On college Earth Day fests

06 Mar 2006

Got questions about the environment? Ask Umbra.

Dear Umbra,

With Earth Day coming up, our environmental group at Purdue, Campus Greens, is trying to plan some events. Last year we had 15 groups handing out information and we provided free veggie burgers plus other food. This year we were hoping to expand on that success and include some activities like having people manually power a TV, washing machine, or some electronic device. Other than that, we're really struggling for ideas and support at a die-hard conservative school. Any help would be appreciated.

Anthony
West Lafayette, Ind.

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Dearest Anthony,

Thank you for your letter. I would rather eat horse food than veggie burgers, so I welcome the opportunity to weigh in and suggest activities that I personally would find more enticing.

Suitable for all.

Photo: iStockphoto.

Please don't fret. So many Earth Days have passed since 1970 that you should not be starting from scratch on this one. No need to invent things out of whole cloth when we have 35 years of experience at colleges around the nation, and the internet to help us pilfer those examples.

Earth Day activities can be celebratory or educational, and the educational ones can be aimed at a green audience or at novices. You've got your speakers, your awards, your sorting of trash on the main quad, your Top Ten Things You Can Do lists, your tree plantings, your volunteering at schools, your Car-Free Day. A fun event might just be nominally earthy, like a band or a scavenger hunt. You're just trying to raise awareness, and get a few more fish in the net, so it doesn't need to be completely original.

If you have the funds and time, it might be nice to have a mixture of activities, so that your group feels invigorated and advanced by at least part of the event, rather than run down by a poor response. If you expect your audience to be conservative, you might find a speaker who could give an introductory talk pitched to non-greens, something like "Theories of Global Warming and the U.S. Economy."

You also might have luck with an activity specific to Purdue and the concerns of Purdue students and staff. We all know conservation can be good to our wallets. What could you instigate, or pass out, or sell, that would reduce student expenses, or improve their lives, that would also be approved by the administration? If you met with plant operations or a budget group, could you ask them for input on how you could work together to cut electricity or garbage costs, or beautify the campus, or something along those lines? Perhaps you'll find a project that Campus Greens can do in tandem with the college. Wouldn't that be killer? You would get college support, maybe a little money, definitely promotion, and you could kick it all off on Earth Day.

Maybe that's a fantasy, but I know you can find something better than a human-powered TV. If you want to highlight humans as an alternative energy source, bike tune-up workshops would be better.

Bossily,
Umbra

Yours is to wonder why, hers is to answer (or try). Please send Umbra any nagging question pertaining to the environment -- but first check out her FAQs!

The claims made in this column may not reflect the views of this magazine. Neither the magazine nor the author guarantees that any advice contained in this column is wise or safe. Please use this column at your own risk.

Umbra Fisk is Grist Research Associate II, Hardcover and Periodicals Unit, floors 2B-4B.

Comments: (3 comments)

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Earth Day at Purdue

As an 'enviro' Purdue grad, I have a few suggestions that may help Anthony. When I was part on the Purdue Environmental Science Club we did various things that appealed to different individuals during Earth Day/Week events. We held energy awareness gatherings that focused on (among other things) the energy efficient lighting in the PMU. We held panel discussions with professors from various departments (everything from political science to economics). We invited speakers from various groups from activists to a professor from the Christian Theological Seminary. I would also suggest getting in contact with the Lafayette Peace Coalition. While they may have some different perspectives and goals, they may be able to help with organizing. I also know of some Professors that may be able to help - if you read this and are interested let me know. Also try to get Grad students involved, they tend to be more motivated and have better connections. So good luck and don't be afraid to reach out to people or organizations that you think may not be receptive - I think that you may be surprised. The more groups you have involved with the Earth Day events the more likely it will be a success. Thank you for keeping the movement alive at Purdue!

by lrmyers11 at 1:33 PM on 06 Mar 2006

Earth Day

A conservative campus might respond to a worship service - non-denominational -extolling the glory of Creation.

by sjjy at 4:24 PM on 06 Mar 2006

don't forget the animals!

Why is biodiversity being treated once again as a cause that environmentalists have never heard of?

I have no idea what the zoo situation is like out by Purdue. But many large zoos in our country (by no means all, unfortunately) are run by thoughtful, knowledgeable zoologists for whom the preservation of biodiversity is a major cause, and in which the education of an ill-informed public is a daily task. Many animals in zoos do not mind a bit of traveling, and many zoologists already make it their practice to travel with certain individual animals for educational purposes. One or two (a wolf?; a python?) would certainly be a draw. Possibly such a visit to your campus by a professional docent with one or more animals can be arranged for Earth Day. Possibly students could participate in presentations of the ecosystems, and their difficulties, that the animals represent. And possibly, in reverse, the zoologists may have interesting volunteer opportunities available for college students.

Ethically, treating animals as educational props is always an animal-rights issue. I for one believe that it can be done humanely. But much thought and caution are necessary beforehand.

Chickens deserve our true friendship! So do fish! So do other sentient beings! Let us learn to be kind.

by caniscandida at 9:20 PM on 06 Mar 2006

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On college Earth Day fests