The Lion’s Roar / Elizabeth Brown
Friendship Oak has been on campus since 1925. Many students recall the urban legend of Friendship Oak stating how if you kiss your significant other under the tree, you are soon to be married. It has been a part of the Hammond community for decades. However, the age of the tree is unknown.
“No one is quite sure the age of the tree,” said Director of the Alumni Association Kathy L. Pittman. “Many times we have asked if there is a way to find out the oak’s age without hurting the tree, but no one has come up with a solution.”
While trying to preserve the life of Friendship Oak, students during Southeastern’s 75th anniversary in the year 2000 collected acorns dropped from the tree. The students then handed the acorns out to the guest of the celebration to spread the life of the tree throughout town. Since then, the tree has required much maintenance due to natural and un-natural causes. Students climbing the limbs of the tree, Christmas lights hung from the branches and lightning strikes are just a few of the hazardous concerns of damage to the tree. Students are highly advised to contribute to the health of the tree by only sitting under the tree and not climbing or hanging from the branches. The university decided a few years ago to let go of the Christmas lights idea due to the damage from the wires and hopefully in the near future will have lights around the tree instead. Animals are also a natural cause of damage to the tree. Animal holes, scratching and eating seem to be problematic.
Many concerns relevant to the tree have become more recognizable these past few weeks. Workers from Biggz Tree Care of Baton Rouge have been doing maintenance on the tree and its surrounding area. Maintenance of the tree has been taking place since Feb. 12, 2016. The tree care has included root care such as replenishing the dirt for vitamins and nutrients to provide a healthier area for the tree to grow and continue to live. Concerns of serious construction on the tree have been heard around campus. Public Information staff member Rene G. Abadie has confirmed, “that it is just normal maintenance work, no construction.”
It is safe to say that Friendship Oak is under good hands and will continue to be the center of our beautiful campus grounds, healthy and nourished.
“It will continue to be the Southeastern landmark,” says Pittman.
If you would like to see more information or pictures of Friendship Circle as a small sapling, please visit the Sims Library or go to their library website and search Friendship Circle at: www.southeastern.edu/library.