CARBONDALE - Southern Illinois University Carbondale has begun the process of replacing some of the beauty it lost during the May 8 storm that devastated the region.

On Friday, Chancellor Sam Goldman joined SIUC faculty, staff and students in planting a tree outside of Wheeler Hall on campus. This marked the first step in restoring more than 600 trees destroyed during the storm.

"The campus remains beautiful without them, but we're enhancing the beauty by replacing them," Goldman said.

Friday's planting was more symbolic than anything else, as officials and members of the university community hope to draw out volunteers when they plant 200 trees around campus Nov. 13.

A focus group formed to explore ideas of restoring the campus after the storm decided to pursue this project as a first step in a lar-ger master plan for improving the campus' image.

Ethan Lindsay of Marion and Nick Wangelin of Princeton, both senior plant and soil science majors, were present at the ceremonial tree planting Friday and said they have been working with the focus group.

"We just hope to help out in any way possible," Lindsay said.

Those interested in helping with Nov. 13's mass planting should contact Saluki Volunteer Corps at 618-453-5714.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com

618-351-5031