Beautiful U Day 2000
 The fourth annual Beautiful U Day was held on September 27th and 28th and it was again a huge success, complete with great fall weather. Thank you to everyone who took part. Together we planted 150 trees on Nicollet Island, cleaned up wetlands on the St. Paul Campus, cut the ribbons on some new facilities and completed many other projects to improve our campus environment. And, of course, we had some fun along the way!
 Food and Fellowship
Honoring Our Heritage
Improving the Environment
Introducing Some New Facilities
Offering Our Thanks
Beautiful U Day 2000 Picture Slideshow
Food and Fellowship
Students, staff and faculty were welcomed to campus with free breakfast served at 12 locations. Lunch was served at the St. Paul Student Center and in the Washington Avenue Bridge. The University marching band entertained the crowd with the school rouser and other University songs.
Honoring Our Heritage
This year marks the University's sesquicentennial. To celebrate, the first day of Beautiful U Day 2000 focused on thanking the community for its support over the University's 150-year history.
In conjunction with Tree Trust and the Minneapolis Park Department, volunteers planted 150 trees on Nicollet Island in Minneapolis, near the original site of the University. Tree-planters included students from nearby De LaSalle High School, neighborhood residents, Minneapolis Parks staff and University faculty, staff and students.
Researchers from the University's Urban Forestry Department will monitor the trees and study how well they grow in an urban environment.
Gold sesquicentennial banners were installed in buildings across campus and atop the Washington Avenue Bridge.
New decorative signs were installed on podiums in various classrooms. The signs feature the University "M" logo and the sesquicentennial logo.
Click here to get an update on how the Nicollet Island trees are doing.
Improving the Environment
Dozens of volunteers cleared away garbage and spread wood chips along trails in the beginning of a project to restore the Sarita wetlands on the St. Paul campus. This almost hidden area near Como Avenue and the Transitway will become a convenient and invaluable source of research for faculty and students and a beautiful place for visitors.
More than 25 tons of unwanted electronic equipment were collected as part of the Clean and Green electronic equipment recycling hosted by the Department of Environmental Health and Safety and Facilities Management's recycling program. Disposal of electronics is a danger to the environment and is against the law.
Open houses were held during Beautiful U Day to receive public input in proposed new exterior design standards. In an effort to unify and improve the Twin Cities campus' exterior appearance, the University is developing standards that will guide future development in the selection of appropriate exterior elements, like benches, signage, lighting, landscaping and other items.
Introducing Some New Facilities
Regent David Metzen, University Services Vice President Eric Kruse and Parking & Transportation Services Director Bob Baker cut the ribbon on the new Gortner Avenue Parking Ramp. The new ramp provides 600 parking spaces in the heart of the St. Paul campus. Guests at the grand opening were treated to ice cream, dixieland music and free parking passes.
Staff from the Fleet Services Department took time to show off their new facility, located in the Como area. This new building replaces the 100-year-old building where Fleet Services was formerly housed. The new facility features a fueling island, drive-through car wash, office space and indoor service bays.
Offering Our Thanks
Facilities Management's Zone 4 staff once again teamed up to form the GAC (Gang Against Crud) Squad. The GAC Squad was created in 1999 as a way to recognize and honor those employees who go above and beyond their regular duties to make the campus a bit nicer for everyone and truly personify Beautiful U. The group's motto is "Tidy, Tidy, Tidy for a Beautiful U." No one will soon forget the blaring horn as the GAC Squad approached!
Maroon and gold mums were distributed to Facilities Management customers to show the department's appreciation. It was just one more way of putting the "beautiful" in Beautiful U Day.
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