EAC to Plan Earth Day

For the first time, the Academy is celebrating Earth Day with a full week of environmentally themed activities and events, starting on Monday April 22.The student-formed Earth Day Committee, together with the E-Proctors and the Environmental Action Committee (EAC), have enlisted many groups on campus in an effort to involve the whole Exeter community.Sustainability Education Coordinator Elizabeth Stevens is optimistic about the expansion of the event and the impact it will have.“Hopefully, the week will make our students more aware of the importance of environmental issues,” Stevens said. “I am especially excited about the ‘Make a Pledge’ campaign where students, staff and faculty on campus can make a pledge to behave in a ‘greener’ fashion for the week. If everyone makes a pledge, the overall impact would be tremendous.”Planned events include a trip to clean Hampton Beach, a display of environmental artwork, poems, and informative text at the Lamont Gallery, installations in Jeremiah Smith Hall, the Agora, and the library of the opinions of different clubs and pledges from faculty and students, photographs of eco-fashion in the Phelps Science Center, and movie screenings.Senior Pepe Villanueva Molina, the leader of the Earth Day Committee, is passionate about the importance of recognizing Earth Day.“In the 21st century, with its technological advances and industrial growth, it is extremely important to remind us that our society is build based on the natural resources mother earth provides us,” Molina said. “For me, Earth Day is important because it not only promotes environmental awareness, but also it reminds us that this is our home and we need it to stay in order to stay alive.”The theme of this year’s Earth Day is “The Face of Climate Change.” The international Earth Day Network is emphasizing the involvement of many individuals and communities across the globe - both those working together to combat climate change and those being affected by it.“We're aiming to encompass everyone, therefore, we can bring the whole community together for the week to help the planet,” EAC co-head and senior Justin Landowne said. “We hope the community will participate in Earth Week by posting their views on the environment, reflecting on current issues, and taking action.”Landowne is also hopeful that Earth Week will get students invested in other environmental pursuits on campus, such as the campaign to divest Exeter’s endowment from fossil fuels.The planning committees have to work to publicize the events, as some students are not aware of Earth Day or the Academy’s involvement.“A survey that we did showed that most students don't remember if the school celebrated or even recognized Earth Day last year,” Molina said.“To be honest, I don’t know when Earth Day is,” senior Meghan Turner said. “I just think we have Earth Day to be politically correct.”Students such as upper Tina Safford have involved their organizations in the environmental cause.“The Buddhist Meditation Group will be hosting an outside side meditation, weather permitting, on Friday April 26th to encourage students to get in touch with the earth,” Safford said. “It will be a great way to be present and tune into the earth after a long week.”