The University will celebrate Earth Day in an all-day event Saturday on Cook campus with an expected crowd of about 500.
The celebration - which is organized by a broad group of campus organizations coordinated by Rutgers University Environmental Council - isn't only one of the largest student-organized events at the University but also the largest student-run event on Cook campus.
RUEC is an umbrella group for student groups interested in campus environmental issues.
Along with "Revitalizing Activism" - which is the theme for this year's event - there will also be an emphasis on environmental health and safety, environmental spirituality, transportation and environmental leisure.
The event will also focus on encouraging students to get more involved with many of the environmental issues the University faces.
"I think the most significant thing about this year's event is how it has grown since we first ran it three years ago," said Cook College senior Chris Clarke, the event coordinator. "The event truly symbolizes the benefits of building a broad coalition of students, faculty, staff and administrators and what such a group can accomplish."
Edward Lloyd Esq. is the established keynote speaker for the event.
Lloyd has pursued a career in activism as the executive director of New Jersey Public Interest Research Group to his current position as a professor of environmental law at Columbia University Law School, where he teaches in the Environmental Law Clinic.
The schedule of events will also include workshop sessions, such as "Rainforest in Your Shopping Cart," "A Bike-able Campus and City," "A Vegetarian Diet and the Environment" and "Meeting the People of the Amazon."
There will also be a panel titled "Activism as a Life Changing Experience," including panelists Jeanne Fox, a graduate and president of the Board of Public Utilities, Valorie Caffee, of the state Work Environmental Council and New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, and Michael Buono, of Environmental Services Management.
Panelists will speak about lessons they have learned, give advice for current and prospective activists and discuss how activism has guided them to government and nongovernmental environmental organizations and "green" businesses.
A wide variety of movies, hands-on activities and hybrid cars will also be on display, including models such as the Honda Insight, Civic and Accord and the Ford Escape sport-utility vehicle, as well as environmental products and healthy food which will be provided by various University student clubs and outside vendors.
Closing the event will be live band performances from Third Frequency, Simon Lake, a performance by keyboard soloist Charisma Mendoza and other evening activities.
Other contributing groups are RU Sustainable, Rutgers Naturalists, Rutgers Future Farmers of America, Green Print, Outdoors Club, Students for Environmental Awareness, Cook Office of Continuing Professional Education, the Cook College Ecology and Evolution Departments and EcoComplex.
Be the first to comment on this article!