Mulch – unless you’re an ecology major, the word generally comes off as pretty dull – but if you took part in the University Day activities Thursday, the word carries a whole new meaning.
Nearly 1,000 volunteers contributed to the community service activities Thursday: Campus streets that are normally bare during class times were bustling with students, staff and faculty who were raking mulch, planting flowers and picking up litter.
University Day began in 1905 as volunteers were recruited to prepare the University grounds for approaching commencement ceremonies. Over the years, the hard work of a good spring cleaning have been transformed into a festive celebration.
The chores produced more than just cleaner streets and freshly planted flowers; many volunteers said the work yielded a new sense of University community spirit in them.
“We get a sense of ownership and a sense of pride for the University. It really is a community organizing to come together and I’m pleased with the showing,” said Amber Garrison, director of Family Programs and Commencement for the Office of Student Life.
During the past few years, the event has gathered about 800 to 900 volunteers, but this year, only two hours into the event, there were already more than 450 volunteers and the line to sign up was growing.
The Greek communities have traditionally made up two-thirds of the volunteer population, and the trend continued this year.
“It just shows that the Greek community is more prone to come out and do these things. We all enjoy these events,” said Ashley Perry, a member of Delta Gamma. “The large showing really broadcasts positive views about Greek life and not just all the negative things you hear about us.”
Many volunteers came out just to take a break from class or work and enjoy the sunshine and jubilance flooding the campus.
“If people are going to enjoy our campus we might as well help make it beautiful,” said Megan Foster, a freshman journalism major. “I only had Info-Hell homework to do today so I felt what better of a cause than to come out and help.”
Students were not the only ones out in force Thursday; many faculty and staff joined together to lend some expertise and take a break from work.
“I’m a gardener and I felt like coming out to spruce up the area and be a part of the University community,” said Stephanie Risbrough, accountant for the School of Journalism and Communication, while planting new flowers beside Allen Hall.
Sue Varani, the faculty services coordinator for the School of Journalism and Communication said “It’s fun, you get to get away from work and help make everything look good for spring.”
The earliest University Day projects consisted of repeatedly building onto the pathway between Kincaid Street to Deady Hall. Each year, the students would place a commemorative brick along the path, and the 1905 brick still exists.
“In the beginning it was really hard work, where only the men worked and the women made lunch,” Heidi Rivinus, the 2005 and 2006 University Day chair, said.
The projects evolved in the early 1990s and included the erecting of plaques or dedicating new benches or trees, Rivinus said.
Keeping with tradition, a new Douglas Fir tree was planted along the old path behind Lillis Hall and in front of Deady Hall, the oldest building on campus.
The event lasted from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., and was highlighted by a speech from President Dave Frohnmayer. Student bands also played at the EMU Amphitheater throughout the day as hundreds of people, including women in bikini tops and shirtless men, sunned themselves along the steps. The atmosphere was relaxed as the bands jammed and people strolled along the tables set up for student organizations.
“Not everyone comes down to the lower level of the EMU, and so not a lot of people know we exist. Events like University Day lets people know organizations like ours are here,” said senior Abrina Wheatfall of the Black Student Union student group.
One thousand shirts were ordered by the event’s planners and all of the green and white giveaways were gone before the event was finished. There were more than 4,000 flowers planted, more than 500 wheelbarrows of bark dust and three cubic yards of trash collected, Garrison said. 1100 total volunteers signed up to spread mulch and good spirit, and while many may have missed out on the free shirts, the majority of people could be seen with smiles and sweat on their faces.
“They have a lot of fun. They may come out individually, but they soon meet new people and make new friends,” said University Day Chair Mai Lee. “The goal is really to get the community involved. This is our university and what other time of the year do you really see people putting out mulch?”
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