To symbolize the beginning of Chancellor Donald Beggs’ legacy, the Graduate and Professional Student Council planted a tree in front of the Wham Education Building, which Beggs called home for many years as College of Education dean.

In a ceremony Monday afternoon, leaders from GPSC, Undergraduate Student Government, the Faculty Senate and Student Programming Council gathered with Beggs to plant an October Glory Maple in his honor.

In his speech at the ceremony, GPSC President Tim Hoerman said that Chancellor Beggs had been an undying champion for the students and the University as whole and this tree was a monument to his service.

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This tree is something tangible that will be seen for years to come, instead of just a plaque that might end up in a box somewhere, Hoerman said after the ceremony. He can return to this campus and remember his time here.

USG President Dave Vingren attended the ceremony. He said that this was important as a permanent reminder of Beggs and his work for this University and its students.

Beggs began at in 1959 as a student in education. In 1966 he began teaching as an assistant professor in the Department of Guidance and Educational Psychology until taking over as dean of the College of Education. He served in that position for 15 years.

In 1996, Beggs replaced Chancellor John Guyon. Jo Ann Argersinger, provost for University of Maryland Baltimore County, recently was chosen to replace Beggs. Beggs officially will step down June 30.

In his time as chancellor, Beggs has had many obstacles to overcome, from declining student enrollment to negotiations between the faculty union and administration.

Beggs said he really appreciated this gesture from GPSC and the other constituencies.

This was a surprise to me, I didn’t know what they were doing until I saw the tree and the shovels, Beggs said. The relationship with the students has been special. It is not unusual, but it is really nice in terms of the student leadership.

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The tree was paid for by GPSC, and other groups will be collecting money to purchase a bronze plaque to be placed at the base of the tree.

Faculty Senate President Steve Jensen said members of the faculty senate will make a donation to GPSC to purchase the plaque.

Physical Plant Superintendent of Grounds Bruce Francis and some of his workers donated the labor to plant the tree.

During the ceremony, Beggs addressed SPC Executive Director Luis Muralles and Campus Events Director Andrew Daly.

You really ought to be proud of the Spring Thing, he said. The tone set by the students was, Let us be responsible and we will be.’ Beggs was out of town Saturday and unable to attend the event but contacted Vice Chancellor for Administration Jim Tweedy to find out how the event went.

For me to get a positive report from Vice Chancellor Tweedy was wonderful, Beggs said. I think the students have demonstrated through the past year and this event that they can behave in a responsible way.

Beggs said that in his most recent conference with Argersinger he made a recommendation to her based on the students’ conduct in the past year and during Spring Thing. Argersinger must deal with the new calendar for 2000 when she arrives here, and Beggs recommended that she carefully reconsider the fall break during Halloween.

I think that after the Spring Thing and the events in the last year, the recommendation would be the appropriate positive culmination, Beggs said.

He also said he thought GPSC, USG and the Daily Egyptian had played a key role in this with their attention to the issue.