Tree-huggers are at it again. Guilford students protested for their right to climb trees last Thursday night, and succeeded in grabbing campus wide attention. When one student allegedly was written up for climbing a tree earlier that week, a protest ensued involving hanging monkeys in trees outside Mary Hobbs. Many spectators were attracted to the bunch singing, “All we are saying/ is give trees a chance.”

Junior Alison Duncan and first-year Maria Vacarella had passionate reasons to be up in the leaves. “I think its wrong that security writes people up for climbing trees. They are not doing anything wrong,” said Duncan.

Some 20 other students chanted, “Climb more trees!” as security arrived.

Margie Baker called security from a Mary Hobbs phone to draw awareness to the protest. Rumors spread that security responded to a “noise disturbance.” Three golf carts responded between 9:15 and 9:35 p.m. with threats of writing people up if they didn’t get out of the trees.

This stand-off only drew more attention. As the growing throng of spectators stood in front of Mary Hobbs supporting the whole fiasco, some students weren’t as keen on the protest.

When asked their opinion, one group was critical of the climbers. Some choose to throw acorns.

“It makes no sense,” first-year Cory Alvarez said. “If you want to dissemble security, why climb trees?”

First-year Dave Patterson agreed, thinking the whole ordeal was distracting.

Naz Urooj, president of community senate, arrived and played a role as a mediator. She called routine updates to the climbers above her.

Students questioned an equally curious Anne Lundquist, Dean for Campus Life, for answers.

“As far as I’m concerned, we’re standing here and people are in a tree,” said Lundquist. “It’s not against the laws.”

Lundquist credited the conflict in part to a lack of communication between security and student life.

“That’s the protest – [security] says ‘you’re getting written up’ when it is campus life that is in charge of this. . . they are new. What is happening,” Lundquist said, “is they are only going by the handbook and other college work experience.”

All interviewed officers said their title defined their concern – security. They agreed that climbing trees was a safety issue.

CCE student Karen Teer agreed with the protesters’ sentiment. “I think it’s wonderful. Climb more trees. I love Guilford College!