![\"UConn](\"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/HerbstTree2.jpg\")
<\/a>estate fortune, bestowed upon us by the Storrs brothers in 1881. In particular, our nation\u2019s third president understood the relationships among pastoral America, democracy, and intellectual life.<\/p>\n
As the historian Garry Wills wrote in his very fine book, Mr. Jefferson\u2019s University<\/em>:<\/p>\n \u201cThough Jefferson\u2019s university [the University of Virginia] was original in many ways, it was also the fulfillment of a dream long cherished on this continent \u2013 the hope for a university fitted to the distinctive American experience, one that would negotiate a new relationship with nature in the New World. European universities had been urban, dotted about in the interstices of a great city like Paris, or monastic, sealed up on gated quadrangles like those at Oxford and Cambridge. American schools, from the beginning, were open to the countryside, looking out on lawns or greens or yards or \u2018areas\u2019 \u2013 on the long village mall stretching out before the Wren Building in Williamsburg, or on \u2018the field\u2019 (Latin campus<\/em>) before Nassau Hall at the College of New Jersey (later Princeton). Princeton\u2019s word for its \u2018campus\u2019 would at last be adopted by colleges to indicate their entire plat, but its original meaning shows that our first colleges wanted to address and respond to open space.\u201d<\/p>\n Our own campus, here in Storrs, Conn., remains a reflection of that early American dream for a university.<\/p>\n Surrounded by a picturesque landscape that resonates with these ideals of openness, of nature untouched, we are blessed with the splendor of Horsebarn Hill, historic stone walls, as well as acres of peaceful forest, scenic hiking trails, and a state park, all nearby. Consider, too, the impressive collection of trees<\/a> across our main campus; while some are notable for their size, others for their rarity, many of them are actively used for classroom instruction. They serve as dignified teachers in this outdoor classroom of ours, inviting us to remarkably beautiful spots where we can pause and reflect.<\/p>\n Ensuring that we maintain this natural beauty around us, even as our campus evolves, is essential. From improving signage to preserving spaces for pedestrians to finding ways to integrate learning opportunities into future plans for the campus grounds, our own Campus Appearance Committee has taken on the task of enhancing even our highest-traffic areas to complement the broader landscape.<\/p>\n At the same time, our University remains dedicated to building an ever-greener campus. Over the past year, UConn has been named one of the greenest schools in the nation<\/a> as well as one of the world\u2019s most eco-friendly campuses<\/a>. We have also recently expanded our Climate Action Plan<\/a>, a plan designed to reduce UConn\u2019s carbon footprint. With more energy-efficient facilities, increased biodiesel production to fuel our fleet of buses, and a new fuel cell power plant installed this past April on our Depot campus, our Storrs campus intends to be carbon-neutral by 2050.<\/p>\n Being good stewards of the environment and doing all that we can to bring out the best in our campuses are endeavors crucial to any great University. Yet conservation and aesthetics are still only a part of the bigger picture.<\/p>\n<\/a>