Update: 9/23/09
The Chancellor of UW-Eau Claire is asking architects and project planners for new student center design options that would preserve the site of the Council Oak and the tree there.

A university spokesman says Brian Levin-Stankevich announced his decision during a student senate meeting Tuesday afternoon.
The Chancellor talked with university leaders, the Native American community and others before making the decision.

UW-Eau Claire says the site for the center won't change. It says the design is 35% finished and that makes this a logical time in the process for the decision.

The Native American community and others consider the tree on the site to be sacred. The project timeline originally called for the finished project to go to the Board of Regents next month. The Chancellor's request for design options could delay that.

Original Story: 9/22/09
Tuesday night the city council approved a site plan for a new student center on UW-Eau Claire's campus, despite the debate over the council oak tree.

Council member Dave Duax says the city thinks the concern about the tree is between the university and the Native American community.

Duax says the student center still needs to be approved by the University Board of Regents and the State Building Commission.

The Board of Regents is expected to take up the issue in Eau Claire on October 15th.