Whether it is spring, summer, winter or fall, Drury University is alive with seasonal color and buzzing with pollinators. The hard work from the Drury grounds crew is what keeps this campus beautiful.

The importance of inclusiveness on campus

Joe Fearn, Head Groundskeeper and the face behind the ever-supportive Drury Grounds social media (@drurygrounds on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook), had a lot to say about what it takes to make the campus so unique.

“Everybody that comes to Drury, especially the students, will be affected by the landscape,” said Fearn. “What we hope to do is to impact them in a positive way. But impact is as variable as the people coming to Drury. We don’t want to impact them in an artificial way. We are looking for an authentic connection.”

Fearn explained that the true goal of the grounds crew is to create a campus that embodies what it means to be a Drury student.

“Because Drury focuses on inclusiveness, the landscape should be inclusive. We want pockets of campus that will appeal to each individual,” explained Fearn. “This is the only place you can come for a Drury degree, and I think there is significance in that. I would love it if the campus would be a representation of the unique Drury experience. There are a lot of campuses but there’s only one Drury.”

Drury Lane (Photo via @drurygrounds on Twitter)

There are certainly challenges in being a groundskeeper at Drury. Fearn explained the difficulties of appealing to the masses in an ever-changing environment.

“How does the landscape respond to 18 to 22-year-olds in the twenty-first century? How do we provide a landscape with the criteria that students are looking for?” asked Fearn. “Fortunately, I can’t think of the last time somebody complained about the campus, but only by critiquing ourselves can we grow.”

Growth is certainly an aspect of any groundskeeping position, and not just in terms of plants. The work of the grounds crew will affect our campus for years to come.

“I am working on a continuum that began in 1873, and will likely continue for another 140 years. As much as I want to see change today, I am not in a position for that. An oak tree starts as an acorn,” he explained.

So, how do students get the coveted Drury Grounds T-shirt? Fearn couldn’t have said it better.

“Be yourself. Be authentic. Enjoy the campus. Find that spark that shows that you are soul-satisfied being here and you’ll get a shirt. If you love the campus for the right reasons, we’ll know.”

Written by Delilah Gadd.