Nationwide movement seeks climate commitment from colleges
President Schwaller joins other college presidents in commitment to achieve climate neutrality
Melissa Tinklepaugh
Issue date: 4/18/08 Section: Going Green
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First observed in 1970, Earth Day (April 22) is "a day dedicated to the environmental health of our planet," according to Encarta. William Proxmire, then the senator of Wisconsin, is considered the founder of Earth Day as he had developed the idea of a national demonstration for environmental issues. Approximately 20 million Americans participated in activities on the first Earth Day, according to Encarta.
Within two decades, Earth Day developed into an international event; Encarta states that over "200 million people in 141 countries" participate. In celebration of the day, programs are planned in many countries to provide information about environmental threats. The organization Earth Day Network estimated that, in the early 2000s, "1,000 groups and 500 million people" participated in Earth Day celebrations worldwide.
Since its founding in 1970, Earth Day celebrations have spread into a whole week of activities from the international level to the college level. A variety of events to observe Earth Week have been planned at SUNY Potsdam.
Campus environmental group Middle Ground and the Potsdam Goes Green initiative have been organizing Earth Week activities by encouraging departments and groups on campus to host an environmental-related event. The Global Climate Change course in the Environmental Studies program is requiring its students to hold events in order to raise environmental awareness.
The Department of Geology and Geology Club are hosting the third annual Rock and Fossil Fair and Roadshow April 19 from 9 a.m. to noon in Timerman Hall. At noon, Geology Club is hosting a hike.
Theatre Guild is hosting a play of Dr. Seuss's "The Lorax" at 3:00 p.m. on April 20 in the Union Multi-Purpose Room. SUNY Potsdam's student newspaper The Racquette provided going green coverage in its April 18 issue in observance of Earth Week.
As a project for the Global Climate Change course, students have organized a concert to take place April 22, behind the Student Union from 3:00-8:00 p.m. Among other department and club events, the Sociology Department is sponsoring a "Talk on Population and Consumption" on April 24 from 3:15-4:14 in Dunn 102.
Environment-related campus events have already taken place this semester and more will occur later this spring. Residence Hall Association held two water taste tests earlier this month: April 9 from 11:00-1:00 in the Union and April 16 from 11:00-1:00 in the Crane Commons. They invited students to taste tap, bottled, and filtered water to illustrate a lack of difference between the three types of water. Members of Greek Life participated in a campus-cleanup April, organized by Lindsay Mermell. Later this semester, Greek Life will participate in a town cleanup.
Offices on campus are also holding environment-related events during Earth Week. For example, PACES will be promoting environmental consciousness through special activities and sales in the dining halls, College Store and the Union Market.
Pages 8 and 9 of this issue are dedicated to efforts to go green on the college level and at SUNY Potsdam.
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