Greenfest spreads environmental awareness

In an effort to combat environmental and political apathy on campus, this past Saturday's Greenfest raised both student awareness and $500.

The event, organized by Students for the Environment, was held on the North Green.

Sophomore Lauren Asprooth, co-president of the student-run group, said the organization's biggest goal is education at the university.

"We also want to give students an opportunity to share information, have fun and encourage environmental awareness and political activism," Asprooth said. "It's a chance for students to make a difference."

Sophomore Chastity Peterson said she came up with the idea of a petition banner as a way for students to show they care about environmental issues. The banner, made from recycled materials, will be displayed in Perkins Student Center for the next two weeks.

"UD is one of the top-three most apathetic schools in the nation," Peterson said. "This is a way to show some of us want to do something. I think people don't really realize how small things make a difference."

Students were also invited to purchase and tie-dye T-shirts which promoted the event and helped raise money for S4E.

Junior Karen Matthew said the shirts were a clever promotional tool.

"It's very interactive and a way to express creativity," Matthew said. "It is a more personal way to raise awareness."

Sophomore Katie Gibson said she is a member of Amnesty International, a human rights organization that was also present Saturday. She helped run a "Water Challenge" table where people tried to taste the difference between tap and bottled water.

She said the purpose was to show that tap water is just as good as bottled water.

"It is so easy to think it doesn't matter what you buy," Gibson said. "But it really makes a difference."

Freshman Laura Schmidt said students should also monitor their consumption of meat products. She said adopting a vegetarian lifestyle does not prevent someone from enjoying many kinds of food. It is also more eco-friendly.

Schmidt said in the United States, more than one-third of all fossil fuel and raw material consumption is used to raise livestock to feed Americans.

"Raising animals for food also produces more greenhouse gases than all cars and trucks combined," she said.

Senior Ellie Miller participated in a seed-planting activity, sponsored by New Castle, Cannon and Kent Residence Life.

Miller said she and her friend were taking a walk when they saw something going on and thought it would be fun to stop by.

"We poured dirt in a cup and watered it," she said. "Hopefully I won't kill it."

Sophomore Allie Franklin also stumbled upon Greenfest, drawn in by the music of Lefty Groove, Super Kirk and Three Legged Fox.

"I think it's really cool," Franklin said. "We just kind of followed the noise. I support the cause. I think it is a really good idea."

Alumnus Jason Begany promoted sustainability options for students in a joint effort with the Ministry of Caring at Greenfest.

Begany said he helped organize a student move-out day which will take place at Curtis Paper Mill in Newark. He said every day between May 21 and June 3, students can drop off couches, chairs, tables, televisions - things they do not need anymore and would otherwise throw out.

There will also be donation sites outside dining halls at the end of the semester for students to donate extra food. Begany said the goal is to reduce the burden of waste on the community and promote sustainability.

"It's something everyone asks, 'Why am I wasting?' " he said. "Everyone wants to do better. You feel good when you do good."

Steve Hegedus, scientist for the Institute of Energy Conversion at the university and adviser of S4E, spoke about energy and reusable resources at the event. He said almost every other mid-Atlantic university is acquiring five to 10 percent of its energy from wind power, and the university is not one of them.

"The time for promoting and developing clean energy was five years ago," Hegedus said. "We absolutely have to do it now, and we can."

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