The University campus got a fresh coat of mulch and flowers Thursday as part of the annual University Day.
This year’s event, dubbed “Leave Your Mark,” commemorated the 100th anniversary of the first University Day, which took place in 1905. In the early 1900s, the University held an annual spring celebration called Junior Week that included parades, dances and social events. Members of the class of 1906 instituted the community service event to make their Junior Day celebration more meaningful, according to a press release. University Day fell dormant in the 1920s, but Brian Sandy and Doug Untalan, two students who heard about University Day on a campus tour, resurrected the tradition in 1990.
“I think that we all get a lot from our campus and it’s important to give back,” University Day Committee chair Heidi Rivinus said, describing how the event assures a clean campus for commencement exercises. “It’s important to keep traditions alive. It’s one of the few long-term traditions the UO has.”
University President Dave Frohnmayer spoke in the EMU Amphitheater at this year’s dedication of the University Day Terrace. The terrace, adjacent to the Campus Heart at the corner of East 13th Avenue and University Street, consists of two benches on a lawn in front of Friendly Hall and now includes a plaque describing the history of University Day.
“I thank you for making this marvelous campus even more so. Thanks to your participation through your organization, through the efforts that are occurring all over the campus as I speak,” Frohnmayer said. “That’s a great inspiration for all of us. Thanks for being a part of this day.”
Volunteers signed up for chores that included spreading bark mulch at various locations around campus, planting colorful flowers and picking up litter.
“We provide the flowers and tools and mulch, and people help out,” said Jane Brubaker, landscape designer for Facilities Services. “Then you have a beautiful day like this. It’s wonderful.”
After one hour of service, volunteers received free University Day T-shirts.
“We order 990 shirts, and last year we almost gave them all away,” University Day Committee member Emily Knudsen said. The event takes place rain or shine, although Knudsen said weather often affects turnout.
This year more than 775 people — students, faculty, staff and community members — participated in the event. Volunteers were affiliated with organizations ranging from Oregon Community Credit Union to Reformed University Fellowship to Presidential Student Scholars Association. One volunteer simply stated “loving UO!” on the event’s sign-up sheet.
University Day Committee member Tracy Randecker said that of the three notebooks kept in the University Day sign-up tent to record volunteers, one was devoted entirely to students in the Greek system.
Alpha Chi Omega member Lyndsay Anderson said about 30 of the 90 people in her sorority volunteered at the event.
“We all choose to get involved, and it’s a great way to get community service hours and help the UO community,” she said.

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