Those in protest of SK hynix have become concerned with more than just the environmental impacts of the site; they have gained new concerns that they aren’t able to share images of the construction with their neighbors.
A sign readw “SK hynix, the neighborhood bully!!!” during Thursday’s march at the SK hynix construction site. The sign was in reference to previous meetings the community had with SK hynix, stating they wished to be good neighbors to the current residents.
Nils Lahm | Staff Photographer
Ellen Kresovsky has lived in West Lafayette for many years and lives in a neighborhood near the active construction site.
“Those who have nothing to hide, hide nothing,” Kresovsky said. “Why are they taking videos of us? Why are they taking videos of our license plates? What are they hiding? What don’t they want us to see?”
At 4 p.m. Thursday, protesters gathered along the bike lane on Yeager Road across the street from the current construction site of the SK hynix facility.
Their concerns have grown from just the environmental effects the facility would have on the water and air to the effects it might have on the residents who are choosing to protest against the facility’s construction.
A protester holds a sign reading, “Reverse the rezone” Thursday on the side of the road, next to the location of the future SK hynix plant. This specific sign was in regard to the heavy industry being zoned next to residential areas.
Nils Lahm | Staff Photographer
Kresivsky said that she and the other protesters believe that the man taking photos of them at the beginning of the protest was a security guard from SK hynix. The reason they believe this is because it is not the first time this has happened to someone on the bike path.
There have been four to five other incidents in which someone has been taking pictures or videos of the construction site when a security guard has told them they could not be there and asked them to leave, Kresivsky said.
“The response is more terrifying. Why are they being so hostile?” said Kresivsky.
The protesters said SK hynix is trying to intimidate them into silence and that the local government has not been honest or given them information about the facility and who is involved in construction.
Protesters noticed that the trucks leaving the construction site were from other towns and not West Lafayette, like Mayor Erin Easter had told them.
Community member Don Coller answers questions on their motives and reasoning behind attending Thursday’s protest at the SK hynix construction site. Coller has lived in Tippecanoe County for 50 years.
Nils Lahm | Staff Photographer
Don Coller has been a lifetime resident of West Lafayette and is concerned about the lack of transparency and the long-term effects the facility will have on his community.
He said he does not believe SK hynix has been transparent about what exactly they are building at the Purdue Research Park, causing confusion for residents as to whether it is an advanced packaging facility or a fabrication facility.
“They haven’t told us the truth from the get-go,” said Coller. “How much of the square footage is dedicated to research, and how much is dedicated to the FAB?”
Coller said he is frustrated because SK hynix will pass its energy costs onto those living around the facility, and he believes they could be taking more steps to reduce their energy costs.
“It’s going to be very interesting to see what happens to electrical bills, water bills. Why should I pay an increase for (SK hynix)? They could very easily do things from an environmental standpoint to reduce their energy costs,” Coller said.
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