The Daily
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Mississippian
Vol. 102, No. 51
The Student Newspaper of The University Of Mississippi | Serving Ole Miss and Oxford since 1911
Campus ‘champion trees’ endure despite wear and tear BY LOGAN KIRKLAND ltkirkla@go.olemiss.edu
Champions come and go at The University of Mississippi, but there are some champions that are here to stay. Oxford is home to three different champion trees: the northern catalpa, the flowering dogwood and the Osage orange tree. Jeff McManus, director of landscape services, said a champion tree is determined by measuring the diameter of the trunk, the height of the tree and the diameter of the branches. Points are then awarded to the tree based on those measurements. “These points are totaled up and it gives them the largest tree in the state,” McManus said. McManus said the northern catalpa tree located by the Union has had some problems due to strong wind storms and heavy traffic from students between classes as well as children on gamedays, which caused fractures and cracks
on the tree. “Some of the big primary limbs on the trunk began to separate,” he said. “The area became really dirty, unfortunately, and it needed to be kept clean.” McManus said once they noticed these separations on the tree, landscape services was very concerned and not sure if they should remove the limbs. “How do we make this work to keep the catalpa tree?” he said. “We are trying to figure out the next step.” McManus decided the best approach for the catalpa was not to remove the limbs because there would be nothing left. Landscape services thought about drilling through the tree and putting anchor bolts into the limbs to keep them stable, but after talking to arborist contractors, they felt that the wood was too soft and this would not be a good longterm solution. See TREES, PAGE 3
ADITYA KHARE| The Daily Mississippian
The Champion Tree outside of the Student Union is an icon on campus.
SPECIAL TO THE DM
Oxford Humane Society working to make a difference BY MACKENZIE HICKS smhicks1@go.olemiss.edu
VINCE DAVIS| The Daily Mississippian
A kitten up for adoption at the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society Monday.
OPINION:
Feature photos: from the Met to Broadway
What is up with health insurance?
On Sept. 30, Mr. Puggles — a name given to him by his rescuer — was brought into the OxfordLafayette Humane Society. Even with big, round, happy eyes and a cute, turned-up, button nose, he had been abandoned by his owners. For four days he had been left alone in an abandoned apartment with no food or water. He was lucky the neighbors next door even found him. His rescuer said she had been trying for two years to have him taken away, but at the time, not much could be done. Mr. Puggles’ case is similar to that of many animals across America today, but he’s one of the lucky ones — his case was actually reported. Although laws have been passed in 47 states that make animal cruelty a felony, four states are second offense states. In states
such as Mississippi, a person accused of animal abuse cannot be charged until a complaint has been proven twice. In Oxford and Lafayette County, however, the Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society is striving toward making this area a safe place for animals. The Humane Society has two specific ways of preventing animal cruelty: through a strict adoption process and an animal control officer located in the building. The adoption process is lengthy. First, an application must be filled out. Then the organization goes through a series of checks before allowing an adoption to take place. According to adoption counselor Hillary Chesteen, the purpose of this step is to ensure the animal is going to a good home and will not be returned to the See OHS, PAGE 3
SPORTS:
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Healthy Rebels ready for Arkansas
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