This content was published: June 26, 2012. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
New ‘Garden of Peace’ celebrates diversity at Southeast Center
Photos and story by Christine Egan
On the afternoon of June 8, Southeast Center students and faculty gathered together to unveil a new garden at the campus to commemorate the center’s Asian New Year event, which PCC has celebrated for ten years thanks to the hard work of students and faculty event organizers. Formally presented as the “Garden of Peace,” the space represents a successful collaboration between students and faculty to design a quiet outdoor area for students to enjoy.
More than 25 volunteers helped dig, mulch, haul rock and gravel and plant seedlings and trees. The new space is in the courtyard across from the Southeast Center testing area.
“We wanted to design a space that celebrated the diversity of our campus and the surrounding communities, much as we do for the Asian New Year celebration,” said Trina Hing, a faculty member who helped design the space with Bill Rude, Lead Groundskeeper for the Southeast Center. The garden is designed with catch basins and vegetation that will effectively capture, filter and use stormwater on site, rather than redirecting it through drains and downspouts.
The project was primarily funded by PCC’s Green Initiative Fund, with monetary contributions from the Dean of Instruction’s Office at Southeast Center.
“This was a huge group effort from students, faculty and staff led by Tamara Spycher, Trina Hing and Bill Rude,” said Julie Kopet, Interim Dean of Students and Instruction at Southeast.
The garden is now open to visitors who can access the space from the doors in Mt. Tabor Hall.
About Christine Egan
Christine Egan is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer and has a graduate degree in land use and environmental planning. Prior to her Peace Corps service in the Dominican Republic, she lived in Washington DC serving as a legislative advisor to ... more »
Congratulations, Southeast Center!! Since SEC was built I’ve wondered why something interesting wasn’t done in all those outdoor spaces. Finally – a terrific improvement. Good job Trina & Bill & Tamara and all those who volunteered.
janice
[…] faculty to celebrate diversity and create a quiet outdoor area for students and employees to enjoy. Organizers hosted a gathering in June 2012 to unveil the new space, which is in the courtyard across from the Southeast Center testing area. Students and faculty are […]