I'll try to answer your questions concerning the tress.

First, there are no "memorial trees" on the Quad. There are many old trees, that have been there for many years, but there are no "memorial trees" on the Quad.

Second, the Quad is undergoing a major renovation over the next 2 years, and part of that renovation will include re-doing the interior of the quad. In addition to the renovations, the university is emplacing new pipes down the center of the Quad to bring hot/cold water and fiber to the dorms on the Quad. These pipes will replace pipes that are over 70 years old and routinely break now. Once all the new pipes are in place, the old steam tunnels are going to be collapsed and filled in.

Prior to all of the renovations being started, the university Arborist was brought in to determine which trees would survive the work being done to the interior of the Quad, and which ones wouldn't. It was HE who determined which trees were either already dead (and many were) or would not survive the work being done in the interior of the Quad. As a result, those trees deemed already dead or unlikely to survive the renovations are going to be cut down. Some have already been cut down, and there are more to follow.

What may not be known, however, is that new trees will be planted to replace those that are cut down. For every tree cut down, at least one, if not more, trees will be planted to replace it. So when the renovations are complete, there will be a row of new trees - and some old trees that survive - down the center of the Quad. After all is said and done, the Quad will have MORE trees in the interior than we had before.

By the start of the 2017-2018 school year, the entire Quad should be completely renovated, including all 12 dorms completely renovated, 4 Leadership Learning Centers built (2 already exist - Buzbee and Ash), and the interior of the Quad completely re-done, including new paving similar to what you now see at Military Walk, as well as new benches, new lighting, new landscaping, and yes, new trees.

I hope this helps answer your questions. If you have further concerns, please feel free to call the Office of the Commandant and I'll be happy to discuss with you. Thanks for your support of our Corps.

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Once all the new pipes are in place, the old steam tunnels are going to be collapsed and filled in.

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End of an era.

You could probably make money by salvaging and selling all the grafitti down there. I'd come look for some of mine if I remembered where it was.

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Once all the new pipes are in place, the old steam tunnels are going to be collapsed and filled in.

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Before that happens, would a historian be allowed to go down and document the artwork and graffiti in the tunnels. I would gladly volunteer to work or that project!

I will talk to Facilities Maintenance this week and see if we can find a way to get into the tunnels and at least video whats down there, if not bring some old "artifacts" out for all to enjoy as part of the history of the Corps. I can't promise they'll let us, but its worth asking. I'll keep you all posted.

And yes, we are paving over the "elephant ears," for a lot of reasons, to include major drainage issues that have plagued those areas for years. Trees will still be planted around the paved over elephant ears, but all the current dirt there will be paved over with pavers similar to Military Walk.

Again, I will keep you posted on whether we will be allowed to go into the steam tunnels one last time before they are collapsed.

Thanks for your support of our Corps! Gig 'em!

All that pavement will be hotter 'n Hell.

No worries about the memorial benches - they will all be replaced, along with their markers, once the renovations to the Quad are complete.

Instead of the concrete "coffin-looking" benches we have now, they will be replaced with metal benches similar to the ones found on Military Walk. They may not all be located in the same spot as before, but they will be replaced back on the Quad, along with their markers.

Just so you know, the statue of "Danger 79," LTG Hollingsworth, will also be re-located to the north end of the Quad, right inside the arches on the grass. As one enters the Quad through the arches, the first thing they will see is the statue of "Danger 79."

Hope this answers your question. Thanks for your support of our Corps. Gig 'em!

Charge for tours of the steam tunnels before they go away to raise some cash. Just have people wear a hard hat and sign a waiver.

As a follow-up, we have gotten permission from the facilities folks to go into the steam tunnels sometime this summer (before they collapse the steam tunnels sometime next Fall) to video the graffiti and other items down there, and possibly bring out any "artifacts" we might find down there.

I will post when we finalize the date that we are going to go down into the steam tunnels, but I wanted to update those who are interested on the fact that we have gotten permission to do so.

I will do my best not to take video or photos of any "incriminating" evidence down there, but can't make any promises. Some of you may want to "come clean" ahead of time...

Glad I'm an old, dead zip. All that concrete, instead of the dirt and grass will be hot as hell and miserable for PT/ sports. But it'll look better to donors and the parents of potential new cadets, so that's the priority