Students will be given the opportunity to learn about the environmental conservation efforts of the university and get involved at the 2014 Earth Day celebration on April 16.
Organized by graduate students of the organizational communication degree program, the celebration will incorporate campus beautification projects and informational displays set up outside the War Memorial Student Union from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. In addition, there will also be opportunities for students to test innovative technology.
“Southeastern’s Sustainability Center will have a table set up displaying information on what they’ve been doing around campus recently to make Southeastern more sustainable,” said Austin Flynn, organizational communication graduate student. “Nissan is going to have an electric car out there for students to sit in and check out.”
Flynn explains the challenges the class faced in organizing the event with the change in location due to construction and renovation of the Student Union Mall.
“Normally, the event is held in the Student Union Mall where students can walk through and check out the different booths that are set up on their way to class. There was a natural flow to the event,” said Flynn. “This year because the area is closed off for construction, we are holding it outside the new Student Union. So, we’ve faced some challenges coordinating the set up for the event. Earth Day will be much like the ones in the past, all that will be affected by the location is how students move through the area.”
In addition to student organizations, including PEEPs and Best Buddies, 11 organizations and businesses will be participating in the celebration and providing information for students.
“Elementary students from the Lab School have also created some artwork celebrating Earth Day that we’ll have set up for viewing,” said Flynn.
Although the National Earth Day Celebration will take place on Tuesday, April 22, classes will not be in session due to Spring Break.
For more information on the celebration, contact Flynn at austin.flynn@southeastern.edu.
“I hope students come out and see what’s going on,” said Flynn. “Hopefully, they’ll come away with a better appreciation for the stuff Southeastern is doing right here on campus to be more environmentally friendly.”