THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, MAY 2, 2013
PAGE 7A
GREEN THUMB
University gains Tree Campus USA status for planting efforts
OSTER
LAKEN RAPIER
lrapier@kansan.com
It took weeks for artist Patrick Dougherty and his crew to construct "The Bedazzler" in front of Spooner Hall in 2009. A swirl of maple and dogwood saplings wrapped around a large dying elm tree became an outdoor getaway for students and campus visitors. During its 27 months, "The Bedazzler" hosted picnics, classes and even a few wedding proposals.
Using chainsaws on a summer day in 2011, it took just a few hours for landscaping crews to carve "The Bedazzler" into wood-chip sized pieces. A rare tree virus finally killed the elm, but it brought to light the importance of preserving and enhancing historic landscapes and open spaces across campus.
As time has passed and campus has been forced to expand, the importance of trees hasn't faded. The summer-day landscaping crews gathered around "The Bedazzler," sizing up the iconic tree, while students, faculty and other Lawrence natives simultaneously huddled around in disdain. Emotion flooded campus, as the disease-stricken tree was cut down. It was evident the elm was much more than a tree.
GEORGE MILLINIX/KANSAN
Members of different organizations such as the Tree Campus USA, plant trees around campus. The campus has had a decrease of trees and is working with the Center for Sustainability to maintain the tree population.
Trees are more than protection from the blistering summer sun and wicked Kansas wind. If one thing is for sure, it's the University's love of trees. So much in fact, trees outnumber students. There are enough trees on the Lawrence campus alone to fill the stands of Allen Fieldhouse nearly twice.
The campus tree count grew to 29,536 earlier this week when 11 new crabapples were planted near Fraser Hall. The trees were installed with the help of more than 30 volunteers, the Center for Sustainability's Campus Tree Advisory Board and other campus organizations at the Replant Mount Oread event.
An event originally established in March of 1878 by Chancellor James Marvin to celebrate Arbor Day has since resulted in the planting of
more than 100 different varieties of trees such as walnut, elm, oak, hackberry, evergreen, redbud, honey locust saplings and crabapple. Last March, more than 134 years later, Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little established the annual Replant Mount Oread event, in efforts to expand campus' environmentally friendly landscape and gain "Tree Campus USA" status.
"Our historic green space, from the very start when you look at Potter Lake, Marvin Grove, just the open space that has been preserved on this campus is a sign that we value green space," Livinggood said. "We value our connection to nature through the campus setting."
Long before the Tree Campus USA program and the Center for Sustainability's Campus Tree Advisory Board, dozens of elm trees lined Jayhawk Boulevard throughout the 1950s. The canopy of trees acted as a natural barrier from the elements and the importance of landscape was prominent, regardless of distinctions. This summer, efforts to rebuild the canopy will begin.
It takes more than a few dozen shovels and trees to obtain the coveted Tree Campus USA status from the Arbor Day Foundation. But the efforts are paying off and the University is one of only two Kansas universities with the distinction.
"We saw an opportunity to engage students in planting trees and help rebuild our connection with the green spaces on campus," said Jeff Severin, director of the Center for Sustainability and Campus Tree Advisory Board member.
However, the University's tree population is decreasing faster than than they can be replaced because of diseases, lack of room for roots to grow, frigid temperatures and historic droughts. These conditions are threatening one of the most environmentally friendly landscapes in the nation.
"This year, for the first time, we were designated a Tree Campus USA," Severin said.
The Tree Campus USA Program
recognizes campuses for developing and promoting both healthy trees and student involvement. In efforts for the University to earn "Tree Campus USA" status, five Arbor Day Foundation standards had to be fulfilled. The first was the establishment of a steering committee, KU Campus Tree Advisory Board (CTAB). In addition to other requirements, a strict 1:1 tree replacement plan was to be created as part of the University's larger Tree Care Plan.
"Each individual construction project is responsible for replacing any trees that have to be removed
during the project," said Peg Livingood, Office of Design and Construction Management project manager. "In our construction projects, we really do press for one for one, if not even two for one in some cases."
The main concern of the Center for Sustainability's CTAB is the prominence of trees throughout campus. The 12-member board was created, "to help maintain and enhance the beauty of the campus landscape, as well as to assist with the preservation and revitalization of our historic green spaces," according to the CTAB mission statement.
"It's really aimed at preserving and enhancing the green spaces that we have, because we are losing a lot of trees to disease, storm damage and in some cases, construction," Severin said.
The Center for Sustainability isn't alone in its efforts to keep the tree population healthy and growing. KU Endowment Association and the student group KU Student-Run Tree Farm are also lending a hand to fund a small-scale student tree farm located at the KU Student Farm and medicinal plant garden northwest of 23rd and Iowa streets. The Capstone course in the
Environmental Studies Department gives students the opportunity to operate a small-scale student-run tree farm, for which the ultimate long-term goal is to supply the University with trees transplanted from the farm.
"Trees are just symbolic of tradition here at KU and the ongoing commitment to sustainability," said Emma Donachie, a junior from Dallas majoring in environmental studies. "There is an entire department dedicated to landscape. It's a huge part of campus."
Edited by Allison Kohn
IN UNIFORM
ROTC branches united in annual parade
CALER SISK
csick@kansan.com
The four branches of the KU ROTC program are poised to come together this Saturday for their annual parade and joint-services tournament. The festivities are meant to both celebrate the graduation of the senior cadets and commission them into active service. "I'm very excited for the event because it is one of the few opportunities that all four branches have to come together and have fun," said Matthew Mulheran, a member of the Air Force ROTC.
The festivities kick off bright and early at 9 a.m. when time the cadets will be marching through Memorial Stadium in complete formal attire. Once the formalities have been observed, the cadets will break off into squadrons within their respective branches and compete in a number of physical competitions.
Cadets will compete at Robinson Gymnasium and Field in sporting events such as
Volleyball, Basketball, Ultimate Firsbee and Flag Football. Along with the sporting events, cadets will compete in military contests such as tug of war, ammo can lift, log sit-ups, and the maneuver under fire exercise.
At the end of the day, once the scores have been recorded, the branch with the highest score will be awarded the Captain's Cup. This traveling trophy remains in the possession of the winning service and serves as bragging rights until next year's competition.
Although this stands as a competition and a trophy is awarded, at the end of this day, the true winners will be the senior cadets that will be moving on to serve in our armed services. "It will be a little bittersweet to see the seniors leave because we will obviously miss them but we know that they are moving onto bigger and better things" said Mulheran.
Students that find themselves with ample free time this Saturday should consider coming out and supporting these students who will be fighting for our freedom
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
KU ROTC will have its annual parade on Saturday, May 4 at Memorial Stadium. It will begin at 9 a.m. and will have different events throughout the day.
in the near future.
Despite the friendly nature of the competition Mulheran, has no doubts that "Air Force will fly, fight and win."
Edited by Hayley Jozwiak
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