Campus Maps – American Environments to 1893

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What is considered natural is very hard to pinpoint in this day and age, as very little is left untouched by humans in some manner. As a result, it is much more common to consider gardens, manicured lawns, and arboretums as part of nature, even if they are far from natural. This seems understandable when one compares such human creations to the skyscrapers and interstates that are a staple of American life. Through such a lens, Davidson’s campus appears much more natural. One example of this is the large trees that surround the well located in front of Chambers. The size of those trees indicates that they are of significant age. It is unlikely that they were planted, but rather they are likely the remnants of a forest that may once have existed on Davidson’s campus.

Obviously this is not the case for the majority of trees at Davidson. A thorough inspection of the campus maps reveals a very detailed plan for the exact location and species of every tree located on campus. The school devised a plan for what species of tree would be planted and in what designated area. This realization would have been impossible without the campus maps, and it definitely takes away from the natural appearance of the campus. At the same time, I do not think the natural feel that emanates as one tours Davidson’s campus is completely negated by this realization. Compared to many other colleges and universities in North Carolina, like the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Davidson appears very in touch with nature.

This is where it becomes important to differentiate between wilderness and nature. Wilderness, as I see it, is what existed before human interaction or manipulation. Such a definition means that state and national parks are nearly all that remains of the wilderness in present day America. Thus, Davidson’s campus obviously does not qualify as wilderness. The campus maps show that Davidson has been changed and transformed over the years according to human desires. This does not mean, however, that nature is no longer present at Davidson. The trees are still home to squirrels and there are enough woods to house the affectionately named “Commons monster,” several deer, and even the occasional skunk. While all of this is merely a remnant of the once untamed wilderness that existed here long before Davidson was ever founded, it is still nature.

As far as the most unnatural aspect of Davidson’s campus, I have to agree with Ian’s anointing of the artificial turf inside Richardson Stadium. It resembles a cheap doormat more than it does natural grass. The artificial turf is also very painful to fall on. The little black pebbles that Ian mentioned are not easy on the skin if you fall-they destroy your legs and leave something similar to a rug-burn, only worse. The artificial turf is yet another example of the human transformation of Davidson’s campus. Even so, as long as the trees, shrubs, and grass remain, Davidson will always maintain contact with nature.

After looking over the pictures of the evolution of Davidson’s campus, I was shocked to see the gradual deforestation that has occurred throughout the grounds. Though the years were not listed, years before my time here, the grounds surrounding Chambers and many of the dorms were littered with trees of varying sizes. In my opinion, this created a more natural feel to the campus, as the trees, even if they were planted by humans, represented the ecological side of our ecosystem. Today, though trees remain around chambers, they are not nearly as prevalent, replaced by pristinely kept grass that radiates with an artificial feeling.

Following our class discussion on what part of campus was the most “natural” or “wild” to me, I was left without a clear answer. My initial answer was the cross country trail, but sadly the trees that gave the course its natural feeling were all planted by human hands, stripping it of the natural purity I initially accredited it with. After some thought, I realized that the most natural thing to me on Davidson’s campus are the squirrels.

For those who do not know, Davidson squirrels are a little different than others from around the country. They often run right up to you and do not flee as you walk within feet of them, but continue doing whatever it is they do. For some, they might see this as unnatural, as the squirrels do not fear humans as other squirrels around the land generally do. Yet, for me, I see it as the peak of nature on campus. These animals recognize us as part of their ecosystem, regardless of our biological differences. It appears as though they have learned that we pose no threat to their way of life, so they do not fear us, leaving them to calmly live alongside us on the campus. Though different than most animals, I view their acknowledgement of our place amongst their ecosystem as the epitome of nature on this campus.

If I had to pick one thing on campus that I view as the most unnatural thing, I would have to go with the turf on our football field. Nothing screams unnatural like artificially created grass filled with black little beads that get everywhere. Our insistence on creating a playing surface that is unchanged by natural occurrences reflects our desire to control the world around us and deny the randomness that nature presents. This is a common practice of our culture, especially when it comes to planting gardens/shrubbery, as we are actively shaping nature in the ways we want it, rather than allowing its beauty to blossom through its own design.

Tag: Campus Maps

The Natural Aspect of Davidson’s Campus

Davidson Wilderness