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I don't remember exactly but there may have been a small crab apple tree by the entrance. This was below and in front of Hamerschlag Hall that I believe is now filled in. The offices behind connected to the library floor of Wean Hall.

Yeah, the old parking lot around Hamerschlag became the new fab / nanotech lab when Scott Hall was built (finished 2016) -- they connected HH C-level to Wean 4, a major boon to winter-time indoor connectivity. Google Streetview has a pretty good view of it:

https://www.google.com/maps/@40.4420983,-79.9460873,3a,75y,3...

Likely some trash or debris. At 3:35, after the camera cuts to the machine turned around, you can see a couple more similar white objects underneath the front of the Walker that appear to be blown about.

Looks like an artifact?

Maybe, but it looks like it has a shadow and follows the contour of the ground?