by Sara Moore
This past Friday, Oct. 13, was the first ever Party for the Planet which promoted sustainability and environmentally friendly activities both on and off campus. From 5-9 p.m., the Res Quad was filled with music, donuts, cider and tables that focused on various aspects of preserving the planet through small lifestyle changes. There was nothing spooky about this party except the effects of climate change. Here’s everything that happened in case you missed it:
At the heart of this event was Mother Nature and how we as a campus community can protect our home. This message was shared through tables that featured games, activities and information about what you can do to help the planet. Some of the tables showcased local organizations, others had fresh produce from Local Roots and some taught how to combat climate change through democracy from Citizens Climate Lobby. The student-led tables featured upcycling old t-shirts into tote bags, a recycling game about what can be recycled on campus, tips on how to calculate your carbon footprint and pledges for sustainability where guests could write down their goals to help the planet and receive a sticker. The Greenhouse Club also had a table to promote what their organization is doing in the future and how you can get involved.
But what’s a party without food and music? Lerch’s Donuts served up their world-famous fair favorites to visitors paired with hot cider. Local Roots supplied free samples of apples, lettuce, carrots and bell peppers so everyone could taste the difference of fresh local produce. Then at 7 p.m., Hard Hat Band took the stage to rock the Res. Quad. The group is a local band from Ashland that performs in the Wayne County area. They played a variety of genres and covers in an act that closed out the event.
Party for the Planet was a way for the new Director of Sustainability, Brian Webb, to get students involved and excited about making campus more eco-friendly. A more sustainable future might seem impossible, but the small changes highlighted by the event can make a big difference. Alongside Webb, a group of sustainability interns and passionate volunteers helped out to make the event happen. One sustainability intern, Atlas Dwyer ’24, shared, “Having a sustainability coordinator is an amazing opportunity and I wanted to do my part to make Wooster a more sustainable and planet-friendly campus.” This desire to help the planet was echoed by everyone at the event since climate change is one of the biggest issues in our world today.
If you were unable to attend this event, here are a few takeaways that you can do to help the planet: commit to a small sustainable lifestyle change. This doesn’t have to be a major change, even something as small as not using a plastic straw or turning off the lights when you leave a room can help. Shop local whenever possible: it’s good for small businesses and the planet. When in doubt, throw it out. One piece of trash can spoil the whole batch of recycling and cause it all to be thrown away. (Please still throw away your trash. Don’t throw it on the ground for someone else to pick up. Your mother doesn’t go to school here.) Donate or upcycle your old possessions. There are many ways to give your old stuff new life. Preserving the planet can feel like a daunting task, but if we all do our part, then the job becomes a lot smaller. It’s like doing a group project. If everyone helps, then you have less to do. But the project becomes a lot worse when you have to do everything yourself. Don’t be the person who does nothing for the group project of protecting the planet. Remember: Earth is our only home, there is no Planet B.