Highlighted by a speech lauding student activism at Boston University from City Councilor Mike Ross, the Environmental Student Organization kicked off its Earth Day Weekend Celebration yesterday at Marsh Plaza.
“A lot of people think students have no business with the environment or with government. I’ve seen true activism here at BU,” he said, mentioning a recent ESO idea to install recycling bins along the Commonwealth Avenue Mall as part of a graduating class’ senior gift.
Ross said he is “impressed with the community here at BU,” but on the whole, “BU needs to do a better job of focusing on environmental issues. Students are working, but the administration needs to meet them halfway. It will only work if they’re working together.”
As Ross spoke on the steps of the Marsh Chapel, students and leaders from various local environmental groups manned tables set up on Marsh Plaza.
“Earth Day is important,” said CAS sophomore Kristen Donovan. “We need to promote the cause. People will walk by and see the earth is an important thing; maybe they will help us.”
Mira Stanchak, a CAS sophomore, said she got involved in the kickoff celebration to promote recycling efforts at BU.
“We need to divert as much as possible away from landfills,” she said. “Recycling this year has really taken off.”
“It’s good to make people aware of what’s going on. People don’t relate problems of the environment to themselves,” said Meredith Abrams, a CAS freshman. “This event is a good way to make people realize the problems of the environment will have to be dealt with.”
Organizations like Campus Green Vote were on hand to spread the word about political influences on the environment.
Aaron Michel, ESO vice president and a sophomore in the University Professors Program, said the event was presented in a festival atmosphere in order to “bring people in and associate the environment with fun and happiness.
“Helping the environment is the greatest good a person can do for humanity and the world as a whole at this point in time. [Other global issues] are semi-short term. Once we screw up the environment, there will be a wide range impact on a global scale.”
The Kickoff Celebration is only the first of three events taking place this weekend to celebrate Earth Day. Tonight at 8 p.m., Harvard University is hosting the Environmental Social, which is to include music, dancing and also several short speeches about the event.
On Saturday, ESO is leading the Charles River Cleanup, which is expected to draw more than 100 people from various BU campus groups. Beginning at 9 a.m., participants will clean up the BU area of the banks of the Charles River. Garbage bags will be provided, and anyone can join.
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