Take a minute to list 10 things about ISU you would miss if they were gone.

As students, alumni, faculty and staff, there are things that each of us regard as part of ISU.

Everybody’s list will be different, but I bet there are a few that show on every list.

The swans Lancelot and Elaine are two of these.

When I first heard about replacing the mute swans with the current pair of trumpeters, I really didn’t think much about it.

After learning about the swans differences and how we are part of a restoration project for the trumpeters, I was glad the change was made.

As a land grant institution, ISU should place a high emphasis on taking environmentally responsible action.

By giving the swans part of Lake Laverne to reestablish the number of trumpeter swans, ISU is taking on a role of environmental stewardship that is becoming more important as the earth struggles to support life as we know it.

My understanding from the article in the Daily has been that unless the swans breed, they will be moved to another lake that is a more suitable environment.

Some may say that this is what should happen, that the swans should not be fenced and contained in a small area.

I admit I was sad to see the swans fenced in, but Lincoln Way is hard enough to cross for pedestrians.

The swans have not bred yet, and some attribute this to their current environment.

If I understand the arguments correctly, the swans will not breed because there is no suitable area to do so.

The swans need the cover of wetland growth to nest and hide their young in.

For a university that is working to become the best, problems like this should not be a problem.

Why not take some of the money for that new path on the south side of the lake and use it to help the swans?

Give the swans the correct environment they need to breed. If they need a wetland, why not create a wetland area in the west-end of the lake?

The lake is used for the occasional goal post celebration, and even giving the swans more space still leaves room for this activity.

If the swans need more ground around the water, move the fence line up closer to the sidewalk surrounding the lake.

Involve the university in this project. I am sure there are landscape architecture students who could design ways to make the fence around the swans more aesthetic.

Animal ecology, environmental science, soil and water conservation are just a few areas I can think of that could help the swans.

By using the resources ISU has, we could create the best area possible for the swans.

This is a much better alternative than letting the university show us how to quit without trying to make it work.

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Kyle Jacobsen

Sophomore

Horticulture