Rest in Pieces

Robin Davies

Tragedy struck the west side of campus this summer when Elmer, a century-old elm tree, succumbed to Dutch elm disease and was cut down. Elmer stood outside the Hector F. DeLuca Biochemistry Building. The university had been working for 20 years to prevent Elmer’s demise, but the disease, which is caused by fungus and spread by beetles, finally won out. The elm was thought to be the largest tree on campus by trunk diameter, and biochemistry and horticulture staff hope to use its wood to make furniture.

Published in the Winter 2018 issue