“Frank Pierson, an Oracle resident, stated that the committee should recommend to the President to put off the centennial celebration and demolition of old buildings to provide parking lots and direct those funds to research alternatives to landfilling hazardous waste. The committee will vote on this at a future meeting.”(33) 

       Mr. Pierson’s proposal drew return fire in the form of a letter from L.G. Wilson, the University’s hydrology contact for the committee. The document was referenced as “Suggestions on compliance with President Koffler’s charge to the Ad Hoc Committee for Page Ranch.” It goes on to state: 

“It would be helpful if the representatives of Oracle were given the opportunity to assist in alternative site selection. Accordingly, I propose the following: The University should make available to the representatives from Oracle an office in the University for a two week period, together with a phone and limited access to long distance phone calls. In addition, a hydrologic consultant of their choosing should be hired plus student aid, if necessary, to assist the representatives of Oracle in contacting appropriate agencies with information on existing hazardous waste sites to locate a site that is superior to Oracle. At the end of the two week period the representatives should meet with the full committee to present their result.”(34) 

       In addition, the University received letters from both Oracle School District No. 2 and the Pinal County Board of Supervisors, Resolution No. 012185-OHW, announcing their formal opposition to the University’s dumping practices and their positions that all the waste be exhumed and taken to another location.(30) (31) 

       Behind the scenes, the University studied strategies for controlling the unruly Oracleans. A March 30, 1987 Memorandum from Bill J. Varney, Assoc. Vice President