To the editor:

I’m responding to Saturday’s front-page story about the sweet deal Baker University and KDOT cooked up. I’m infuriated by the arrogance and insensitivity of both these institutions as they plan to destroy up to 100 acres of the natural Haskell-Baker wetlands and bisect the entire wetlands ecosystem with a 32nd Street alignment for the South Lawrence Trafficway.

I expect this kind of maneuvering from KDOT. After all, highways are their business, and that’s all they seem to value. But my disappointment at Baker University’s part in this debacle is tremendous. This institution is supposed to be the guardian of the wetlands they acquired from Haskell (for nothing). As an institution of higher learning, Baker is supposed to be above the money-grubbing tactics that motivate other, less enlightened, parties.

At the very LEAST, Baker University is expected to show proper respect for other institutions of higher learning which are intimately involved in this issue. Like, the former owners of their wetlands property, and co-owners of the wetlands ecosystem, Haskell Indian Nations University. Nowhere in that article did I see mention of any consideration of how Haskell views this SLT deal. Probably because they KNOW what Haskell thinks, and both KDOT and Baker are intentionally leaving Haskell out of the loop.

It’s obvious that Baker and KDOT have found their bottom line regarding what each wants from this deal. The environmental bottom line is this: man-made wetlands created as mitigation are NOT adequate replacements for natural wetlands. Also, we don’t need a bypass that connects K-10 to I-70, especially through our natural wetlands.

It will only bring more pass-through traffic, litter and pollution into this area, and will embody an irreversible impact on a fragile and valuable ecosystem. Baker’s lawyer says with the KDOT deal “we can make it (the wetlands) a gem.” It’s ALREADY a gem! If Baker wants to “maintain (the wetlands) in a quality way in perpetuity,” ripping up 100 acres of it and slapping a highway right down the middle is surely not the way to do it! Have they even attempted to get (nondestructive) support through government facility improvement/maintenance grants, or is KDOT’s (destructive) money too easy?

Sharon Dewey,

Lawrence