Stefanie Anderegg
Tsa La Gi Writer

As students look around campus they see major changes.
The university is going though a beatification process of the Tahlequah campus. This process is a two-phased plan with other smaller projects.
Phase one of the process is the removal of broken planters, damaged sidewalks and new landscaping along Grand Avenue.
“The NSU Physical Plant work crews have taken out all of the old planters and sidewalks along Grand Avenue over the past few months,” said Joe Spence, NSU Physical Plant director. “Our crews are currently re-working sewer lines, storm drains, electrical lines and plumbing located under those planters and evaluating and re-working plans as necessary.”
Phase two of this process calls for the creation of Centennial Plaza. This plaza would be a makeover for the campus’s southern entrance. This will be done by renewing the parking lot west of Jack Dobbins Field House. The university will also place a statue of Sequoyah, creator of the written Cherokee alphabet, in the center of Centennial Plaza.
“The university’s initial plan includes a combination of beautification and water control,” said Kim Cherry, NSU acting president. “Currently there are very limited ways for water to flow off the interior of campus, so while the university is working on new landscaping we are also looking at water drainage issues.”
The university is removing all of the Bradford Pear trees. These trees are dangerous. Last year two trees fell on students, said Cherry.
Besides the tree removal throughout campus, university staff is also addressing infrastructure in Haskell Hall. The staff will be working on tuck points and masonry. Because of this work, all shrubs and trees will be removed from the building.
This type of work will also be accomplished in the Business Technology Building and the Education Building.
“Because of the tree removal, the university is having a graduate class from the University of Oklahoma come in and make a master plan,” said Cherry. “With this master plan they will be making recommendations for improvement to our campus.”
This graduate class is a year long process. The university should expect to see the master plan in May.
Another stop in phase two is the new water drainage for the interior of the campus.
Besides these two main phases, there are other smaller projects planed and some that have been completed. These plans include more lighting around campus, repairs to the fountain.
“All of these projects are being completed in concert with the renovation projects currently under way with our academic buildings,” said Cherry. “I have always heard that NSU has a beautiful campus, and we are working to maintain our reputation as the most architecturally traditional and beautiful campus in the state.”
The beatification project was to be completed before students returned for fall classes.