Making MU beautiful

Melissa Mecadon
staff writer

“Making Millikin Beautiful: A Day of Service” is a program organized to beautify and improve Millikin’s campus. This April will mark the second year for the program. Last year “Making Millikin Beautiful” was initiated by two Resident Assistants (RAs): Lindsay Senalik, a recent Millikin graduate, and Anne Marie Kramer, a senior at Millikin this year. Their goal, Kramer said, was to create a program that “involves improving Millikin with the help of the entire campus.”

Each year, RAs are required to organize programs for students to participate in; last year the idea of “Making Millikin Beautiful” started as one of these smaller projects. As the RAs made a list of areas they wished to see improved around campus, they realized that this project was much larger than they earlier thought. As their goals grew, so did the program. Each residence hall was made in charge of a different area of beautification. Mills was in charge of music for the event, and Blackburn, Walker, Aston was placed in charge of publicity.

The program included activities and projects such as painting curbs and doors, replacing signs, cleaning windows, installing new picnic tables, gardening and landscaping near the New Halls, replacing ash trays outside buildings and planting flowers.

Al Dillow, a worker from the Physical Plant, volunteered his expertise for the project, giving the students tips on the types of flowers they needed for the project.

Approximately 60 students and staff were present to help last year. The outcome is expected to be much larger this year, due to much more interest across campus and in other campus organizations.

When asked about this year’s program, Kramer replied, “I am more excited this year because I know what it was like last year and I can only see it getting better; the more people involved the better. I’m excited about all the organizations wanting to help this year.”

This year Aramark's Facility Services, formerly known as the Physical Plant, will be offering their assistance again. The program was organized this year by the RAs, the Alumni Association, Millikin Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow (MilliSTAT), Aramark and the Oakwood Business Association. Funding for the program was earned through donations from Hall Councils, the Residential Housing Association (RHA) and Residential Life. This year Student Life and Academic Development (SLAD) has offered to match any funds raised for the program.

The program will take place this year on Sunday, April 24. It is an all day event open to everyone affiliated with Millikin University. Alumni and faculty have been invited to help with the event, as well.

The day will be “filled with good times,” Kramer said.

It will include music all day in the arrival court, and snacks and a lunch break for all helping with the event, which will be sponsored by RHA. The project will focus on painting outside the residence halls, picking up trash and other smaller issues around campus.

Last year the participants made a list, which was passed to the Physical Plant after the day was over. Many of the projects could not be finished in a single day, so the Physical Plant made an effort after the day was over to finish the projects on the list. A list will also be made this year.

If you have any ideas, suggestions, or questions about the event please talk to a RA or email Kramer at amkramer@millikin.edu.
Anyone involved with Millikin is welcome to help at any point throughout the day.

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