Here at UMass, we celebrate Founder’s Day on the 29th of April (please don’t quibble with me about the apostrophe, as greater minds than mine have already debated this issue). It was on this day, in 1863, that Governor John Andrews signed the charter for the Massachusetts Agricultural College, a year after the passage of the federal Morrill Act. In 1931, we became the Massachusetts State College, and in 1947, the University of Massachusetts. If you can count in your head, you’ve already realized that in two years, we celebrate the University’s sesquicentennial. Watch this space!
As in years past, I sat near the tents set up on Goodell Lawn and enjoyed the picnic lunch catered by UMass Dining Services. Note that they made a special effort to serve locally-grown food and to use biodegradable plastic cutlery (this was rather novel, and I kept mine). Yes, there were veggie burgers and vegetarian baked beans, which were quite good.
On the way back to my office, I snapped a few photos.
The whole campus was invited to a picnic lunch.
Students compete at mini-golf.
Daffodils bloom in front of Old Chapel.
"The Border Crossed Us" is a temporary public art installation.
Today is also Arbor Day, a celebration of trees.
WTF? Anyone know what this is?
If the above graffiti is gang or skinhead insignia, please let me know and I’ll remove the image from the blog. Thanks, guys.