Dr. Ann Marlowe, professor of English is keeping the seven-year tradition going when it comes to Earth Day and Campus Appreciation week.

Marlowe said this is kind of a celebration of the world, the nature and the University.

“We want to help make our students aware of our beautiful campus,” Marlowe said.

“The awareness also helps promote our campus so students will appreciate it more,” she said.

Along with appreciating the campus and Earth Day, this will also be a tribute back to University President Julio León and his wife Vivian, director of The Missouri Southern International Piano Contest.

“Dr. León helped beautify this campus, so this is a tribute back to him and his wife,” she said.

Future plans for the campus include a Japanese garden that will also be used to honor León and his wife.

Every year, flowers are planted on campus but Marlowe said flowers will not be planted this year because the school’s budget is down.

Last year, a flowering cherry tree was planted.

“We want our maintenance department to know that we appreciate them too for making our campus so beautiful,” Marlowe said.

Dustin Hunt, senior international business major, said Earth Day is a good day to recognize what certain groups do when they work together for a certain cause, keep the earth clean.

The environmental group will be celebrating Earth Day by setting up different booths in the oval.

Hunt said the booths help raise awareness for students.

Marlowe said she wants students to also become aware of the Biology Pond and the red bridge that overlooks it.

The Biology Pond has been at Southern for 30 years.

In 1972, before it became a pond, it was used as a swimming pool.

“There are students that are not even aware that there is a pond,” Marlowe said.

Marlowe said the biology pond is like a meditation area for students who want to experience a more natural place.

“We just want our students to take time to stop and smell the roses,” she said.

If anyone is interested in chalking the campus sidewalks in celebration of Earth Day, contact Marlowe at 625-9648.