About 150 students, faculty and community members gathered in the University Student Commons Plaza Wednesday for VCU’s Year of the Environment Student Kick-Off, which promoted environmental education.
The seven board members for Green Unity, an environmental student organization, hosted the event. GU received more than $8,000 from the Student Government Association to organize and host the event.
GU Board Member Elle Chang said GU members were approached back in October by University President Michael Rao and Associate Vice Provost and Dean of Students Reuban Rodriguez about organizing an event to promote the university’s Year of the Environment, which began Oct. 1.
“We hope that students learn to lead more sustainable lives and learn to engage more in their environment,” Chang said. “Environmental protection is really important for the future.”
Armand Jonté, an art foundation major, said he thinks the university is doing well in promoting environmental awareness.
“I am pretty happy with the presence the Office of Sustainability has on campus,” Jonté said. “But we can always do better.”
Stephanie Polickoski, a mass communications major, said she likes the promotion of going green because it simultaneously promotes the ideas of minimizing waste among students.
“It’s important to stop this idea that we can throw away whatever we want,” Polickoski said. “People have to realize (their actions) are going to have lasting effects.”
GU’s kick-off event divided the plaza into four quadrants, which represented each of the four seasons. In each quadrant, there was a specific focus pertaining to the season: Winter-energy conservation, spring-gardening, fall-eating in season and summer-recreational activities and transportation.
The participants of community and student organizations included VCU Recycling, Energy Management, Linux User Group, CFL Exchange, VCU Dining Services, Farm to Family, Center for Rural Culture, The Wellness Resource Center, Twin Oaks Community, Backyard Farmers, Tricycle Gardens, VCU Student Gardening Club, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, VCU Alternative Spring Break, Outdoor Action Program, VCU Cycling Club, and SGA.
The kick-off event offered free bike repairs, the opportunity to recycle old electronics and a lecture, Wildlife Conservation in a War Zone, given by Pete Smallwood, a biology professor at the University of Richmond.
Smallwood recently returned from conservation work in Afghanistan. As part of his year-long service as the Afghanistan country director for the Wildlife Conservation Society, he worked to implement conservation projects by collaborating with Afghan locals and government officials from both the United States and Afghanistan.
“This is just a good event to promote the Year of the Environment and to get kids involved,” said SGA Sen. Miracle Allums.