Three Catawba students gather for a photograph before they set out to work on cleaning up the grounds around campus.
By Kiersten Nichols '18
Catawba Cares, a campus clean up event, started around two in the afternoon on September 14th with roughly 15 people and grew exponentially throughout the day to include about 45 people by six that evening. Many people joined in to help beautify the campus and show that those who are affiliated with Catawba College really care.
Jeffrey Hartley, who has been the Director of Environmental Services and Grounds at Catawba for over 10 years, partnered with Ethan Chirico, the community service coordinator for the Dead Athenian Society or DAS, to plan the event. When asked, Hartley said that we were "doing this because we have a drainage issue and it will help with erosion in addition to being more aesthetically pleasing for those leaving the gym."
Students working together to beautify the Catawba campus by cleaning up trash and pulling out unwanted foliage.
Some of the things accomplished were a general clean-up of the landscaping and the removal of six Pin Oak trees, in addition to several groups of overgrown shrubbery. The areas that previously contained the shrubs will be replaced with grass that will help prevent erosion near Abernethy Village, housing for upperclassmen on campus. Many volunteers were asked to go out and clean up the landscaping by pulling weeds, pruning, removing rocks, and policing the area for trash.
Some of the groups who participated in the Catawba Care's event were the Dead Athenian Society, the Delphinian Society, Men and Women's Cross Country, parents of students, members of both the staff and faculty, and members of Catawba's Board of Trustees. Some people who were originally unaware the event was going on, decided to join in after they saw what a difference it was making.
The number of people who joined the clean-up event made for the good turnout and will hopefully encourage other clubs and organizations to have more such volunteering events to help improve the campus.
