Go Green: Spring Forward with SUU to Celebrate Earth Day

Published: April 13, 2012 | Author: Denise Tomer | Read Time: 4 minutes

“Spring Forward” is the theme of Southern Utah University’s 2012 Earth Day celebration slated for Friday, April 20, with festivities spread across campus that will include movies, art exhibits, live music from local bands, and various educational activities for all ages.
This Earth Day Southern Utah University will proudly pledge to be more sustainable, will you?

The celebration kicks off at 11 a.m. on the Upper Quad (east of Old Main) and will run through 6 p.m., with eco-friendly entertainment throughout the day.

Though activities will be spread across campus, the Upper Quad will serve as the heart of the celebration. If there is inclement weather, these activities will it will be moved to the Ballroom within the Sharwan Smith Student Center.

Among the activities planned:
• Live music from Stillhouse Road, Steven Swift and Muddy Boots,
• Pledge station to join the national initiative to promote recycling,
• Expert presentations of current ecological issues, as well as information about current campus and community efforts,
• Registration for a coast-to-coast highway cleaning effort with Pick up America,
• Tours of the University’ newly opened Garth and Jeri Frehner Museum of Natural History,
• Games and crafting for all ages.

In addition to the above activities, a large paper drop off for documents to be securely shredded is going to be provided to all those in the area for the day. The University will also sponsor an Earth Day Recycling Drive; local residents as well as students are encouraged to gather and bring all recyclable trash to the drive to serve as an example of all the good that can be done in a day.

There will also be “Green Giveaways” at events throughout the day.

SUU‘s Earth Day 2012 celebration has been designed to educate, motivate and inspire individuals to live more Earth-friendly lives while encouraging their friends and families to do the same, explained Denise Tomer, SUU’s sustainability coordinator.

Said Tomer, “We are all Global Citizens; the time to get involved is now. We need to Spring forward, think about the future and seek out opportunities to make sound economic and ecological choices that coincide with our daily and long-term endeavors. I urge everyone to get engaged and find avenues to develop and enhance a ‘Green’ community.”

Tomer adds, “There is so much that we can do and really, very easily, if we all work together.”

Additional Earth Day Events throughout the week at SUU include:

Thursday, April 19
• “Into the Woods,” a National Forest-themed art exhibit by local artist and SUU Emeritus Arlene Braithwaite. Opening reception runs from 6–7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall Gallery of the Haze Hunter Conference Center. For more information about this installation, please email arlene.braithwaite@yahoo.com.

• Film screening of the documentary “Green Fire: Aldo Leopold and a Land Ethic for Our Time." The screening will run begin at 4 p.m. in the Great Hal and will run again at 7:30 p.m. Both presentations will be followed by a discussion led by Mark Miller, history professor.

Friday, April 20
• Earth Day art exhibit and poetry readings from SUU students, in the Student Center.

• Ceramic Sale by the SUU Ceramic Guild, in the Student Center Living Room.

• The annual student-run SunFest and the Utah Shakespeare Festival’s annual Bard’s Birthday Bash will also be held on campus.

Saturday April 21
• Service-minded members of the campus and local communities are invited to join forces with the Adopt a Highway and Pickup America organizations with a community-wide I-15 clean-up effort to remove litter from the roadway. To join meet at SUU’s Upper Quad at 10 a.m., then caravan to a local section of Interstate 15. More information is available online at PickUpAmerica.org or by emailing davey@pickupamerica.org.

• In addition, that Saturday, SUU’s Outdoor Recreation Center will offer free Guided Hikes to members of the campus and local communities. To join, meet at 10 a.m. in the Outdoor Center within SUU’s Student Center. Then choose to explore the Silver Rim Trail, Leeds Kiln or Lions Mouth. Additional information is available at 435-586-7829 or eastep@suu.edu.

To share your own experiences and knowledge, volunteer at SUU’s Earth Day Celebration on April 19, to host an informational booth or activity highlighting their Green business, club or organization. Join by contacting Denise Tomer at 435-586-7828 or suustainability@suu.edu .

Tomer can also provide additional information about the above events as well as other Earth Day festivities across.

SUU’s thanks to The Center for Sustainability, Earth Club, The Center for Women & Families, SUU’s Sustainability Committee, TURN Secure Shredding, SURE, SURC, Pick up America and Dixie National Forest for co-sponsoring the 2012 Earth Day celebration.

---

Contact Information:

435-586-5400
Contact the Office of Marketing Communication