WWU aims to protect campus trees from slacklining damage

Randy Godfrey, the head gardener at Western Washington University, recently placed a couple of temporary protective guards on two trees in front of the Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Building just south of Carver Gymnasium on campus.

The wooden guards are a temporary experiment, Godfrey said. When spring quarter is over, he'll remove the guards to determine how much damage the trees have sustained throughout the quarter.

Slacklining has caused damage to various trees on campus, and university officials are trying different methods to prevent continued damage, Godfrey said. Several options have been discusses, including continued use of the guards, construction of some sort of slacklining apparatus that would obviate students' need to use trees and banning slacklining altogether.

"Slacklining is a great activity for students, but I just don't want it to end up damaging the trees," Godfrey said. "I'd really like to come up with a longterm solution for this."

Frank Vitolo, right, a music performance major at Western Washington University, and Cameron Frazier, a WWU recreation major, practice the art of slacklining on campus Thursday, March 18. Photo by Matthew Anderson | WWU

Western Washington University student Tracy Pennell walks along a slackline in front of the Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Building on campus Thursday, March 18. Photo by Matthew Anderson | WWU

Western Washington University students (from left) Ruthie Taylor, Tracy Pennell and Cory Olson watch as fellow students Cameron Frazier and Frank Vitolo practice their slacklining on the WWU campus March 18. University gardener Randy Godfrey recently plac

WWU student Frank Vitolo, right, attempts to walk along one slackline while geography major Cory Olson tries to balance on another. Looking on is WWU recreation major Cameron Frazier. University gardener Randy Godfrey recently placed protective wooden gua

Western Washington University student Ruthie Taylor, left, who is taking a break from attending Fairhaven College of Interdisciplinary Studies, balances on a slackline on the WWU campus March 18, 2010. Photo by Matthew Anderson | WWU

Western Washington University student Ruthie Taylor, left, practices her slacklining while friends Frank Vitolo and Cory Olson look on. University gardener Randy Godfrey recently placed protective wooden guards on a couple of trees to prevent damage. The

WWU music performance major Frank Vitolo rests on a slackline on the south side of Carver Gymnasium on campus while friend Ruthie Taylor balances on a different section of line. University gardener Randy Godfrey recently placed protective wooden guards on

Western Washington University student Ruthie Taylor, left, practices her slacklining while friends (left to right) Frank Vitolo, Cory Olson and Cameron Frazier look on. University gardener Randy Godfrey recently placed protective wooden guards on a couple

Western Washington University students Frank Vitolo, right, and Cory Olson practice slacklining between three trees near Carver Gymnasium and the Science, Mathematics and Technology Education Building on campus in March. University gardener Randy Godfrey