May 20, 2013 Catherine S. Mizell General Counsel and Secretary The University of Tennessee 719 Andy Holt Tower Knoxville, TN 37996-0170 Re: Petition to Present at June Meeting of the Board of Trustees Dear Ms. Mizell: As a student at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, I write on behalf of myself, SPEAK (Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville) to request the opportunity to appear at the June 2013 meeting of the University of Tennessee's Board of Trustees. I respectfully submit this request in accordance with Article II, Section 9 of the University of Tennessee Bylaws. I wish to present a statement of concern regarding a proposal by the University of Tennessee's Institute of Agriculture ("UTIA") to lease approximately 8,636 acres of the Cumberland Forest for oil, gas and coal bed methane extraction. As you may know, UTIA proposes to use proceeds from this lease to fund an "oil and gas research initiative" that will examine the impacts of natural gas and oil extraction on groundwater, wildlife and other aspects of the Cumberland Forest. My statement to the Board of Trustees will address three points: o o Environmental concerns relating to the oil and gas lease, including fracking. Inconsistencies between the proposed oil and gas lease and the University's commitments to sustainability and civility, as embodied in the Environmental Policy and the Principles of Civility and Community of UT Knoxville, the flagship campus of the UT system. o Risks that the proposed lease and research initiative pose to the University's academic integrity, and the need for more rigorous policies and procedures governing this type of university-industry partnership. Please let me know if you would like any other information relating to this request. I can be reached by email at dhayes10@utk.edu or by phone at 615-542-1734. Sincerely, David Hayes