I've Been Busy...

...stamping

Local Student Survives Required Field Trip

April 19, 2008
CHAMPAIGN, IL

In an unexpected turn of events local University of Illinois student, Ellen Hartman, survived her Woody Plant Identification II class field trip. "It was a challenge," Hartman is quoted as saying about the grueling three day and two night event, "we had to walk around for hours at a time looking at tree bark, tree buds, tree flowers, and tree leaves." "I had other things to work on this weekend" Hartman later told reporters about the trip, going on to say, "Don't get me wrong I do like to waste time, but just on my own terms."

Although many of the walks took place in cemeteries where tombstones provided a welcome relief from the woody plant material, Hartman still remained firm in her opinion that this type of walking "just isn't my thing." She also added, "I got a sunburn on this trip and I don't like getting sunburned."

Thinking over the hardships of the past three days Hartman recalled the naps she took on the bus as a reprieve from the demands of the field trip. However, Hartman confided that she hadn't liked bus travel since the band trips she had to go on in high school, stating that her rules for appropriate bus behavior are not universally shared by the majority of her classmates. "I know there's a toilet, but it's for emergency purposes only. Doesn't everyone know that?" Hartman asked.

Having met the challenges faced by the Woody Plant Identification field trip, Hartman feels confident that she can use the lessons learned from this trip to face the remaining obstacles at the end of her semester. Regarding the stress of finishing up the academic year Hartman stated, "I guess I'll take some long walks and I'll probably nap a lot too."