2008 Woodie Awards
Earth Day unites community
Stephanie South
Issue date: 4/23/08 Section: News
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Debra Holman, the associate director for the Honors Program, helped newly-appointed Honors Director Michael Kimball co-chair the Earth Day Planning Committee. Holman said one of the focuses of Earth Day was to give the city and the university another opportunity to interact.
"We define sustainability two ways - either green or local," Holman said.
Going green refers to living a more eco-friendly lifestyle. But going local, according to Holman, means helping to sustain local families, businesses and operations.
Holman said the various organizations and students involved in the planning and executing of Earth Day were the reason a full day of celebration was a possibility.
"Students have really been the leaders on this," Holman said. "We have a variety of students involved."
The Earth Day Information Fair lasted for several hours in the lower level of the University Center. The fair featured booths from businesses in Greeley that wanted to inform students of what they were doing to aid the green movement and promote their services.
The information fair was organized by Adriane Zachary, a sophomore speech and language pathology major and a member of the Earth Day Planning Committee.
Zachary said she also believed bringing the campus and community together to celebrate was a key component of the day.
Zachary also said students need to become more informed about what they can do to help sustain the earth not just one day a year, but every day.
"Every day should be Earth Day," Zachary said. "The earth needs taking care of."
UNC's Environmental Studies Club has celebrated Earth Day for several years by planting trees every year.
Adam Davidson, the president of the Environmental Studies Club and a senior recreation major, said the club is looking to get more students involved and let them decide what they want the club to do.
"We are just trying to get people to volunteer and conserve mainly, so we're all ears," Davidson said.
Earth Day events ran from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday. The day wrapped up with presentations from Colorado's Poet Laureate Mary Crow and Pushcart Prize-winning poet Richard Tayson.
Other events offered students the chance to hear different faculty members speak on a variety of environmental topics, as well how they can go green and help sustain both Greeley and the earth.
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