To some West Virginia University students, one day is not enough time to pay homage to Mother Earth.
Consequently, the WVU Student Government Association and WVU Sierra Club are devoting a week to Earth Day (April 22) by sponsoring an essay contest and rally.
Earth Day was first observed globally April 22, 1970, to stress the need to conserve the worlds natural resources. Initially a student-led movement, Earth Day has evolved into a major educational and media event. Participants use it as a forum to promote recycling, energy conservation, rain forest protection and other initiatives to slow and possibly reverse the negative effects of human activities on the planet.
The essay contest on WVU s small corner of the planet is open to students, faculty and staff of the University. The contest theme is”How Can WVU Be a MoreEarth-friendlyCampus?”Essays must not exceed 250 words and will be judged based on feasibility of actions. Deadline to submit essays is Thursday, April 24. Contestants can submit essays by e-mail to SGAearthday@yahoo.com or by dropping them off at the SGA Office in the Mountainlair.
The essay contest is an effort by SGA to gather ideas from the student body on increasing awareness to environmental issues on campus and to propose a plan of action for improvement.
“There are many areas in need of improvement around campus as far as environmental issues go,”said Alayna Adams, SGA member and coordinator of the essay contest.”For example, the recycling program could use a facelift. This essay contest was designed to get studentsopinions on these issues, so that student government and various other organizations can make strides toward improvement.”
The winner of the essay contest will receive $50 from the Sierra Club, and the runner-up will receive a $50 gift certificate from the WVU Bookstore.
The winner will be announced at an Earth Rally Saturday, April 26, on the Mountainlair Plaza. The rally, sponsored by the Sierra Club, will begin at 11 a.m. Besides the essay contest awards, the rally will feature a speech by Norm Steenstra of the West Virginia Citizens Action Group and a march down High Street in celebration of Earth Day.
For more information about Earth Day activities, contact Adams at aadams3@mix.wvu.edu .