PULLMAN - It's better than nothing, but not good enough according to some.

That's the word from the Friends of WSU Trees, as a new plan for the trees near Avery Hall takes shape. Michael Hanley, WSU English Professor, addressed the issue Wednesday, by referring to a statement.

"These trees have stood here for generations and generations of our students and teachers have gathered at this beautiful space," said Hanly. "These trees are as much a part of our heritage at WSU as the buildings and the classes that take place in them. Our campus architectural planners however, have been destroying beautiful places like this one all over campus at an alarming rate this summer. We have met with President Elson Floyd and he has assured us that future plans will involve serious efforts to preserve existing stands of trees."

Hanly said there has been a lack of communication between departments, administration and Capital Planning. The english department is located in Avery Hall and plans for the neighboring music department will all but wipe out trees that many call beloved staples of the campus.

"The long and the short of it is this," said Hanly. "We are losing half of the Avery Grove. This is happening to facilitate the parking of buses for the marching band and music camps. It was a beautiful place and will now be an ugly concrete parking lot and newly planted trees wont grow in for 20 years."

Hanly said it all started earlier this summer when two trees were removed from the other side of the building along what is called Hello Walk.

"July 2, 2008 there were two large trees that were removed between Avery Hall and Brian Hall over here,” said Hanly. “And then I asked, what gives here? They said ‘this is part of a major plan that will re-grade the entire front of the building,’and that was the first that any of us had heard of this. You know, we aren't completely clueless, we do pay attention to things, but had never gleaned that from the plans that were presented to us. There was a map that showed the trees that were going to be removed and we never saw it."

After that, Hanly said WSU President Elson Floyd stepped in and put a temporary stop to work as a compromise was crafted. One of the groups of trees, as well as an oak tree will be saved, but a cluster of some of tallest trees on campus, as well as the two trees closest to the building will come down.

"We are very happy with President Floyd," said Hanly. "We were able to save at least half of the trees including that beautiful red oak in the middle."

Hanly said he is not sure when the chainsaws will come out, but thinks it will be soon.

WSU capital planning was not available for a comment Wednesday.

Along with the faculty, students seemed to agree that they prefer the trees to concrete.

"I really like them," said WSU senior Garrett Foster." I like having the shade, they brighten up the campus compared to the nothingness that is around Pullman. I am from the west side so I like having a lot of trees."

"Living in eastern Washington we don't have that many already," said WSU freshman Brady Bonser. "So I like a lot of trees in places. I think when you are looking for shade or just add some scenery to it too. We live in a big wheat field pretty much, so having as many as we can on campus is a good idea, I think."

"They could maybe try to figure out someway to work around it," said Foster. "I mean, if the trees are like rotted then okay, but if they are completely fine then there should be no reason to tear it down."