As a 1975 graduate of the University of Maine and a taxpayer, I feel it’s my right to weigh in on the issue of the university’s 150-year-old elm which apparently stands where someone would like to put a lab expansion.

I consider myself conservative in politics and, in general, I feel “tree-huggers” stand in the way of progress. That said, I believe President Peter Hoff would be in error to allow the destruction of one of the few remaining examples of what was once the most common urban tree in New England. Many towns and cities still suffer from the loss of the boulevard effect these trees provided along our thoroughfares.

The introduction of power politics by Vice President Dan Dwyer (build it my way or I take my $3 million back) is unfortunate. Using his logic, I think the taxpayers should also have the opportunity to withdraw our $5.6 million from the bond. Sure, we could vote to a) cut the tree, b) cut the funding if they cut the tree, or maybe c) cut the funding altogether just to do “justice to the taxpayers,” to quote Dwyer.

Perhaps it would be better for all if we simply found a creative way to build the project and save the tree. With the combined brainpower of a university to draw on I’d be mighty disappointed if they couldn’t find a way to preserve the past while promoting the future. Stephen F. McGuire Veazie