The annual celebration for Earth Day was in full swing on campus. The graduate students of the Communication 621 class put on Earth day on Wednesday, April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside the new Student Union.
“The event has been put on for about seven years now by the Comm. 621 class,” said Marjorie Parker, Comm. 621 student. “It’s a graduate class and an organizational communication program. We are trying to better the world and better the campus teaching them about sustainability and displaying some community partners that use the same sustainability.
According to Parker, about 30 organizations were present during the event, all contributing to the effort to make people more aware of ways to be eco-friendly.
“There are a lot of organizations here,” said Parker. “All from internal from the campus to external from the community.”
The Southeastern Lab School was also present that day, and they contributed recycled art made by the students to be put on display.
“We wanted to do art that was collaborative, meaning that it was working together,” said Denise Holly, lab school art teacher. “All of the students did this together instead of having individual art pieces they could have done on recycling. I wanted them to come together as a group and have this project. They would feel empowered that they’re working together and not individual, separate.”
The Union was lined with booths including eco-friendly tips while others served popcorn and snowballs. There was also a DJ present, playing music and establishing a fun atmosphere for students and community members.
“Earth day was really nice and a cool way to remind us how to be more mindful of the environment,” said Matt O’Malley, freshman finance major, who attended the event.
“I hope the students will remember that Southeastern’s one of the top green campuses in Louisiana,” said Parker. “They may even want to come up with new initiatives for sustainability, for the green project and Earth Day. They come to participate, learn and take away things like this to do at home.”