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April 28, 2010 | The Tower
Kean University Appreciates The Beauty of Our Plants By Pablo da Silva and Nikita Patel
Many have admired the array of beauty that plants offer throughout the Kean University campus, but very few are aware of the efforts employed by hardworking hands in conserving the campus’ splendor. “Last summer alone we must have spent well over 100,000 gallons of water in watering the plants” said Bob Larner, one of the 14 crew members who are in charge of the ground maintenance. As a former meteorology student himself at Kean in the 1980s, Larson affirmed the campus looked nothing like it does today. Currently there are about 500 to 1,000 plant species throughout the campus. This remarkable number is continuing to increase, more than likely because the maintenance crew in following the New Jersey Law of Forest restoration, plants two plants for every one that is cut down on campus. This technique shadows the New Joursey Law of Forest Restoration. Having so many children, as Larner refers to the numerous plants under his care, surely demands hard work. Each year more than six-hundred pounds of fertilizer is used to grow these plants, not to
Photo: Nikkita Patel
“Last summer alone we must have spent well over 100,000 gallons of water in watering the plants.” mention all of the precautions and measures taken by the maintenance crew. The crew must be aware of plant frost during
Earth Day Celebrated By Samantha Feller
Ecology students offered information last week about experiments they conducted on campus as part of Kean University’s celebration of Earth Day. One test was to see how high pollution and garbage in the parking lots are affecting waterways. Vaughn Eames had the most garbage. When it is rains chemicals and pollution are washed into the sewer drains, which eventually reaches the Elizabeth River. “Students can find better ways to dispose of their garbage and recycle,” said Mayra Orejuela, a Kean student. Some suggestions offered to reduce this waste are: reusable coffee mugs and water bottles, canvas bags and tupperware. Also if all of campus life maintains their cars, it will eliminate emissions. A table also promoted the Solar Cooker Project, an organization that makes solar cookers and sends them to Third World countries in order to improve the environment and provide more safety for women. In Sudan, women must gather their own wood for the fire and they are often abused and killed. Using these solar cookers are rather time consuming so Kean students are trying to make new faster and more efficient cookers. There was also an experiment on bottled water vs. tap water. Some students had visited the Sewer Utility of Parsippany and Troy Hills where they learned that many different contaminated waters are dumped there and sent for cleaning.
Through research they found Staten Island has the best tap water, and Elizabeth has the worst.
the winter and hungry herbivores, such as deer, during the warmer seasons. Ground workers walk the campus daily,
picking up all of the leaves dropped by deciduous plants in order to maintain a clean landscape. In addition to leaves, garbage is also collected from the garbage cans and litter that has been carelessly tossed. In ceasing to throw cigarette buds, cans, candy wrappers, bottles, etc. on the green lawn, students will be joining in the efforts to maintain a clean campus. Kean hosts a pink flowering tree, Yoshino Cherry, near the president’s building as well as various Oak trees between the University Center and Townsend building. An arrangement of Maple trees, including the ever-expensive Japanese Maple located along the walk ways towards the UC stands above the crowd with its bright red leaves. The campus is covered with various flowers as well. Daffodils, Tulips, Easter Red Bud and Rose of Sharon are just a few of the species that inhabit Kean University year after year. On behalf of all Kean university students we are thankful for the competent work of Bob Larner, who kindly took the time to provide us with the desired information on plants, along with his coworkers whose hard work behind the scenes reveals the explosion of life and colors here at Kean.
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priceless! “Students can find better ways to dispose of their garbage and recycle.” Not all of our drinking water comes from reservoirs; it also comes from other large bodies of water such as lakes and rivers. It is treated and purified before coming out of our taps. These students also conducted a test. It was on the PH and nitrate levels of Aquifina, Smart Water and Poland Spring. Through this test they found Aquifina is the purest and has no nitrates. “If you had to drink a bottled water drink Aquifina, but you should drink tap water to reduce unnecessary pollution,” said Earl Aliparo, a Kean student.
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