The University will observe Arbor Day Dec. 5 in a 1 p.m. ceremony at the Caroline LeConte Gibbes Garden on campus.

The observance will include the planting of a tree and opening of the garden to a broader segment of the public than usually sees it. The garden’s entrance is at the east end (Five Points side) of the Gambrell Hall parking lot.

“This event is noteworthy because it will celebrate cooperation between the University and the University Neighborhood Association,” said Trish Jerman, program manager of the Sustainable Universities Initiative at USC. who noted that the Gibbes Garden was mentioned specifically as an area of cooperation in the USC/Neighborhood Association agreement.

Students in University 101 environmentally themed classes worked on the garden and completed a significant portion of the preliminary clean up.

The program:

• 12:30 p.m., musical interlude by the USC Student Brass Ensemble (tentative)
• 1 p.m., remarks by Bruce Coull, Dean, USC School of the Environment; President Sorensen; John Stucker, president, USC Neighborhood Association; Rudy Mancke, USC distinguished lecturer and naturalist; and Gibbes family representatives.
  
• 1:45 p.m., tree planting and refreshments. Guests will be invited to wander the garden, plant a bulb, or take home a red cedar tree seedling.
  

For information, contact Jerman at 7-7760 or by e-mail at jerman@sc.edu.

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