Two years ago, after a prolonged hospitalization with many open-heart surgeries, our 6-week-old son Benjamin died of complications of congenital heart disease. Through the generosity of the faculty, staff and students of the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the College of Human Medicine, a commemorative tree was purchased for the campus circle near Beaumont Tower. This was a wonderful tribute and showed us the true kindness of others.

However, last year a thoughtless person broke the original tree that was planted. This act of destruction devastated us, but the university made sure that a new tree was planted to take its place. On Sept. 12, we were notified that the new tree had been broken. We are extremely upset and shocked over the disrespect that a few people have shown toward the MSU campus and the spirit that is embodied by this tree. We wanted to bring this distasteful action to the attention of the MSU community in the hopes that this can be prevented in the future.

Also, we hope that those responsible will think twice before destroying property that not only beautifies the campus, but also has significance to members of the MSU family.

Philip Kilanowski-Doroh
third year medical student

Melanie Kilanowski-Doroh
1996 alumna