from: http://www.wtvq.com/midatlantic/tvq/news.apx.-content-articles-TVQ-2007-12-04-0007.html
Tuesday, Dec 04, 2007 - 07:12 PM
By Chris Dietz
E-mail | Biography
Today about 20 people held a sit-in at U.K. President Lee Todd's office to protest what they say are plans for the university to open up parts of Robinson Forest to logging. Located in Breathitt, Knott and Perry counties, Robinson Forest was deeded to the university in the 1920s, to be used for agricultural experimental work and teaching and for the practical demonstration of reforestation.
In 1991 outer portions of the forest were leased out for strip mining, which raised 35 million dollars for scholarships. Now that money appears to be gone and these protestors want to know where it went. They also don't want loggers to due more damage to this pristine environment.
Taylor Shelton, one of the sit-in's coordinators, tells Action News 36, "We're hoping to get some long term results in terms of having a management plan for Robinson Forest and the rest of the university's lands that really looks towards the future, looks towards the sustainable future for the university and preserves those lands for generations to come."
U.K. President Todd was on his way to the airport when the protestors arrived. The group instead presented a signed petition, letters from concerned scientists and a list of questions for Todd to his Chief of Staff Doug Boyd. They had hoped to get some type of answers to their questions, but after two hours left Todd's office on their own. The event's organizers tell Action News 36 they still have hope of gaining a meeting with Todd and his staff before the scheduled Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, December 11th.
