Spring Break
Letter: From a mud circle to a grassy spot
Will Johnson
Issue date: 4/7/09 Section: Editorial/Opinion
04/07/09 - To the Cigar,
Between the buildings formerly and lovingly known as the North Woods Apartments (now Garrahy and Wiley Halls) is a grass circle with a turbulent history.
The story as I know it begins last fall when the circle was a thriving community of grass. As people began to once again inhabit these buildings, this grass quickly changed to muddy nothingness - increased by the numbers of cars rolling through it everyday.
Over a relatively short amount of time the circle became a wild murky mass that once in a while would consume unsuspecting cars that ventured too close. Those who sought to take advantage of parking close inadvertently created a muddy abyss by driving through it.
Even the tow truck that was summoned to save these derelict vehicles did not stray far from the safety of level, concrete sidewalk.
Eventually snow fell, which greatly multiplied the number of cars rendered useless. The pit was unforgiving throughout the winter season. As the mud thawed and temperatures actually rose above freezing in Rhode Island, again the pit redeployed its muddy grasp - it was waking after a long winter's slumber.
This past week, the University of Rhode Island fought back. Over the last few days mechanized earthmovers and their human masters painstakingly laid new soil over the mud, flattened it, and placed plots of healthy turf. The recent rainstorm invigorated the new grass, consecrating it. What once was crisscrossed with 5-inch deep mud tire-tracks and wet holes, is now a plot of tame lawn. It's really wonderful.
I would like to congratulate those behind-the-scenes workers that we all take for granted here at URI. They did a superb job in making this muddy mess once again a pristine grassy area for us to enjoy. These are the same men and women who must deal with the constant re-spawning of empty Bud Light boxes and Poland Spring bottles. They rake leaves so that spring flowers have an opportunity to push through. And just because these people exist, doesn't mean that we as students are excused from environmental responsibility.
Imagine a world where the wooded areas between parking lots are void of trash, where mud with litter is transformed into grass with blades as thick as your fingers; a soft, cool carpet.
As we are all fortunate enough to take part in higher education, it is our duty to those who cannot attend college to be the leaders of this global movement towards sustainability. Start by talking about what changes you can make in your own life and work deliberately. A leisurely change is better than no change at all.
Most people think that changing the world is too unrealistic a goal but it really isn't if you start with where you live, work, or visit.
Let's all think about how we can help to improve the places dear to us by starting with the campus that we attend.
Will Johnson
Between the buildings formerly and lovingly known as the North Woods Apartments (now Garrahy and Wiley Halls) is a grass circle with a turbulent history.
The story as I know it begins last fall when the circle was a thriving community of grass. As people began to once again inhabit these buildings, this grass quickly changed to muddy nothingness - increased by the numbers of cars rolling through it everyday.
Over a relatively short amount of time the circle became a wild murky mass that once in a while would consume unsuspecting cars that ventured too close. Those who sought to take advantage of parking close inadvertently created a muddy abyss by driving through it.
Even the tow truck that was summoned to save these derelict vehicles did not stray far from the safety of level, concrete sidewalk.
Eventually snow fell, which greatly multiplied the number of cars rendered useless. The pit was unforgiving throughout the winter season. As the mud thawed and temperatures actually rose above freezing in Rhode Island, again the pit redeployed its muddy grasp - it was waking after a long winter's slumber.
This past week, the University of Rhode Island fought back. Over the last few days mechanized earthmovers and their human masters painstakingly laid new soil over the mud, flattened it, and placed plots of healthy turf. The recent rainstorm invigorated the new grass, consecrating it. What once was crisscrossed with 5-inch deep mud tire-tracks and wet holes, is now a plot of tame lawn. It's really wonderful.
I would like to congratulate those behind-the-scenes workers that we all take for granted here at URI. They did a superb job in making this muddy mess once again a pristine grassy area for us to enjoy. These are the same men and women who must deal with the constant re-spawning of empty Bud Light boxes and Poland Spring bottles. They rake leaves so that spring flowers have an opportunity to push through. And just because these people exist, doesn't mean that we as students are excused from environmental responsibility.
Imagine a world where the wooded areas between parking lots are void of trash, where mud with litter is transformed into grass with blades as thick as your fingers; a soft, cool carpet.
As we are all fortunate enough to take part in higher education, it is our duty to those who cannot attend college to be the leaders of this global movement towards sustainability. Start by talking about what changes you can make in your own life and work deliberately. A leisurely change is better than no change at all.
Most people think that changing the world is too unrealistic a goal but it really isn't if you start with where you live, work, or visit.
Let's all think about how we can help to improve the places dear to us by starting with the campus that we attend.
Will Johnson
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