They're not technically changing the school's color, they're just starting to consistently use it.
I'm assuming if you go to the Betty, the floor will look much less lime green than it does in certain pictures right now.
Not sure if you're poking fun or not, but that's completely fair to point to for UND. There has been tens of millions of $ in private apartments put up right on the doorstep of campus with the Boden and all the 42nd St development.
I've read that they're ash trees. Not sure how imminent it is, but ash trees are often being replaced when convenient in anticipation of the emerald ash borer coming over from Minnesota.