Page 8 • Thursday, February 13, 2003
NEWS
The Pendulum
New oaks planted on west campus
Trees will replace those destoyed in storm, bring graduation back Under the Oaks
— 44
Kaitlyn North
Reporter
Four new trees were planted in the
Under the Oaks section of west campus
Dec. 17 in anticipation of Elon University’s
graduation ceremony at the end of May.
The original trees were fatally damaged in
a severe thunderstorm in May 2000, mak
ing for an uncomfortable graduation cere
mony last year.
“It was brutally hot,” said Neil
Bromilow, director of construction man
agement. “The trees make you feel as if
you were in a room, providing shade for the
students and their parents.”
Bromilow said that the University spent
“thousands of dollars” to transplant four
full-grown trees from a South Carolina
nursery.
“You could plant an acorn and watch it
grow, but it would take a hundred years for
it to be big enough to provide shade,” he
said.
The trees, which include three oaks and
one evergreen, were visited by tree sur
The trees make you feel as if you were in a room,
providing shade for the students and their parents.
—Neil Bromilow, director of construction management
geons in late January to make adjustments,
and are expected to survive in their new
environment. Bromilow said that students
who are wondering about the trees now
should “think forward to May 24 and think
about how hot it would be without those
trees.”
David Hibbard, director of the News
Bureau, said, “Commencement Under the
Oaks is one of the best things we do here at
Elon.” The word “Elon” is the Hebrew
word for “oak,” Hibbard explained, and the
oak trees at graduation arc important sym
bols, but are also used for the attendees’
comfort.
“Any school can have convocation or
graduation in the gym,” said Hibbard, but a
ceremony Under the Oaks is a “connection
to the roots of the school.” The trees
represent the graduation ceremonies
of not just the current graduating
class, but also those of classes past.
“It is nice for the alumni to feel
solidarity with the students,” said
Hibbard, who recalled his own grad
uation from Elon.
“It was a typical May day; very
hot and sticky. I remember thinking
how fast it all went. Everyone here
might think I’m kind of crazy, but I
kind of look forward to going to
graduation every year”
Contact Kaitlyn North at pendu-
lum@elon.edu or 278-7247.
Tim Rosner / Photo Editor
This tree is one of four new oaks in West Area.
Join us for a special
Valentine’s Day Dinner at
Harden Dining Hall
Thursday, February 13th
starting at 4 p.m.
menu includes favorites
like Strawberry Ginger
Chicken, Carved Roast
Beef, Specialty Pasta Bar,
Creme Brulee and an array
of other delicious
Valentine’s Day desserts!
VOTE!
SGA Elections
Monday, February 24th
& Tuesday, February 25th
Moseley Center
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
|SGA Executive Debate
Wednesday,
February 19th
McKinnon Hall
5 - 6:30 p.m.
Student Government Association
We Work for You!