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May 17, 2004 Volume 28, Issue 35 |
Damaged campus trees slated for removal
Some of the old oaks on main campus were scheduled for removal last week or this week after an examination showed them to be a hazard.
Among those slated for elimination is a large oak near Hull Hall that arborist Terrel Buckelew deemed dangerous.
"One side of the tree is spongy and the inside is hollow enough to probably fit two people inside," explained Rob Rice, interim director of the Campus Landscape Department.
He said because weak and damaged trees can drop branches at any time, they pose a hazard to pedestrians, as well as to property.
"These trees were planted at about the same time, probably when the university was built. Age and recent wind and ice storms have taken a toll on them," Rice said.
He pointed out that new trees, most likely oaks, will be planted in place of the ones that had to be removed.
Other trees-all oaks-slated for removal include a very tall tree between the Swalm Chemical Engineering Building and McCool Hall, one between Swalm and Mitchell Memorial Library and a couple on Bell Island across from the State Fountain.
The tree assessment and removal project is made possible by a $30,000 matching urban forestry grant from the Mississippi Forestry Commission, according to Rice.
The project is scheduled for completion by June 30.