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Abstract Linden Lane is an iconic area of Boston College where important events such as convocation and commencement begin. However, the trees lining Linden Lane are coming to the end of their life cycle and need to be replaced soon. This report provides information on the opinions of students about Linden Lane ranging from their knowledge about it and how they would feel about changing the linden trees to different species. Recommendations are also provide to Boston College about tree alternatives in regards to soil pH, urban resistance, and salt tolerance. Both the social and scientific perspectives are taken into consideration when deciding tree alternatives to possibly line Linden Lane. Introduction We were tasked with researching the current status of the littleleaf lindens lining Linden Lane and the best way to replace them as they reach the end of their lifecycle. Six of the fifty lindens have been lost already due to damage from Superstorm Sandy and construction on St. Mary’s, so there needs to be a plan in place before too many more are lost and it begins to be noticeable. We attempted to determine whether they should be replaced with the same species or if another type of tree would be better suited for the site. We decided to look into other trees within the linden family as well as trees that would thrive in the current conditions of Hardiness Zone 6. The most important traits we looked for were similar growth patterns and canopy coverage as well as a tree that can withstand strong storms, possible salt spray from the road and sidewalks, and other harsh weather of the region. We were also asked to conduct a survey of Boston College faculty and students on their opinions of the trees. We set out to discover the importance of aesthetics for Linden Lane and whether people have strong feelings towards the trees themselves. We wanted to know if the BC community would be in favor of or opposed to any other type of tree being used in place of lindens. This paper discusses a brief history of littleleaf lindens in their native Europe and eastern Asia. We also summarize the status of damaged and at-risk trees based on reports about Linden Lane conducted in 2012 and 2013 by George Ackerson. We explore five different options for alternative trees if BC chooses to not replace the lindens with the same trees. We also researched nurseries and contract growing to provide options for BC when determining where to get the new trees from, whether they choose lindens or 2

another type of tree. We describe the methods of our online eight-question-survey and the results of the survey. We also briefly discuss the limitations we faced during this project. The paper ends with our proposal for how BC should approach the project of replacing the lindens on Linden Lane in the coming years.
History of Linden Trees
The littleleaf linden (tilia cordata) is native to western Europe and eastern Asia, especially in long-established woodlands, ancient hedgerows, on cliffs, among rocks, and in wooded ravines and river gorges in the United Kingdom (Pigott, 1991). The map below shows the native distribution of the littleleaf linden (Pigott, 1991). Native Distribution of tilia cordata Lindens are said to tolerate cold temperatures, partial shade, and atmospheric pollution well, but are sensitive to strong winds and soil salinity (Pigott, 1991). The tree flowers in late June or July, with small, fragrant flowers that are attractive to bees (Gilman and Watson, 1994). There are no known serious diseases or pests associated with the littleleaf linden (Gilman and Watson, 1994). The linden tree has a lot of cultural significance and use in Europe. It is the national tree of the Czech Republic and Slovak Republic. The flowers are used to brew tea, especially in France (Botanical.com). They have also been used in herbal remedies. In addition, the wood is popular for carving because it is fairly soft. In fact, linden wood was used for carvings in St. Paul’s Cathedral, Windsor Castle, and Chatsworth 3

(Botanical.com). The tree has become popular in the US because of its pleasing aesthetic as a street tree and tolerance of other urban conditions. However, it may not be the best choice for the future of Linden Lane because it does not tolerate salt well and is susceptible to damage from storms like Superstorm Sandy. It also requires a lot of maintenance and is fairly messy, according to Regina Bellavia, the Associate Director of Facilities Services at BC.
Summary of the Reports of the Current Linden Trees
On October 29, 2012, Superstorm Sandy hit the New England region, and caused some damage on the Boston College campus. Two of the trees on Linden Lane were uprooted and fell to the ground, which prompted Boston College Facilities Services to conduct an independent inspection of the trees. They hired Horticultural Technologies Inc. (HTI), which conducted a review of the linden trees on November 17, 2012. George Ackerson, a consulting arborist form HTI, estimated the trees on Linden Lane to be 92 years old at the time, planted around 1920. Other than the two trees that fell down, Ackerson was investigating three other trees that displayed movement of the root area, indicating a potential for tree failure. The purpose of the review was to determine the risk of tree failure, propose mitigation methods to preserve the trees at risk, and to review the health of additional linden trees. All of the trees in question were secured to adjoining trees with rope to ensure safety. Ackerson did a root collar excavation on the trees, which is a procedure that evaluates the structural integrity of the root system, looking for potential dangers such as decay and presence of disease. Ackerson’s examination showed that the three linden trees damaged by Sandy were in poor to fair condition. Many of the trees had old wounds that caused sunken areas in the main stem, potentially hiding weak or decayed wood, and the condition was made worse by the storm. Some of the wounds may have been caused by large pruning cuts that were done in the past as part of the maintenance of the linden trees, which led to parts of the trees on the south side getting excess sun exposure. The root excavation revealed that the trees had undergone a grade change in the soil over the years, as there was a lack of roots within the top-12 inches of the soil, which can potentially create stress on the trees as they age. The large size of the trees and the limited undisturbed root zone creates an unbalanced root to crown ratio, which leads to the trees having difficulty 4

maintaining stability under adverse conditions. The damage of Sandy was worse on the trees, because October of 2012 was a higher than average precipitation month, which reduced the holding capacity of the roots under load. Ackerson noted in his report that “the above conditions will not cause the trees to decline in health over a short period of time but they will continue to decline over a long period.” (Ackerson 2012, pg. 6) At the end of the 2012 report, Ackerson made a few recommendations about the trees on Linden Lane. He suggested that three trees be removed, and that others should continually be monitored. He also recommended pruning the trees and reducing the crown by about 15 percent, in order to fix the unbalanced root to crown ratio. Ackerson said that an advanced risk assessment should be conducted on many of the trees. Finally, he concluded the report with more general recommendations for the future saying, “I believe the trees on Linden Lane are reaching maturity for their site. I recommend starting some advanced planning and redesigning… It is my opinion that the cost to maintain the mature trees will far exceed the value received. Once a design plan is approved, I suggest contacting a local nursery to start growing the trees to the size specified in the plan to assure tree availability.” (Ackerson 2012, pg. 8) Per Ackerson’s recommendation in his 2012 report, Boston College Facilities Services hired HTI to conduct an advanced risk assessment on 26 trees along Linden Lane in October of 2013. A risk assessment looks at three main components: if a tree has a potential to fail, if the environment may contribute to the failure, and if the failure could cause damage to a human or object. A tree is considered high risk when the failure of one of its parts could result in property damage or personal injury. The review included an assessment of the health of the linden trees, the Linden Lane environment, the maintenance history, and recent construction impacts. Ackerson, with the assistance of Carl Cathcart of Tree Tech Inc., used an IML Resistograph system to measure density and potential decay inside the tree trunks. They also used an air excavation tool to measure root flare. Ackerson does note in his report that because of limitations of technology used for advanced tree risk assessments, the evaluations of the trees are qualified estimations, not completely accurate measures. The 2013 assessment showed that the potential of failure for the linden trees might actually be lower than predicted in the 2012 assessment. Only four of the twenty 5

six trees that Ackerson examined were in the high-risk category, seven were in medium risk category, and the remaining fifteen were in the low-risk category. Ackerson recommended that three of the high-risk trees should be removed, and the other one should be cabled or pruned to lower its risk. He suggested the removal of the three trees because they had high amounts of decayed wood, and their roots were not large enough to support their size. He also said that Boston College should do another pruning of the trees in 2015 to reduce the size and weight of the crowns. As with the 2012 report, Ackerson concluded the 2013 report with expectations for the future saying, “It is my belief that the existing root system is not sufficient to stabilize the continued increase in crown size. If this scheduled pruning and normal maintenance is continued, the Linden trees on Linden Lane have the potential to be enjoyed for a long time. However, I suggest designing a long term plan for replacement within the next twenty-five years.” (Ackerson 2013, pg. 10)
Possible Alternatives to the Linden Tree for Linden Lane
In searching for other options for replacement trees, we focused on trees that would be similar in appearance to the littleleaf linden. The littleleaf linden is an oval shaped tree with a single stem growth form that matures to between fifty and sixty feet in height (Arborday.org, “Linden, Littleleaf”). Therefore, we looked at other oval-shaped trees suitable to Hardiness Zone Six that had similar growth patterns. Other factors to consider were the conditions the trees would be living in on Linden Lane. The soil is a sandy loam with a pH of 7.1. Littleleaf lindens can only withstand a soil pH of 7.2, so any changes in the pH of the soil in the future could make the site no longer suitable for lindens (USDA, “Characteristics: tilia cordata”). The soil on site is occasionally wet and is susceptible to salt spray because of the salting of the roads and sidewalks in the area during the winter. Finally, the trees would have to be able to tolerate being in partial shade from the surrounding buildings. The main resources used to search for these types of trees were the Arbor Day website and USDA website. Each tree has pros and cons, as will be discussed. There will also be pictures of each tree compared to the littleleaf linden, which will always be on the left. The first alternative we explored was another tree in the linden family, the silver linden. Since it is in the same species, it has almost an identical growth pattern with just a 6

slightly larger height at maturity of between sixty and seventy feet (Arborday.org, “Linden, Silver”). The silver linden is tolerant to pollution, which would be helpful in a high-traffic area like Linden Lane (Arborday.org, “Linden, Silver”). It is suited to Zones 4-7 and various soil types. However, silver lindens prefer full sun, so they might suffer in the chosen area. They also drop a fair amount of buds and pollen so would require a lot of upkeep, like the current lindens. Furthermore, they are attractive to bees, which could become a nuisance to pedestrians and other visitors to the area (Arborday.org, “Linden, Silver”). Finally, the silver linden is not currently found in Massachusetts according to the USDA distribution maps, so they may be hard to locate or expensive to transport to Chestnut Hill. Because of this difficulty in locating it, we cannot recommend the silver linden over the current littleleaf linden. littleleaf linden silver linden The next tree is the honeylocust (thornless). It has an oval shape but a slightly different growth form than the linden: single crown (USDA, “Characteristics: Gleditsia triacanthos”). It grows to between thirty and seventy feet tall at maturity (Arborday.org, “Honeylocust, Thornless”). The littleleaf linden has a moderate growth rate, but the honeylocust has a fast growth rate, which could be favorable because there would be a shorter wait time for the trees to become the correct size for planting, which we have been advised is a seven-inch caliper. It lives about 125 years (USDA, “Characteristics: Gleditsia triacanthos”). It is suitable to Zones 3-7. It is said to deal well with urban stressors and is very salt-tolerant (Arborday.org, “Honeylocust, Thornless”). In addition, 7

the growth pattern of the leaves is less dense than lindens and would allow sunlight to filter through the leaves to the grass below (Arborday.org, “Honeylocust, Thornless”). It is difficult to grow grass along Linden Lane because the lindens provide so much shade, so choosing a tree like the honeylocust could allow for less upkeep for the grass. It prefers full sun, but will tolerate partial shade. The tree is not native to Massachusetts, but it is currently found here quite abundantly (USDA, “Plant Profile: Gleditsia triacanthos”). Obtaining honeylocusts would not be difficult. The only serious disease associated with honeylocusts is canker, which can be fatal (USDA, “Plant Guide: Honeylocust). It also drops messy pods that require cleanup because if left on the ground could lead to seedlings popping up all over the grass (USDA, “Plant Guide: Honeylocust). They are routinely commercially available (USDA, “Characteristics: Gleditsia triacanthos”). We believe this is the best alternative for this particular site because of the many pros and few cons associated with this tree. littleleaf linden honeylocust (thornless) The Overcup oak is another possible alternative. This oval-shaped tree grows to between 45 and 75 feet tall and will tolerate various types of soil (Arborday.org, “Oak, Overcup”). From the pictures below, it can be seen that it is fairly similar in leaf density and shape to the linden. It is said to work well for difficult landscaping situations, and it can handle partial shade situations (Arborday.org, “Oak, Overcup”). It has a very long lifespan of 400 years, so it would not have to be replaced for quite some time (USDA, “Characteristics: Quercus lyrata”). In addition, it is easy to transplant, which is important 8

for the Linden Lane project since the trees will have to be grown offsite before being placed on Linden Lane (Arborday.org, “Oak, Overcup”). It is tolerant of cold, but does not have good salinity tolerance (USDA, “Characteristics: Quercus lyrata”). Furthermore, it requires a lot of water to maintain it. Also, Overcup Oaks are currently not found in Massachusetts, according to the USDA distribution map. They do grow in New Jersey and are routinely available (USDA, “Characteristics: Quercus lyrata”). So they could most likely be obtained if they are chosen, but not are as easily attainable as littleleaf lindens or honeylocusts. littleleaf linden Overcup oak The next two trees are not as similar to lindens as the previous two, but they were recommended by John DelRosso, the head arborist at the Arnold Arboretum, as possible replacements. He recommended them because of medium height and width, no messy fruit, and a tolerance to being used in urban settings, but both trees have a rounded shape rather than an oval one. Yellow birch trees grow to between 60 and 75 feet tall (Arborday.org, “Birch, Yellow”). They have a medium tolerance for both shade and salinity (USDA, “Characteristics: Betula alleghaniensis”). The have a slow growth rate, but are relatively easy to grow from seed (USDA, “Plant Guide: Yellow birch”). This ease in growing from seed is important because yellow birch are hard to locate otherwise in nurseries and elsewhere, although they do grow in Massachusetts. 9

littleleaf linden yellow birch The last alternative is the common hackberry. It grows to between 40 and 60 feet tall (Arborday.org, “Hackberry”). These trees can thrive in a variety of soils and temperatures. They are also noted as good city trees because they can withstand strong winds and tolerate air pollution (Arborday.org, “Hackberry”). Since weather incidents like Superstorm Sandy are likely to keep occurring, possibly more frequently, having a tree that can stand up to intense wind conditions would be advantageous. The common hackberry also grows very rapidly, which is important for reaching the proper 7-inch caliper size quickly before being planted on Linden Lane. It is currently found in Massachusetts and is routinely available (USDA, “Plant Profile: Celtis occidentalis”). However, it has very low salinity tolerance, and the appearance of the tree is quite different to that of the linden (USDA, “Characteristics: Celtis occidentalis”). littleleaf linden common hackberry 10

Tree Nurseries and Contract Growing When evaluating the future of the trees on Linden Lane, it is crucial to consider not only what types of trees will best suit the location, but also where and how they will be obtained. Currently, six trees have been removed due to varying reasons, including weather, construction, and tree conditions. After talking with Gina Bellavia, it became clear that there are multiple options for when and how the trees will be replaced. One possibility is bringing in trees of a similar height and placing them in the holes that now exist. On the other hand, Gina envisions another scenario in which Linden Lane is clear cut and fifty new trees are planted for a truly fresh beginning. Regardless of which avenue is chosen, BC will need to investigate tree nursery and contract growing options so that the trees they do plant fit into the site properly. Nurseries are common throughout New England and sell a variety of shrubs, flowers, plants, and trees. Nurseries provide online catalogs that highlight their plant availability so customers know what they have available for purchase. Tree nurseries should be strongly considered by BC for the many benefits they offer. The trees are often of good quality, delivered right to the location, and typically are cheaper than trees that have to be specially grown. While nurseries are an attractive option, contract growing may be necessary depending on the type of tree and quantity that BC will require, especially if the species is rare. In this type of agreement, the farmer promises to grow a specific amount of a given product and in doing so, meet the quality standards and delivery timeline of the buyer (Contract Farming Resource Centre 2014). In turn, this customer is agreeing to buy the product and in certain cases, help support production by supplying inputs and technical advice (Contract Farming Resource Centre 2014). Contract growing has become more popular in recent years, but if BC was to enter into such an agreement there are certain risks that must be assessed. It is often noted that one party in the contractual arrangement has more power, and typically, much to BC’s benefit, this is the buying firm (Contract Farming Resource Centre 2014). While this is true, the buyer faces the risk of a farmer selling a product to another party through side selling or extra-contractual marketing (Contract Farming Resource Centre 2014). In order to combat issues in price, quality, or quantity there are certain important details that must be reviewed and carefully established as a contract is drawn up. The parties should agree on a common purpose, establish a legal framework, maintain clear 11

documentation, evaluate the readability of all clauses, uphold transparency, honor all contractual items, and keep dialogue open (Pultrone 2012). While these are important factors to take into consideration when buying products in a contractual agreement, we believe tree nurseries are a better option and therefore, we will focus on available products at nurseries in the surrounding area. BC has the benefit of being in a state and region with a wide array of nurseries to search for trees at. While there are many nurseries that provide great options, we recommend Millican Nurseries, Inc. and Bemis Farms Nursery as two fantastic places for BC to look into. Millican Nurseries, Inc. is located in Chichester, New Hampshire and has been owned by John Bryant and Julia Cotter since 1986 (“History”). Under the new owners’ vision, the nursery has expanded tremendously and offers a wide range of products, most notably lindens and honeylocust trees (“History”). The New Hampshire nursery offers Green Mountain, Littleleaf, Sterling, and Viburnum linden varieties (“Product Search”). Additionally, the nursery sells Halka honeylocust, which we highly recommended for BC to consider because of their tolerance to drought, salt, and urban conditions (“Product Search”). In order to purchase trees from Millican Nursery, Inc., new customers must complete a simple application with details about their company, contact information, and state registration numbers (“Customer Application”). Following this step, a buyer must be approved then can proceed with the details of their order. Availability depends on the time of year and product accessibility at the time of purchase (“Terms and Conditions”). BC should be aware of the no return policy and the charge for cancelling orders (“Terms and Conditions”). The nursery has a variety of trucks for the movement of products and offers delivery options within a relatively short time frame— one week during the spring season (“Delivery Information”). Millican Nursery is a professional company with many great tree options as is Bemis Farms Nursery in Spencer, Massachusetts. This in-state nursery sells American Sentry linden trees as well as Halka Thornless Honeylocust (“Tree Descriptions”). Bemis Farms Nursery provides detailed descriptions of the trees they offer as well as care information for various species. While they included less information about the purchasing process, the nursery is well reviewed and offers one of our most highly recommended trees. Therefore, we believe 12

that BC should focus primarily on tree nurseries, such as Millican Nurseries, Inc. and Bemis Farms Nursery, to look for Linden Lane’s newest trees. Survey Methods We conducted our Linden Lane Tree Survey online by distributing the survey link to fellow students and faculty at BC. Our survey was exempted from the IRB process because it did not fall under the definition of “research” used by the office. With our approval granted, we released the survey to current and former professors as well as classmates, friends, and groups of students. We believe the ease and accessibility of the online survey was an important reason we received a high number of rapid responses. Our original aim was to target faculty and students across the four years to meet a goal of one hundred participants. By the time we closed our survey, we had actually received 120 responses. All of our participants followed a link to our survey, in which an informed consent waiver appeared at the top of the page. This statement outlined the purpose of the study, the voluntary nature of their involvement, and the lack of risks involved in taking the survey. Following this, a series of eight close-ended questions appeared. Participants selected one of the options given that best reflected their own experiences or opinions. The questions appear below: 1. How often do you visit Linden Lane? a. b. c. 1-2x/week 3-4x/week 5-6x/week d. e. f. f. Every day Never Fewer than 1x/week I don’t know where Linden Lane is 2. Did you know the trees lining Linden Lane are linden trees? a. Yes b. No 13

3. The linden trees are nearing the end of their life cycle and need to be replaced soon. Is it important to you that they remain linden trees? a. Yes b. c. No No opinion 4. How important to you is it that the trees on Linden Lane are all the same species and age, giving them a uniform appearance? a. b. c. d. Not at all important Somewhat important Important Very important 5. If the linden trees were replaced with a different species, could Linden Lane still be called “Linden” Lane? a. b. Yes No c. No opinion 6. Are you a student or member of the faculty? a. b. Student Faculty 7. If you are a student, what year are you? a. b. c. Freshmen Sophomore Junior d. e. Senior N/A 8. What school are you in or do you teach in? a. A&S b. c. d. CSOM LSOE CSON 14

We carefully constructed these questions so that we could assess the amount of knowledge participants had about Linden Lane as well as their opinion about its aesthetics and name. We ended our survey with questions about the participant’s demographics so we could analyze the data more fully. We did not ask for participants to put their name on the survey and there is no way to identify them, making the process confidential and anonymous. By making the process confidential and streamlined, we were able to engage many participants for our research. Survey Results and Discussion 120 members of the Boston College community took the survey about Linden Lane. Table one shows the basic demographic of the survey participants. There were 112 students and eight faculty members. We had hoped to get a higher number of faculty responses, but we had difficulty contacting them. 79 females participated, along with 41 males, which is a larger than ideal disparity, but the sample sizes for each are large enough that it should not have caused any major issues. The majority of participants were seniors, at 40.8%, followed by 27.5% sophomores, 15% freshmen, and 10% sophomores. In addition, 70.3% of students were in the School of Arts and Sciences, 17% in the Carroll School of Management, 10.2% in the Lynch School of Education, and 2.5% in the Connell School of Nursing. Table two shows how often people in the survey visit or pass through Linden Lane. A very small amount had never been to Linden Lane or did not know where it is located, 3 people and 2 people respectively. 15.8% visit Linden Lane five or more times per week, 18.3% visit between three and four times per week, and 24.2% visit one to two times per week. However, the majority of people, at 37.5%, visit Linden Lane less than one time per week. This option was intended for people who have been to Linden Lane before, but don’t go there often. For many people on campus, getting to class does not require passing through Linden Lane, so it makes sense that this would be the most common choice. Many recent landscaping projects Boston College has done have taken place in more commonly frequented areas, such O’Neill Plaza and the campus academic quad, so the Linden Lane project would be slightly different. Table nine, which shows survey responses according to grade, indicates that freshmen tend to visit Linden Lane more than any other class, as 44.4% of them go there five or more times per week. This 15

makes sense because Linden Lane is located closer to Upper Campus where many freshmen live, compared to Lower Campus where many upperclassmen live, and because many freshmen coming from Newtown Campus pass through Linden Lane to get to class after taking the BC shuttle bus. It turns out that many people at Boston College are not aware that the trees on Linden Lane are actually lindens. Table three shows the results from the question asking if people knew about the lindens. 64.2% of people did not know the trees were lindens, while only 35.8% did know. This could be due to the fact that BC does not really publicize that the trees are lindens, and that it is not something that freshmen are taught when they enter the school. Some people might not even be aware that linden is a type of tree, so they don’t make the connection to the name. Table nine shows that only 5.6% of freshmen knew the trees were lindens, while 44.9% of seniors did know. Once again, this makes sense, because the longer students have been on campus, the greater the chance that they find out about the trees. It is also interesting because freshmen are the ones who visit Linden Lane most frequently, and almost none of the freshmen participants knew the trees were lindens. One of the most important questions we hoped to answer with the survey is whether or not people really cared that the trees on Linden Lane were actually lindens. Table four shows that 51.7% of people said that it was important to have lindens, 19.2% said it was not important, and 29.2% said they had no opinion on the issue. It is probably safe to assume that the people who said no opinion do not find it important that the trees are lindens, therefore it was almost a dead even split on whether or not people cared about having linden trees. Replacing the linden trees with a different species may upset some people affiliated with BC, but there is not an overwhelming majority opinion that people want to have linden trees. Table five shows the results of how important it is to people that the trees on Linden Lane are the same shape and size. Since some of the trees on Linden Lane have already been removed, if new trees were put in their place, they could be a different size as the current trees because of varying growth times and ages. Also, if multiple species of trees were planted on Linden Lane, there would probably be a fairly high amount of variation in appearance. 16.7% said it was not at all important to have a uniform 16

appearance, 44.2% said it was somewhat important, 21.7% said it was important, and 17.5% said it was very important. It is clear that making sure the trees have uniform appearance should be a top priority for BC, because 83.4% of people said it was at least somewhat important that the trees are uniform. The survey results show that this is more of an important issue for people than making sure the trees are actually lindens. However, the fact that the majority of people said that it was only somewhat important indicates that it would probably being fine if there was a small amount of variation within the shapes and sizes of the trees, as long as they were mostly similar. If Boston College does decide to replace the lindens with a different species of trees, they would have to consider whether they should keep the name of Linden Lane. Table six shows that 68.3% of people think that it could still be called Linden Lane if the trees weren’t lindens, 22.5% think that it could not be, and 9.2% had no opinion on the issue. The fact that only 22.5% of people would be opposed to having the name Linden Lane without lindens shows the majority of people would not have a problem with it. Tables seven through twelve look at peoples’ responses to various questions based on how they answer other questions. To start out, table seven compares the answers of males and females. It turns out that males seem to be slightly more concerned with appearance of the trees, as 56.1% of them said it was important the trees remain lindens, while 49.5% of females said it was important. In addition, 34.2% of males said it was very important that the trees have a uniform appearance, while only 8.9% of females said it was very important. It is hard to pinpoint exactly why males would have this stronger preference, but it could possibly be due to the small sample size and fairly large difference in number of male versus female participants. Both sexes had similar percentages of people who think it could be called Linden Lane without lindens, 70.7% for male and 67.1% for female. Also, 43.9% of males knew the trees were lindens, which was slightly higher than the percentage for females of 31.7% Since some faculty members have been a part of the Boston College community for longer than most students, we predicted that they might have stronger opinions about Linden Lane than the students did. Table eight shows the comparison in responses between students and faculty members for the various questions. In general, the responses of the two groups were fairly similar, as 51.8% of students said it was important the trees 17

remain lindens and 50.0% of faculty members said so as well. The most common answer to the appearance question for both groups was that it is somewhat important for the trees to be uniform, and both groups had about 70% of people say Linden Lane could keep its name if the trees weren’t lindens. It is important to consider that the sample size of faculty members was extremely small, and their responses may not be representative of the entire faculty population. For future research it would be interesting to see if the amount of time a faculty member has been at the school affects their opinions about Linden Lane. Table 10 shows the opinions of people based on whether or not they knew the trees were lindens. 55.8% of people who knew the trees were lindens said it was important the trees remain lindens, compared to 49.4% of people who did not know who said it was important. This slight difference makes sense because if someone didn’t know the trees were lindens, they may not be as attached to keeping them. However, peoples’ opinions about the trees having a uniform appearance did not vary significantly based on knowledge of the trees being lindens. In addition, both groups had similar opinions about the name of Linden Lane. A slightly higher percentage of people who knew the trees were lindens think Linden Lane could keep its name with a different species of trees, but they also had a slightly higher percentage of people who think it couldn’t keep its name, since more of the people who didn’t know said that they have no opinion on the issue. Table 11 shows how whether or not people said it was important to keep the lindens corresponded with their answers to other questions. People who find it important that the trees remainlLindens tend to find it slightly more important that the trees have a uniform appearance, compared to those who don’t find it important to keep lindens. 22.6% of people who said it was important to have lindens also said it was very important the trees have a uniform appearance, while only 8.7% of people who said it was not important to keep lindens also said uniform appearance is very important. This result makes sense because the two questions both relate to appearance, and if someone feels strongly about one, they may feel strongly about the other. Also, 58.1% of people who believe its important to have lindens think Linden Lane could keep its name with a different tree species, compared to 91.3% of people who don’t believe it’s important to keep lindens that think Linden Lane could keep its name. Again, this makes sense, as 18

people who feel strongly about keeping lindens are less likely to be okay with having the name Linden Lane without lindens. The last table, number 12, shows the results to different questions based on how often people visit Linden Lane. Not including the very few people who haven’t been to Linden Lane, or don’t know where it is, people who visit Linden Lane less than once per week had the highest percentage of people who think Linden Lane could keep its name if the trees weren’t lindens, and the lowest percentage of people who said it is important the trees remain lindens. This trend would be expected because people who actually see the trees more often may care more about what they look like. However, there were no other major trends between the various groups, indicating that frequency of visit may only have a small influence on opinions about the trees.
Table 1: Demographics Sex Freq. Percent
Male Female
Grade
Freshman 41 79 18 34.2% 65.8%
Freq. Percent
15.0% Sophomore Junior Senior Faculty
School
A&S 33 12 49 8 83 27.5% 10.0% 40.8% 6.7%
Freq. Percent
70.3% CSOM LSOE CSON
Affiliation
Student Faculty 20 12 3 17.0% 10.2% 2.5%
Freq. Percent
112 8 93.3% 6.7% 19

Table 2: Visit frequency How often people visit Linden Lane Freq. Percent
Never 3 2.5% Fewer than once a week 1-2x/week 45 29 37.5% 24.2% 3-4x/week 5x or more/week 22 19 18.3% 15.8% Don't know where it is 2 1.7%
Table 3: Knowledge of Linden trees Did you know Linden Lane has Linden trees? Freq. Percent
Yes 43 35.8% No 77 64.2%
Table 4: Importance of Lindens Is it important they remain Linden trees? Freq. Percent
Yes 62 51.7% No No opinion 23 35 19.2% 29.2%
Table 5: Uniform appearance Importance that trees have uniform appearance Freq. Percent
Not at all important 20 16.7% Somewhat important 53 Important 26 Very important 21 44.2% 21.7% 17.5%
Table 6: Name of Linden Lane Could it be called Linden Lane if trees weren't Lindens? Freq. Percent
Yes 82 68.3% No No opinion 27 11 22.5% 9.2% 20

Table 7: Answers by Sex Did you know Linden Lane has Linden trees?
Yes No
Is it important they remain Linden trees?
Yes No No opinion
Importance that trees have uniform appearance
Not at all important Somewhat important Important Very important
Could it be called Linden Lane if trees weren't Lindens?
Yes No No opinion
Male
43.9% 56.1%
Male
56.1% 22.0% 22.0%
Male
7.3% 36.6% 22.0% 34.2%
Male
70.7% 29.3% 0.0%
Sex Female
31.7% 68.4%
Female
49.5% 17.7% 32.9%
Female
21.5% 48.1% 21.5% 8.9%
Female
67.1% 19.0% 13.9% 21

Table 8: Answers by affiliation Affiliation How often people visit Linden Lane
Never Fewer than once a week 1-2x/wk 2-3x/wk
Student Faculty
2.7% 34.8% 25.0% 19.6% 0.0% 75.0% 12.5% 0.0% 5x or more/wk Don't know where it is
Did you know Linden
Lane has Linden trees? Yes No 16.1% 1.8% 12.5% 0.0% Student Faculty 36.6% 63.4% 25.0% 75.0%
Student Faculty Is it important they remain Linden trees?
Yes No No opinion
Importance that trees have uniform appearance
Not at all important Somewhat important Important Very important
Could it be called Linden Lane if trees weren't Lindens?
Yes No No opinion 51.8% 17.9% 30.4%
Student Faculty
17.9% 42.0% 22.3% 17.9% 67.9% 22.3% 9.8% 50.0% 37.5% 12.5% 0.0% 75.0% 12.5% 12.5%
Student Faculty
75.0% 25.0% 0.0% 22

Table 9: Answers by grade How often people visit Linden Lane
Never
Grade Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior
0.0% 3.0% 0.0% 4.1% 51.5% 16.7% 32.7% Fewer than once a week 1-2x/wk 2-3x/wk 5x or more/wk 22.2% 16.7% 16.7% 44.4% Don't know where it is 0.0% 24.2% 12.1% 6.1% 3.0% 25.0% 28.6% 41.7% 20.4% 8.3% 8.3% 14.3% 0.0% Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior
Did you know Linden Lane has
Linden trees? Yes No
Is it important they remain Linden trees?
Yes No 5.6% 94.4%
Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior
51.8% 17.9% 42.4% 57.6% 54.6% 21.2% 33.3% 44.9% 66.7% 55.1% 50.0% 49.0% 33.3% 18.4% 30.4% 24.2% 16.7% 32.7%
Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior
No opinion
Importance that trees have uniform appearance
Not at all important Somewhat important Important Very important
Could it be called Linden Lane if trees weren't Lindens?
Yes No No opinion 27.8% 27.8% 11.1% 33.3% 66.7% 16.7% 16.7% 15.2% 48.5% 18.2% 18.2% 69.7% 24.2% 6.1% 16.7% 16.3% 33.3% 44.9% 25.0% 28.6% 25.0% 10.2% 0.0%
Freshman Sophomore Junior Senior
66.7% 67.4% 33.3% 20.4% 12.2% 23

Table 10: Answers based on knowledge of the trees being Lindens Knowledge of Lindens Is it important they remain Linden trees?
Yes No No opinion
Did know Didn't know
55.8% 23.3% 20.9% 49.4% 16.9% 33.8%
Importance that trees have uniform appearance
Not at all important Somewhat important Important
Did know Didn't know
14.0% 46.5% 27.9% 18.2% 42.9% 18.2% Very important
Could it be called Linden Lane if trees weren't Lindens?
Yes No 11.6% 72.1% 27.9% 20.8%
Did know Didn't know
66.2% 19.5% No opinion
Table 11: Answers based on importance of trees remaining Lindens Importance of trees remaining Lindens Importance that trees have uniform appearance
Not at all important Somewhat important Important
Important
8.1% 0.0% 38.7% 30.7% 14.3%
Not important No opinion
26.1% 60.9% 4.4% 25.7% 42.9% 17.1% Very important
Could it be called Linden Lane if trees weren't Lindens?
Yes No No opinion 22.6%
Important
58.1% 37.1% 4.8% 8.7% 14.3%
Not important No opinion
91.3% 4.4% 4.4% 71.4% 8.6% 20.0% 24

Table 12: Answers based on how often people visit Linden Lane Frequency of visit to Linden Lane Is it important they remain Linden trees?
Yes
Never
0.0%
<1x/wk 1-2x/wk 2-3x/wk 5x or more/wk
46.7% 65.5% 50.0% 57.9% No No opinion
Importance that trees have uniform appearance
Not at all important Somewhat important Important Very important
Could it be called Linden Lane if trees weren't Lindens?
Yes No No opinion 66.7% 33.3%
Never
33.3% 66.7% 0.0% 0.0%
Never
66.7% 0.0% 33.3% 26.7% 26.7%
<1x/wk 1-2x/wk 2-3x/wk 5x or more/wk
11.1% 57.8% 22.2% 8.9% 84.4% 15.6% 0.0% 17.2% 17.2% 24.1% 34.5% 24.1% 17.2% 58.6% 31.0% 10.3% 13.6% 36.4% 9.1% 40.9% 18.2% 31.8%
<1x/wk 1-2x/wk 2-3x/wk 5x or
45.5% 27.3% 27.3% 5.3% 36.8% 21.1% 31.6% 26.3% 21.1%
more/wk
79.0% 21.1% 0.0%
Don't know where it is
0.0% 0.0% 100.0%
Don't know where it is
50.0% 0.0% 0.0% 50.0%
Don't know where it is
0.0% 50.0% 50.0% Limitations Like any research study, we encountered many obstacles that impacted the interpretation of our results. One of which had to do with our sampling procedures. At the beginning of our project, we intended to survey people in person because we thought that people would not answer the survey truthfully. This has to do with experimenter expectancy effects. The experimenter-expectancy effect was proposed by Robert Rosenthal and suggests that the influence from a research can affect the outcome of the research (Rosenthal and Jacobson, 1963). Subjects would be more likely to answer in ways they think that the experimenter wants them to answer. For this reason, we decided it would be smart to switch to online surveying methods. However, doing this required 25

additional approval from the Institutional Review Board (IRB). This process reduced the amount of time we had to collect data, influencing our sample size. Sample size is important because it affects the generalizability of our results. For our study, we only had 112 responses from undergraduates. Boston College has an undergraduate population of 9,100 students. Our results only represent 1.2% of the population. Although it would have been better to survey more people, we did not have had the adequate resources to analyze such a massive dataset. In addition, the population within the sample size that we did survey was skewed. We surveyed only eight faculty members. Since faculty members have been and will be part of the Boston College community longer than students, it may have beneficial to get more of their opinions since they may be more attached to the campus and significance of Linden Lane. There was also a gender disparity within our sample size, with about 60% female and 40% male. Despite this, we believe that our results are still useful to understanding people’s general opinions of Linden Lane and how people will cope with its changes over the coming years. Another limitation was the timing of this project. Upon speaking with our mentors, we learned that the trees are coming to the end of their life cycle in 25 years and will need to be replaced then. Over this time frame, people’s opinions about Linden Lane may change, either becoming more or less important. For example, people may want to keep the trees as lindens if it were to be called Linden Lane. Since the trees have about 25 more years before their life cycle ends, Boston College may be able to conducted further research to ensure that current opinions on Linden Lane match those in the future. Lastly, our lack of knowledge on trees inhibited our abilities to find trees that would be adequate replacements for the current linden trees. Although we reached out to faculty members at different universities with agricultural programs and even the Arnold Arboretum, it was still difficult to assess the environmental and soil conditions to select the best tree for Linden Lane. Despite this, we still believe that the conclusions we came to about student’s opinions on Linden Lane and tree alternatives are valid. 26

Proposal to Boston College After doing research on the opinions of those in the Boston College community and tree alternatives to the littleleaf linden that currently lines Linden Lane we propose the following. In terms of opinions on Linden Lane, we suggest that whatever route Boston College decides to take with replacing the trees, that it still can be referred to as Linden Lane. Most people on campus (64%) do not realize that Linden Lane is named so due to the species of trees that line it. However, about 50% of people believe that it is important that the trees remain linden and the other half do not care or have no opinion. For this reason, linden trees do not have to line Linden Lane because the majority of people will not be upset. Over 83% of people believe that a uniform appearance of Linden Lane is somewhat important. For this reason, we propose that Boston College plant trees of all of the same species. About 68% of people believe that it can still be called Linden Lane even if the trees are not lindens. This may be attributed to the history associated with Linden Lane. It is the place where students line up for convocation at the beginning of their freshman year and it is where students line up four years later as they prepare for commencement. These memories live with students forever and changing the name of Linden Lane may alter them and may affect their relationship with the University. We do not want to make alumni upset because it influences the amount of funding the school receives for resources such as financial aid and student programs. In addition, we found that many people are not aware of Linden Lane and do not visit it often. About 38% of people visit Linden Lane less than one time a week. It is not an essential area for getting around campus, except for freshmen that live on Newton Campus and have to utilize the Main Gate bus stop. Linden Lane can continue to be called so because it is an essential part of the BC community and changing the name would do more harm than good. The fact that many are unaware of the meaning behind Linden Lane works as an advantage as Boston College embarks on this project. In addition to providing an understanding of people’s opinion on Linden Lane, we also suggest a tree that would better fit the area to line Linden Lane. Tree species within the linden family were taken into consideration, however, they can only withstand a soil pH of 7.2. The current pH of the soil along Linden Lane is 7.1. There is little flexibility in 27

any environmental changes that may occur as a result of climate change. Superstorm Sandy showed that winter storms are becoming more severe and greater amounts of salt are needed to combat icy conditions. This increase in salinity may change the soil chemistry and ultimately impact its pH. After contacting tree specialists at colleges around the United States and the Arnold Arboretum in Boston, it was found that the Halka thornless honeylocust tree would be best. It was an oval shape its growth patterns are very similar to that of the littleleaf linden. This means that the appearance of Linden Lane will not change as greatly. It also is very resistant to urban stressors and can withstand a pH of 8.0, meaning that there is greater flexibility with changing environmental conditions in the future. In addition, littleleaf linden trees are very dense and do not allow sunlight to pass through. This makes it difficult for grass to grow in the area, which requires greater landscaping upkeep. The honeylocust tree however, is not as dense as the littleleaf linden, which would allow sun to pass through. Grass would be able to grow naturally, allowing BC to cut costs from not having to constantly replace grass in the area. The honeylocust is very easy to obtain as well. We suggest using the Millician Nurseries, Inc to obtain the trees because it is the most cost effective way to obtain a large quantity of uniform trees. Although the honeylocust is not native to Massachusetts, it grows in Massachusetts and around the New England area making it easy to obtain. Delivery would also take about a week during the spring season, allowing BC to have a quick and efficient transition from littleleaf lindens to the honeylocust. However if BC decides to invest in the Millician Nurseries, there is a no return policy and there is a high charge for cancelling orders. Boston College must be very confident in their decision to possibly make the switch for the littleleaf linden to the honeylocust. However, we feel confident that the Halka thornless honeylocust would be a great tree alternative to line Linden Lane. Conclusion For alumni, students, faculty, and friends of Boston College, Linden Lane is an iconic and historical portion of the Chestnut Hill campus. The linden trees have beautifully framed Gasson’s tower for nearly one hundred years, but intense storms and harsh conditions have weakened these trees and they are nearly at the end of their lifecycle. Through our extensive research and online survey, we were able to analyze the 28

elements most important to students and faculty on BC’s campus, while also assessing the alternatives best suited to the conditions of Linden Lane. We believe that those active on the Heights would embrace a different tree, such as the thornless honeylocust, as long as all the trees planted are of uniform size and appearance, which can be accomplished by utilizing a tree nursery. While there is still further research to be done by professionals, we believe our conclusions will be useful ideas for BC to consider when looking towards the future. By replacing the lindens with a more sustainable option, Linden Lane can safely maintain its beautiful aesthetic and historical significance for years to come. 29

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