Around Campus this Morning

This morning I had to run some errands on the main part of campus.  It’s a balmy morning here, coolish under the shade of the trees, but you can tell it’s going to be another hot one.  Here are some observations from this mornings wanderings:

• There are two Quad trees rolled, closest to the entrance to the Quad by Kitchin and Poteat dorms.  Not a clue why they are rolled, but I wonder if it had anything to do with the anniversary of Coach Prosser’s death.  There had a been a righteous big rolling when he died, and every year on the unofficial WFU sports message board there is talk of rolling it in his honor.
• Went into Reynolda Hall to try and get a sneak peek at the renovation of the second floor, where the Office of Personal and Career Development will be located.  That group is expected to move in to their new space this weekend.  There was a lot of move-related stuff – boxes and boxes of desk chairs blocked my view, but when I poked my head in the corner I saw a very pretty glassed area, and a red wall.  It looks like it will be a very vibrant place.  Can’t wait to get the official tour and post some pictures.
• The pit where Farrell Hall will be is growing bigger by the day.  Think of the old Gone with the Wind line about “the red earth of Tara” – huge mounds of red clay everywhere.  Except I suppose it’s “the red earth of Farrell” now.
• It appears that a couple of trees on the Quad have been taken down and replaced.  We’ve struggled with tree issues since the late 80s.  Back then, it was Dutch Elm Disease that made all the trees sick and had to be cut down.  We’re in the situation now where we’ve planted and grown some big replacement trees, and some others are not thriving, so they are carefully tended and new ones moved in if needed.
• Starbucks in the library is quiet and empty.  I saw a handful of summer school students grabbing a pre-class coffee, and a couple of faculty-staff folks too.  Not anywhere near as busy as it is when school is in session.  As always, the staff there is incredible – if you’re a regular, they get to know you and you get to the point where you don’t have to order, they just look at you and say ‘the usual?’

That’s today’s campus report.