Several representatives in Student Government are joining the fight against the sale of Hofmann Forest.  

SGA will vote on a resolution Wednesday requesting that the administration abandon the sale of the Forest.  Alex Grindstaff, a senior in biological sciences, is sponsoring the resolution and said he wants to address the administration’s lack of transparency during the sale. 

“The University went ahead to sell the forest without asking anyone,” Grindstaff said. “As a public institution, this isn’t how we should conduct business.” 

Grindstaff said he only learned about the details of the sale two weeks ago, largely due to the lack of communication from university officials. 

“I felt like I found out about it too late,” Grindstaff said. “This is similar to what I’ve heard from several College of Natural Resource employees. If the University sells the forest, students will need more information.” 

Grindstaff said students should know about the full impact of development or of the creation of farmlands on the property, through an environmental study. There are several North Carolina species that reside in the Hofmann Forest, he said. 

Josh Teder, a student senator and junior in business administration, said he is planning to support the resolution and he doesn’t think the administration has handled the situation well from the start. 

“I just think the whole way the University handled it is a disaster,” Teder said. “It doesn’t make us look good. It doesn’t make us look like we knew what we were doing, and it looks like we’re talking out both sides of our mouths.”

Teder said he has followed the sale of the Hofmann Forest since the University its announced plans to sell the 78,000-acre forest, said he was frustrated with the back-and-forth statements between N.C. State and Hofmann Forest LLC. 

Last week, it was revealed the buyer circulated a prospectus that proposed clearing a large portion of the forest for development and farmland. Brad Bohlander, associate vice chancellor for University Communications and chief communications officer at N.C. State, said in a statement on Wednesday that it had not previously seen the document. 

Tom Percival, a spokesman for Hofmann Forest LLC, said in direct contrast to Bohlander on Friday that development plans in the prospectus are renderings that were done by N.C. State four years ago as a general study and not prepared by or for Hofmann Forest LLC.

“The University may have good intentions, but it really doesn’t look like they’ve been forthcoming to faculty and students,” Teder said. 

Grindstaff said he thinks there’s too much finger-pointing. 

“There’s a lot of going back and forth,” Grindstaff said. “I’d like to know if the university officials never knew [about the prospectus] or if they are lying.” 

Student Body President Alex Parker said he thinks University officials have done a good job putting the interests of students first. 

“I completely think the University has been honest,” Parker said. 

Both Parker and Grindstaff pointed out that the Natural Resource Foundation and the N.C. State Endowment Board are ultimately responsible for the sale and not the University Treasurer’s Office. 

“However, both parties should agree that this process was misconducted and should halt the sale until such mistakes can be corrected,” Grindstaff said. “The NRF board should also have members with local and conservation interests. The University, as a whole, should strive to protect a forest of this size and intrinsic value for all generations to come.” 

Teder said he thinks the sentiment behind the bill represents the opinions of all students on campus who are dissatisfied with the University. 

Parker said he is excited to see the outcome of Wednesday’s vote because it will show what students think. 

“Regardless of whether or not the resolution passes, the simple fact that they are debating will be the clearest voice students have had,” Parker said. “Before this proposal, students didn’t really talk about the sale. This will be the most intentional voice of students to the administration.” 

Teder said he thinks the resolution will pass Wednesday. 

“The only thing that will hold it from passing is that it’s fast-tracked, due to the timeliness of the bill,” Teder said. “But most senators I’ve talked to support the sentiment of the bill.” 

Teder said he has spoken with senators who are completely opposed to the sale, but he’s supporting the bill to protest the way the administration has behaved. 

“I, personally, as a senator, am not completely opposed outright to the sale of the forest,” Teder said. “I’m just unhappy with the handling of the situation.”

Several students plan to protest the Hofmann sale today in the Brickyard at 1:15 p.m.