plan in place. A drunk driver, identified as a student and football player at Virginia Tech, crashed his car into three other vehicles, flipping his own in April.
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Appalachian Woodlands (PDF on Google Drive)
The Best Kept Secret at Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech has an unrecognized celebrity on its campus in Blacksburg. This leading lady is the shining star of natural resources tucked between the VA Tech athletics complex and the town.
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WSLS
Virginia Tech students ask town, police for action after drunk driving crash off-campus
Wednesday was a quiet day around Center Street in Blacksburg, but just days earlier, the scene nearby on Harrell Street was jaw-dropping. A drunk driver, identified as a student and football player at Virginia Tech, crashed his car into three other vehicles, flipping his own early Saturday morning.
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WSLS
Residents concerned after drunk driver hits three cars, flips in Blacksburg neighborhood
People who live in Blacksburg are once again asking town leaders to address safety concerns with Virginia Tech students. A drunk driver hit three cars and flipped their own early Saturday morning on Harrell Street.
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WSLS
Blacksburg Town Council considering ways to manage tailgating on Center Street
Council is working with student leadership and Virginia Tech for alternative pregame activities
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Roanoke Times
Paulson: Virginia Tech’s Stadium Woods needs a conservation easement for preservation
An editorial by Rebekah Paulson
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Roanoke Times
Outside Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium, another turf battle continues
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Roanoke Times
Paulson: The student wellness and alcohol abuse disconnect
An editorial by Rebekah Paulson
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Virginia Tech
Assessment of safety, health of old growth forest underway
Aug. 24, 2021 - updates: Virginia Tech old growth forest tree risk assessment: 2021 report executive summary published
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Virginia Tech
Virginia Tech earns 13th Tree Campus USA recognition
When it comes to maintaining and enhancing an inventory of over 9,849 living trees on the 900-acre Blacksburg campus, being able to "see the forest through the trees" takes on a whole new meaning. It’s Virginia Tech’s holistic approach to university forestry — rooted in planning, collaboration, education, and community engagement — that has helped the university earn Tree Campus Higher Education USA recognition for the 13th consecutive year.
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Roanoke Times
Beth Umberger of the Virginia Master Naturalists New River Valley Chapter led a spring wildflower walk through Stadium Woods on the Virginia Tech campus on a recent afternoon.
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Roanoke Times
Apartment project request near ‘Stadium Woods’ delayed
The developer behind a close to five-year effort to build a dense student housing complex in the town’s Houston-Harrell neighborhood has once again returned to the drawing board.
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Roanoke Times
Tech Stadium Woods plan released, debate continues
Sounds in Stadium Woods come and go.
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Roanoke Times
Partners in Preservation: Volunteers care for Stadium Woods
Early on a steamy morning last Saturday, Virginia Tech’s Stadium Woods looked and felt like a jungle.
Earlier Press Coverage
New Effort to plan future of VT’s Stadium Woods underway
Tonia Moxley, January 30th, 2015
Virginia Tech holds community input meeting for Stadium Woods
Duke Carter, January 22, 2015
Stadium Woods Stewardship
Robbie Harris, January 21, 2015
Virginia Tech developing stewardship plan for Stadium Woods
Bob Spieldenner, January 21, 2015
Why thou shalt not park under that old white oak tree
Jeff Kirwan, January 25, 2015
Military Bowl winners deserve a parking lot
Rebekah Paulson, January 15, 2015
New development could impact stadium woods in Blacksburg
Orlando Salinas, December 8, 2015
Speaking for the Trees: Old Growth Forests in Virginia
Robbie Harris, March 28, 2014
Old-Growth Forest Lecture
Joan Maloff, March 4, 2014
Stadium Woods preserve defeated
Michael Sluss, January 31, 2014
Virginia Tech’s Stadium Woods not a priority for state lawmakers
Michael Sluss, January 23, 2014
Seiler: The incomparable Stadium Woods
John Seiler, January 12, 2014
Paulson: Old-growth deserves preservation
Rebekah Paulson, January 12, 2014
Letters Pick of the day: Vote to protect the woods
Rosemarie Sawdon, January 7, 2014
Senate bill would block use of Virginia Tech’s Stadium Woods
Tonia Moxley, Roanoke Times, January 3, 2014
Stadium Woods group seeks financial goal to continue work
Tonia Moxley, Roanoke Times, December 21, 2013
Site for new VT indoor practice facility named
Aaron Atkins, Editor, News Messenger, News Journal, September 23, 2013
Keeping Peace in Stadium Woods Editorial
September 15, 2013
Preserve a living legacy: Carola Haas
September 11, 2013
Delayed compromises hamper practice facility construction
Alex Koma, Collegiate Times, September 11, 2013
Virginia Tech gets approval for new site for indoor practice facility
Mark Giannotto, Washington Post, September 10, 2013
Virginia Tech Stadium Woods
WSLS10, September 2013
Virginia Tech Stadium Woods
WSLS10, September 2013
Safe For Now
Robbie Harris WVTF, September 6, 2013
Virginia Tech makes changes to parking plan for 2013 football season
Nadine Maeser, WDBJ7, June 25, 2013
A closer look at the proposed sites for Virginia Tech’s indoor practice facility
Andy Bitter Roanoke Times, June 5, 2013
Paulson’s environmentalism has deep roots
Pat Brown News Messenger, May 2013
Concert aims to preserve woods
Abbey Williams Collegiate Times, May 2, 2013
Demolition by Neglect: Stadium Woods, VA Tech’s Old Growth Forest (p. 10)
Rebekah Paulson Old Dominion Sierran, Winter 2013
Virginia Tech’s Stadium Woods must be preserved
Marlene A. Condon Free-Lance Star, September 16, 2012
Stadium Woods prove academics come first
Sharath Rereddy Collegiate Times, September 4, 2012
Stadium Woods remains firmly rooted behind Lane for now
Mallory Noe-Payne Collegiate Times, August 27, 2012
Virginia Tech won’t build football practice facility in Stadium Woods
WSLS, August 21, 2012
Returning to Stadium Woods
Caity Gonano American Forests, August 17, 2012
Committee: Virginia Tech should not cut down trees for sports complex
Lindy Royce-Bartlett CNN, June 6, 2012
Va. Tech athletic facility site problematic
Michael Geissler Minnesota Daily, June 6, 2012
Virginia Tech’s Board of Visitors mulls three new potential construction sites for indoor facility
Norm Wood Daily Press, June 5, 2012
Virginia Tech committee recommends change to Stadium Woods plan
Tim Ciesco WSLS 10, June 4, 2012
Virginia Tech’s planned indoor football facility pits progress vs. preservation
David Teel Daily Press, June 3, 2012
Save Stadium Woods
Belle Rose Coarse Cracked Corn Blog, June 3, 2012
We Talkin’ ‘Bout PRACTICE? Virginia Tech May Cut Woods for Football Facility
Miles Grant The Green Miles Blog, June 3, 2012
Study On “Stadium Woods” Complete
David Tate WSET TV, June 1, 2012
It’s football vs. forest in Va. Tech sports facility controversy
Lindy Royce-Bartlett CNN, May 31, 2012
Virginia Tech’s Stadium Woods Threatened
Jack Murray, Blue Ridge Outdoors, May 7, 2012
Save Stadium Woods: Virginia Tech Group Fights To Stop Destruction Of Centuries-Old Trees
Connor Adams Sheets, International Business Times, May 7, 2012
Stadium Woods supporters present petition to Virginia Tech
Ken Heineck, WSLS 10, May 3, 2012
Students call on ‘Colbert Report’ to help save Stadium Woods
Cody Owens, Collegiate Times, May 2, 2012
Dr. Seuss Speaks about the Stadium Woods Debate
Sam Howard, The Black Sheep, May 1, 2012
Virginia Tech group to name tree after Stephen Colbert
WDBJ7 Web Staff, WDBJ7, May 1, 2012
Stadium Woods to be featured on ‘Colbert Report’
Dean Seal, Collegiate Times, April 30, 2012
Stadium Woods vs. Virginia Tech Football
T Squared’s 4 Square, April 27, 2012
Virginia Tech Stadium Woods group to name tree after Stephen Colbert
TV Staff Reporters, WSLS, April 26, 2012
“A group supporting the saving of an old growth section of forest at Virginia Tech, plans to try to enlist help from a well known late-night comedian.
The Environmental Coalition plans to name one of the old oak trees in the Stadium Woods section, after Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert, host of the “Colbert Report.” The group plans to ceremonial name the tree “The Quercus Omnipotens Colberticus, The Almighty Colbert Oak.”
Read more
Group rallies to save Stadium Woods at Virginia Tech
Tim Ciesco, WSLS, April 22, 2012
Watch the video, or read the transcript. “When it comes to proud traditions at Virginia Tech, football certainly comes to mind. While they support their Hokies wholeheartedly, one group of students, faculty, and community members say they hope another proud tradition at the school won’t be lost in spite of it.
“’Stadium Woods is just part of the legacy of being a Hokie,’ said Virginia Tech junior Erica Largen.”
Read more
Stadium Woods allows hands-on, free education
Ted Martello, Collegiate Times, April 18, 2012
Volunteers dig in for Earth Week
Mallory Noe-Payne, Collegiate Times, April 16, 2012
The Stadium Woods gives school value
Megan Wilson, VTCC ’07, Collegiate Times, April 12, 2012
“Saying it is difficult to see an alternative to the facilities proposed location is outrageous. … What will this new building provide? A place where only a handful of Virginia Tech’s student athletes can practice for a game. What will this new building destroy? A place where every Tech student can visit, learn and relax. A place where many students will discover their passion and begin delving into their future areas of expertise.”
Read more
Pigskin Versus White Oak
Michelle Werts, American Forests, April 12, 2012
“American football first emerged on the sports scene about 140 years ago, around the same time that Virginia Tech University was being founded in Blacksburg, Virginia. More than 200 years prior to those moments — back in the same century that America’s first permanent English settlement, Jamestown, was being established — some white oak trees took root in Blacksburg. Today, those white oaks, which could live to be 600 years old, are experiencing a mid-life crisis: The Virginia Tech athletic department wants to cut them down to build a new indoor athletics practice facility, primarily for the football team.”
Read more
Virginia Tech, spare those old-growth trees
Herbert Root and Emily Brown (2), Washington Post, April 11, 2012
Shop Talk: Va. Tech Football Practice Facility Threatens Old-Growth Forest
Lawrence Biemiller, The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 9, 2012
Football money vs an ancient forest at Virginia Tech
James Bruggers, Courier-Journal, April 9, 2012
“In Hokie nation, where football is big and getting bigger, Virginia Tech apparently is poised to remove a grove of trees that pre-dates George Washington — and could be around for hundreds of years more.
As many as 60 trees the 11- acre plot are up to about 300 years old, some possibly older.”
Read more
Virginia Tech sports facility plan in Stadium Woods draws opposition
Darryl Fears, Washington Post, April 9, 2012
“On a frosty winter day, forestry Professor John R. Seiler grabbed a tool that looked like a giant corkscrew and twisted it into a huge white oak. He had a feeling that the woods near Virginia Tech’s football stadium were more than just a clutch of trees that burst into the school’s burnt orange and maroon colors in fall.”
Read more
Stadium Woods worth saving
Dr. John Seiler, Collegiate Times, March 19, 2012
“The Stadium Woods at Virginia Tech is in the fight for its life of 300-plus years.
Many people are aware that construction of a new Tech indoor athletic practice facility is planned in the north end of the old-growth white oak woods. Reasonable estimates suggest between three and five acres of the woods (20 to 35 percent of the total) will be directly affected (removed), with another two to three acres subjected to slow decline due to new forest edge effects, root damage and other natural forest adjustments.
No one is opposed to the facility and athletics makes a strong case for its need. However, most are opposed to placing it in rare, 300-year-old Stadium Woods.”
Read more
Stadium Woods worth saving from construction
by Chris Dunn, Collegiate Times, February 29, 2012
“Virginia Tech’s last remaining forest grove is in danger. What threatens the precious forest, which is home to trees that date back to the 18th century, is another sports facility the university wants to build.”
Read more
Stadium Woods: Natural heritage in the heart of Virginia Tech’s campus
by Andreza Silva de Andrade, Virginia Tech News, November 9, 2011
“For well over 200 years, regal oaks have stood on a knoll that now borders Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium. The 57 ancient oaks, each measuring more than 3 feet in diameter, form part of a unique, old growth forest in the heart of campus.”
Read more
Virginia Tech has plans for a new indoor practice facility
Mark Giannotto Washington Post, August 7, 2011