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Commencement clean-up

Photo by Becky Dubin Jenkins

It’s the telltale sign of spring on campus, just as much as the tulips bursting into bloom: Trails of a pebbly turquoise concoction lining the sidewalks. Parts of Marquette’s lawn are sorely in need of a facelift after being tread upon by thousands of flipflop-wearing students, and the university’s grounds crew attacks the most visible bald spots every April — just in time for Commencement.

In fact, spring-time is sort of like the university equivalent of quickly sprucing up your house or apartment before your parents show up for a weekend visit. But Marquette is cleaning house for the arrival of a few thousand parents and other family members. Grounds supervisor Jim Blonien told us what it takes to spruce up campus.

94: Acres that require constant attention.

4: Members of the grounds crew (sometimes more) to seed and sod the campus grounds every spring.

1,000: Pounds of grass seed already used this spring. The most trampled-upon part of campus is Westowne Square at the Alumni Memorial Union.

300-400: Flats of annuals — including petunias, pansies, marigolds and impatiens — planted before Commencement.

Dozens: Of hours spent pruning shrubs, replacing dead shrubs and perennials, mulching, mowing and pressure-washing the sidewalks and malls around the AMU before the big event.

23rd of May: The day of Commencement.

129th: Spring Commencement in Marquette’s history.