I actually don’t think a letter from HCAS is appropriate. (They really aren’t
doing anything contrary to park rules or contrary to Audubon’s mission/goals).
I do think individuals can/should write, as they deem necessary, and Richard’s
letter was wholly appropriate for him.
Sheryl
On Sep 14, 2021, at 6:27 PM, Debbie shetterly <dshett37@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Please see the emails from Richard regarding Trout Lake - --it would be great
to have a consensus from the board that we would like to write the letter.
Please let me know your thoughts. Then, if everyone agrees, would anyone
like to draft a letter -- - someone who knows the area well? Sheryl?
Thanks.
Debbie
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Richard Gray <grayro@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 9:37 AM
Subject: Trout Lake and ASU student athletes
To: Debbie Shetterly <dshett37@xxxxxxxxx>, McGrane, Guy
<badgerboy@xxxxxxxxxx>, Martha Cutler <cutford@xxxxxxxxxxx>, Steve Dowlan
<owlhooter@xxxxxxx>, Bob Cherry <bcherry001@xxxxxxxxx>
Hi All,
I am attaching a series of recent emails to Doug Gillin, Director of
Athletics at ASU and Damion McLean, Director of Track and Field, about an
incident at Trout Lake this Sunday concerning student athletes and their
coach on that day. I expect that many if not all of you have experienced
both at Trout Lake and at Brookshire Park large groups of student athletes
running on the trails. In my experience they are inconsiderate of the public
and expect other users of the trails to take evasive action. Of course,
after a large group of students pass by, the birds have scattered, a
photograph is ruined, etc. I received a cordial reply from Doug Gillin
(gillindp@xxxxxxxxxxxx) and have spoken by phone to Damion McClean
(mcleandm@xxxxxxxxxxxx), who is director of track and field. I believe they
understand that the rude and arrogant behavior by these students is getting
intolerable. I have also indicated to them that they run the risk of legal
liability if their students surprise an elderly or disabled person on the
trail who is unable to take evasive action and who falls or is injured as a
result.
I have suggested to them that they find a local landowner who would permit
them to run on their land, perhaps for a modest fee each season instead of
essentially commandeering local natural spots such as Trout Lake
I believe a polite but forceful letter from the Audubon board to both Doug
Gillin and Damion McClean at this point would have a good effect. If you
wish, I would be willing to help draft the letter, but perhaps one detailing
your own experiences would at this point be more effective, as they have
already heard a lot from me.
Best wishes, Richard
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Director Gillin,
This morning (Sunday, Sept 12), I had a very unpleasant encounter with ASU
student athletes and their coach, Mr. Michael Curcio at Trout Lake on the
Blue Ridge Parkway. While hiking around Trout Lake I encountered two groups
of about 20 student athletes, one group of young men, the other young women.
They did not slow down when they encountered me or anyone else on the trail –
they expected us to take evasive action. Some made rude comments when
passing. This is not the first time that my walk at Trout Lake has been
disturbed by student athletes. I consider this an inappropriate use of Trout
Lake, a natural area which the public uses for hikes, recreation, and nature
study. After two such encounters with student athletes on the trail this
morning, I spoke with several people using the trail and they, to a person,
expressed their displeasure at this use of Trout Lake. Appalachian State
University has tracks on campus; there is no need to commandeer public places
for that purpose. I am aware that you have permission from the Parkway, but
I wonder if they know the size of the groups being put on these trails every
Sunday morning? I counted 40 students. The trails at Trout Lake can be
narrow at places and have blind corners. I fear that someday an elderly
person will be unable to take quick enough evasive action when a crowd of 20
students comes barreling around the corner.
I met Coach Michael Curcio on the trail and began to detail my complaint to
him in a polite and rational manner. He immediately began to shout at me at
the top of his voice. He was rude and arrogant and would not listen to my
argument. Later, when driving through the Trout Lake parking lot, I saw him
and stopped my car and tried once again to engage him in rational
conversation. His reaction was again to immediately begin shouting at me.
He came very close to me shouting at the top of his voice. I asked him to
move back and keep a distance as neither of us were wearing masks. He then
started a tirade about masking and how it was permitted to be on Federal
property without masks. While he did not threaten me physically, I was
concerned for my safety. I stopped the conversation and drove away.
As a long-standing member of the faculty at ASU I am appalled by Mr. Curcio’s
rude and arrogant response to the concerns of a member of the general public.
I am embarrassed that this man is representing our University and am
concerned that he is conveying this rude and arrogant attitude to our student
athletes. What a poor role model and what a poor mentor for our students! I
strongly suggest that this person be removed from any position where he might
encounter a member of the public. And I strongly urge you to reconsider this
inappropriate use of Trout Lake as an ASU track. I shall be writing to the
Parkway administration about this appalling experience.
Yours sincerely,
Dr. Richard Gray
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And an email this morning to Damion McLean as followup to our phone
conversation:
Hi Damion,
It was nice speaking to you this morning, and I hope that an amicable
solution can be found for all concerned.
One point that I forgot to emphasize in our conversation was one of safety.
I am very worried that an elderly or disabled person will, some day, not be
able to take quick enough evasive action to get out of the path of your
students. If the encounter is on one of the blind corners on the Trout Lake
trails, the encounter might be tragic. Cell phone coverage at Trout Lake is
spotty, and it may not be easy to get an ambulance into some areas. So, you
need also weigh the safety aspects of having numbers of student athletes
running in public places on narrow trails.
If you can find a landowner who is willing to let your students run on
his/her property that would be a solution to all of these problems.
Best wishes, Richard
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
and my reply to Doug Gillin:
Dear Doug,
Thank you for your kind and understanding reply. I have since had a good
conversation with Damion McLean during which we covered all aspects of this
situation. As you know from my letter, I am concerned on a number of levels
about ASU athletes using public spaces in this way. I have recommended to
Damion that Athletics should find a local landowner who would be willing to
let your students train on their land. An athletic fan might even allow you
to do it for free, although a few hundred dollars or so per season would be
well worth the money. You then would no longer have the conflict with the
public, the disturbance of a natural area, and concerns over injury and
liability would be minimized or eliminated.
Best wishes, Richard Gray
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Dr. Richard O. Gray
Professor, Department of Physics and Astronomy
Appalachian State University
Boone, NC 28608
office: 828-262-2430
