To Whom It May Concern:
I’d like to take a moment to write to you about the article in Issue 10, entitled “Deer lurk in Cabrini woods, pose threats.” I’d like to begin by saying that the title of this article alone makes me chuckle. Deer? A THREAT? Really, now. I feel I need to bring a few points to light about our fuzzy, brown population.
Deer, by nature, are territorial animals; they will in fact, risk starvation and death before they leave their territory. We invaded their space some 50 years ago to build this institution. We came into their land and no, I’m not saying burn Cabrini to the ground and give the deer back their home, but honestly, we moved in on them.
What kind of “damage” do they cause to our campus, anyway? The only thing I can think of is a few packages of deer excrement and I’ve honestly never even seen that around. Heck, I’d admit that Pennsylvania has a deer population problem, but are we really living “in an uneasy harmony” with them? Have there been any headlines in the Loquitur reading “Deer mauls student!” or “Deer rummage through trash, make mess?” In my three years, it hasn’t been the case. These docile animals usually run away at the sight of something unfamiliar.
As for removing the deer from campus, how, oh how, would we arrange such a project? The sheer time, cost and effort to be put into such a project is merely spurred from lack of a better way to spend tuition money. Think of the beauty these animals bring to campus. It’s not everyday you get to experience the commercialism that is the King of Prussia Mall and to see a wonderful specimen of wildlife within ten minutes of each other.
Ponder this fun fact from Cabrini: we have an albino deer. The mystery that surrounds this almost mythical creature comes from students, staff and faculty alike who have seen it. That albino deer gives us something to look for during late night walks and walking to our 8:15s in the mornings.
As for deer posing a threat to our campus community, I think that’s a displacement of frustration. The deer aren’t the ones driving at obnoxious speeds up and down Residential Boulevard and the entrances to Cabrini. The residents, commuters and guests drive those roads too fast, of course making it more of a shock when, gasp, YOU have to slow down for something.
Thanks, Loquitur, I hope next week you tell me about the risks that squirrels pose to our campus.
Sincerely,
Cristina D’Amelio
Psychology major
Class of 2007
Posted to the web by Tim Hague
