Ithaca College News January 19, 1998

A Proper Farewell for an Old Friend

College representatives and members of the Ithaca College Environmental Society paid their respects to one of the campus's most enduring landmarks, the massive oak tree on the north side of Ford Hall, during a noontime ceremony December 11. More than 100 years old, the tree was removed over the winter break because of safety considerations. The December ceremony included a short meditation on death and rebirth, to mourn the tree's demise and celebrate its life. "The core principle of true environmentalism is a respect for the delicate balances present in the natural world," said ICES president James Sharp '98. "It is easy, when you see the beauty of every living thing, to get lost in nostalgia and try to prolong the life span of each individual organism. But the natural cycles in life and death are imperative for the health of any ecosystem." Each year on Earth Day ICES plants a tree on campus as a testament to the group's commitment to the future. At this year's event, ICES will dedicate a tree in memory of the great oak that was the only recognizable living landmark on the campus. The College has also gathered acorns from the tree so a new generation can be sprung from the seeds of the old, and any viable wood will be salvaged for potential future uses.

News Home Page -- Ithaca College Home Page

	A Proper Farewell for an Old Friend
	College representatives and members of the Ithaca College Environmental Society paid their respects to one of the campus's most enduring landmarks, the massive oak tree on the north side of Ford Hall, during a noontime ceremony December 11. More than 100 years old, the tree was removed over the winter break because of safety considerations. The December ceremony included a short meditation on death and rebirth, to mourn the tree's demise and celebrate its life. "The core principle of true environmentalism is a respect for the delicate balances present in the natural world," said ICES president James Sharp '98. "It is easy, when you see the beauty of every living thing, to get lost in nostalgia and try to prolong the life span of each individual organism. But the natural cycles in life and death are imperative for the health of any ecosystem." Each year on Earth Day ICES plants a tree on campus as a testament to the group's commitment to the future. At this year's event, ICES will dedicate a tree in memory of the great oak that was the only recognizable living landmark on the campus. The College has also gathered acorns from the tree so a new generation can be sprung from the seeds of the old, and any viable wood will be salvaged for potential future uses.