Today University of Washington administrators and friends in the Legislature pledged to rebuild the Center for Urban Horticulture, torched May 21 in an arson attack that burned the center's main hall and destroyed or damaged years of research on ecosystem health and plant science. Today's announcement at the center came just hours after the Earth Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the May 21 arson at the center and an Oregon tree farm owned by Jefferson Poplar Farms.

The university and its research efforts "will not be deterred by the ravages of arson or the perpetrators of this tragedy," said UW President Richard L. McCormick. The UW is submitting an emergency request of $5.4 million to the state Legislature to rebuild and repair the hall, get the library re-established and deal with other program recovery costs.

"The most important thing is to ensure that violence is not rewarded," said a statement of condemnation issued today by a dozen Seattle area state legislators. "We will be working to see that the Center for Urban Horticulture is fully rebuilt, that its research program is fully restored, and that we have the laws and resources in place to bring ecoterrorism to a stop."

Engineers have determined that the bulk of Merrill Hall, the center's main building, must be razed. The section added to Merrill Hall that housed, among other things, the library and herbarium will remain but requires extensive repairs. Demolition was scheduled to being the first week of June.

Irrespective of the outcome of the special request to the Legislature, there will be a replacement building, according to Tom Hinckley, center director.

"At the same time, we are asking help from the community to ensure that programs are fully restored and that the building is the best it can be," Hinckley says. The University of Washington has announced the establishment of the Urban Horticulture Recovery Fund, contact:

Linda Kaye, (206) 543-9505
College of Forest Resources, Box 352100
University of Washington
Seattle WA 98195-2100

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Review selected articles and opinion pieces:

News article
"Ecoterrorism:Arson Strikes Research Labs and Tree Farm in Pacific Northwest"
Science magazine, June 1, 2001
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/292/5522/1622

Op-ed piece
Researcher Toby Bradshaw's op-ed piece about what happened to him
"Fire bombs do not contribute to legitimate debate"
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 25, 2001
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/opinion/24580_bradshawop.shtml

Editorial comment
"Eco-criminals at work to hurt honest science"
Seattle Times, May 24, 2001
Link to Article

Editorial comment
"Terrorists are not friends of the Earth"
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 27, 2001
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/opinion/24751_terrored.shtml

News article
UW scientists fear arson will stifle open dialogue more
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 23, 2001
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/local/24270_scien23.shtml


Editorial comment
"Out of control: Arson destroys buildings at environmentally friendly tree farm and UW horticulture program"
Oregonian, Saturday, May 26, 2001
Link to article

Op-ed piece
U.S. Rep. Geroge Nethercutt's suggestions on what might be done
"We need the tools to stop attacks on laboratories"
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 27, 2001
http://seattlep-i.nwsource.com/opinion/24579_nethercutt25.shtml