Volunteers plant new trees

After tree loss due to a May storm, IU students, faculty, staff and community members participated in a Tree Campus USA tree planting.

The IU-Bloomington Tree Campus USA steering committee organized the event, which took place Friday and began in Dunn Meadow.

In addition to advancing recovery from trees lost in the May 25 storm, the tree planting was originally planned to help the University be one step closer to achieving the Campus Master Plan’s goal of doubling the tree canopy, according to a press release.

“Having spent the past several months removing and pruning damaged trees, it is wonderful to welcome the fall planting season with an event that allows the entire campus community to share in the healing and recovery,” University Landscape Architect Mia Williams said in a press release. “The trees planted this week will help to ensure that the native woodland character of this beautiful campus is alive and well for all to enjoy.”

Volunteers planted 18 trees in various places on campus: nine red and white oak, one bur oak, two maple, one elm and five cypress trees.

Along with the tree planting, Tom Morrison, IU vice president for capital planning and facilities, addressed energy and water conservation and announced the fall’s Energy Challenge winners.

“Both events celebrate people getting personally involved in issues of importance to campus sustainability,” IU Director of Sustainability Bill Brown said in a press release.

Burney Fischer, clinical professor at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, said in a press release the knowledge gained of how to correctly plant a tree is something students can use in a job assignment if they have to plan a company’s environmental awareness event.

“The simple act of planting a tree on your college campus will forever connect students to a specific place when they return many years later as alumni,” Fischer said.

— Claire Aronson