Students, faculty and staff, alumni and community members participating in Campus Beautification Day were greeted by Sherry Peters and several women at the table positioned in the commons on Friday, Oct. 9.
Peters, administrative specialist for the Nerney Leadership Institute, believed that the event strengthened the sense of ownership on campus for students and faculty and staff.
The event was initiated by President Donald Taylor, who was involved with the same event at Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill. when he served as provost and chief academic officer. Cabrini’s Campus Beautification Day was started in fall of 2014, was continued in the spring of 2015 and will continue to occur once every semester.
Before the event began, participants checked in at Peter’s table and received baby blue t-shirts embellished with the event name, semester and various symbols of nature. All those in attendance were asked to wear the shirts during the planting.
As the last of the participants trickled in sometime after 9 a.m., everyone was broken up into groups and gathered around for remarks from Dr. Taylor. Around 9:30 a.m., they then grabbed gloves, shovels and rakes and then dispersed to add to the beauty of the campus.
Many praised the event for allowing them to unite with others around campus.
“It’s an opportunity to work with other departments,” Akirah Massenburg, assistant director of Residence Life, said.
“It motivates the staff and helps them meet other staff,” Lechia Taylor, wife of President Taylor, said. “It also helps the grounds people.”
She went on to say the grounds people were excited to hear about the event because such a large group could cover so much land in two hours and thus aided them in all they do for the upkeep of the campus.
“Campus beautification is important because Cabrini is such a small campus,” Matthew Slutz, coordinator for the Center for Teaching and Learning, said. “And for the faculty, staff and students who participate, it’s nice to get out of the office, get out of the classroom and interact with one another.”
“We’re sprucing up the campus, but also getting to know one another in another way that is more important so we build up morale on campus,” Slutz said.
Also in attendance were two missioners from the Wolfington Center.
Vanessa Miranda, missioner, believes that it is important to take care of campus and try to live right while caring for creation.
“If we have students see that we are taking care of the campus, it will encourage them to do so and join,” Rachel Recolcolin, missioner, said.
Recolcolin also encouraged specific recycling bins for more systematic recycling on campus. She is also helping with the Green Team on campus and believes the group will “encourage students to participate.”
For some on campus, it is more than a place to attend classes or work.
“I also live here,” Massenburg said.
Alongside faculty and staff were several students heavily involved in the digging and planting.
“It’s a good reminder to support the people I work for,” Christle Gehman, a student and communications intern at Cabrini, said. “It’s a good reminder that we need to take care of our earth.”
In attendance for her first Campus Beautification, was Mary Anders, public safety investigator and educational officer.
“It’s all about the community and making the campus look nice for all of us,” Anders said. “It’s like keeping the house clean.”
