During my trek around campus, I couldn’t help but notice the famous tree in front of sturges hall. I figured it would be perfect for this specific prompt. The Dr. Seuss looking tree is intriguing to everyone who walks by it. The way it hangs over at the top reminds me of a giraffe bending its long neck down for whatever reason. The tree’s origin, as many of us know, is when an ice storm had struck Geneseo. What I can imagine for it’s formation is the mixture between the intense wind and ice that caused the tree slouch in such a way and remain in its state permanently. It must have been incredible for any staff or student to return to the site of the once lingering pine tree in the center of campus, to see it become a unique landmark in Geneseo and beyond. This speaks for how Geneseo is special. You won’t come across such a remarkable tree like this possibly ever. Similar to the college, you won’t come across a school like Geneseo ever again. It’s convenience in the center of campus reminds us how special we are everyday when we walk by it. We are preserving this tree specifically because of what it symbolizes for all of Geneseo. Others believe it is just a tree. It functions like a tree, smells like a tree, looks like a tree. It’s just another obstacle for a new building to be constructed on top of eventually. However, I would argue it’s presence is something greater.
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I know you said you may edit this, so I figured I’d leave a comment with some suggestions on embedding an argument into it. For some “they say” versus “I say,” consider that many students see the tree as a campus symbol (there’s even a snapchat filter), but do you see the tree as an example of harmony between nature and humans, or a possession? We’ve taken an object from nature and designated an area for it to exist as a form of eye candy. Maybe you disagree, so pick a viewpoint and argue why/why not the tree conveys on or the other.
These are all great points. However, I would disagree with the statement that the tree is solely for eye candy. All in all, it is just another tree on campus so what’s the significance of giving it such a popular following. We already have such great sights to view, say the sunset. Giving the tree the praising it’s been given speaks not for how nice the tree looks, but what it stands for instead and what we have made our center of campus.