Downer Woods: A UWM Tradition in Limbo?

Spring is a season of change, especially for UWM. This time of year, Panthers’ Baseball starts, the weather gets warmer, and Downer Woods begins to bloom. The university is facing cuts and restructuring that could alter the whole University of Wisconsin System. The budget includes a provision that changes the legal protections on Downer Woods.

Many are concerned that the area could be developed in the future.

Currently, Downer Woods is protected under state law. UWM cannot legally build anything on the land and must keep it mostly natural. The 11.1 acre woodland area has been part of UWM since 1964 when it was donated by a local farmer.

Since 1998, UWM has been working to return the patch to what it looked like before it was farmed. This involved removing mounds of invasive species growing in the undergrowth. The space is used by staff and students for projects.

The removal of Downer Woods from state law is part of the governor’s Public Authority proposal, which he’s said would give the UW System schools more autonomy. Basically, this means that various things now enshrined in state law would be controlled by the Board of Regents, which is largely appointed by  the governor.

The Board of Regents will operate without current oversight by the state Legislature.  Although the protections will be removed from state law (if the Public Authority plan passes the state Legislature), they could be remade as Board of Regents policy.

According to Tom Luljak, Vice Chancellor of University Relations and Communications, this measure was not requested by any UWM staff and currently there are no plans to change Downer Woods. For now it will remain a resource for students and the community. Luljak mentioned that he hopes that the Board of Regents will put protections back on the woods in order to keep them the way they are.

Junior Colin Murphy is not concerned for Downer Wood’s immediate future. “I would say it is rather stupid [to develop Downer Woods] considering the prospect of budget cuts, so building anything would be a waste of the budget that is left.”  Murphy is worried that the budget cuts themselves will do more damage to the school than the loss of Downer Woods.

It is rare for a university to have such a large forested area. It is especially beneficial to an urban university like UWM because it can offset urban pollution, prevent erosion and provide a calming atmosphere for students and East Side residents. One of the many challenges urban universities face is space. Some fear the university may choose to use Downer Woods for development because it is one of the few undeveloped spaces in a very tightly populated area.

More students, dog owners and community members will start exploring Downer Woods as green buds start popping up.  This spring UWM, could face budget cuts and hierarchical changes that will alter how the university is run. Downer Woods has been a permanent fixture and the Board of Regents could choose to keep it that way.