Happy EarthFest! I hope you’re ready for it. Of course, you’ve been “doing it in the dark,” turning off lights and unplugging electronics all week so that your residence hall will win the energy competition (ending on Monday). Maybe you’ve even started spring-cleaning and tossed some stained shirts and torn shoes into the yellow Planet Aid bins. Don’t stop now, the fun has just begun! Join us on Lowry front patio from 4 to 7 p.m.

This will be your last chance to see several awareness projects that have been developed this year. First, the string of disposable cups from last week will make one last appearance. 829 cups every day — I hope we can bring that number down next year. Second, the 1,000 water bottle piece (made from 1,000 water bottles left over by students put together into a giant water bottle sculpture) will make its final appearance. Congratulations to everyone who worked on ridding campus of disposable water bottles. Don’t forget, aluminum is infinitely recyclable, but plastic isn’t. While we are saving 1,000 water bottles from our waste stream every week, we could do more in waste reduction. If you need to get something with packaging, make sure that it’s recyclable and ends up in a blue container. Lastly, the picture of the view from the football field without the coal stack will no longer be necessary: the coal stack will be demolished over the summer. Exciting things are happening on this campus.

 

–                SB Loder, Sustainability Coordinator