Students gathered by the hundreds in the University Student Commons Wednesday to celebrate Earth Day. Student organization
Green Unity hosted the event for the first time since the group’s inception.
Green Unity started planning the event last semester, said Amanda Schutt, a Green Unity officer and environmental studies major.
“We decided after we collaborated with the VCU SGA last year to do the plant giveaway, we had to do this big event this year,” Schutt said. “It’s our first year doing this. We’re hoping to gain the respect of VCU and respect of the community and maybe next year make it even bigger.”
Many community environmental groups showed up for the event, setting up tables to display information and items that were being given away to students.
“Some people couldn’t come. I know the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality was planning on being here and couldn’t come out,” Schutt said. “The economy has kept a lot of people from being able to take a day off. We’re glad for the response we’ve got.”
VCU Recycling Coordinator Steven Heinitz said the Earth Day celebration and anything related to the environment is important, because it raises awareness in the community.
“I think (the event) gives the opportunity for people to share information . VCU is the perfect place to discuss these issues that are affecting everybody,” Heinitz said.
“The students are our future; they are taking classes and are hopefully going to be in careers that will help solve a lot of these problems. So, this is definitely the perfect atmosphere to have events like these.”
During the event, a local band, The Silo Effect, played while students walked through the rows of tables looking at the different displays. One group was giving away plants.
Despite intermittent rain showers, the event
was a success, according to Green Unity officer and environmental studies major Will Isenberg.
“I’m very satisfied,” Isenberg said. “It turned out well, and everyone is having a good time.”