At a time when the Earth and its inhabitants face numerous ecological challenges, students and community members are joining hands to look for solutions. The campus’ Earth Day Coalition will host various activities today to celebrate and educate students about environmental issues, in honor of Earth Day. Members from the ASUO Executive, OSPIRG, Outdoor Programs, Campus Recycling and the Survival Center organized the event, which runs from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the EMU.
ASUO Environmental Coordinator Erin Rowland said the event will not only expose students to environmental issues affecting communities globally, but also enable people to see what they can do to help. She said part of the coalition’s focus this year is on alternative forms of transportation.
“We really want students to ride the bikes more,” Rowland said.
Students can get free bike tune-ups and equipment from noon to 4 p.m. on the Memorial Quad between Chapman and Condon halls.
The coalition also wants to stress the importance of waste reduction and energy conservation. Rowland said one way students and faculty can help to save paper every day is by using reusable mugs for drinks. To create incentive, EMU food services will give a 50-cent discount to customers with reusable mugs all day today.
“We’re trying to promote things students can easily access,” she said. “One small change can make a big difference.”
Outdoor Programs Environmental Coordinator Brenda Tincher had similar sentiments.
“Our biggest goal is to raise awareness on how people can change their own habits to help make a difference,” she said. Tincher said the coalition wants to create a fun atmosphere through which students can learn.
Part of the Earth Day fun includes a nature arts-and-crafts session in the EMU Amphitheater where students can let their creative juices flow. The coalition will provide art materials. OSPIRG members will also create a giant picture of the Earth Day logo made entirely of bottle caps.
There will also be tables with information from student and community organizations, a parade and musical entertainment. Tincher said LTD will display one of its electric automobiles and the Ecological Design Center will show off its new solar ovens. In addition, the coalition will show the anime film “Princess Mononoke” at 8 p.m.
OSPIRG campus organizer Kit Douglass said OSPIRG will hold a 10 a.m. press conference by the EMU solar panels to release a report called “Behind Closed Doors.”
“(The report) details current attacks the Bush administration is making on environmental laws in this country and how it will impact local communities.”
Douglass said the group wanted students to know about the various laws in place on issues such as clean air and public health and how they are at risk. Other speakers at the press conference include planning, public policy and management Assistant Professor John Baldwin and Doug Heiken of the Oregon Natural Resources Council.
University senior Sara Henderson said Earth Day is important not only because it celebrates nature, but because it allows students to network with people who have similar environmental concerns, no matter how involved in the movement they are.
“I think Earth Day presents a really great opportunity to all people from all spectrums of the environmental movement,” she said.
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