Earth Day to bring conservation awareness

by Janah Valenzuela
Staff Writer

The Sustainable Campus Task Force will be hosting Earth Day at the University of La Verne on April 22. The day will consist of various activities sponsored by several organizations from ULV and outside groups.

"I think that these events will reach out to the whole ULV community and make people aware of the things each person can do on campus or at home," said Amy Hoffman, director of the Campus Sustainability Task Force.

Hoffman said that turning off lights and shutting off water when not in use, can help conserve energy and lower utility bills. She also said riding a bicycle instead of driving can decrease the amount of money spent on gas, which is currently at high levels.

Earth Day will start at 10 a.m. with a morning meditation led by Valerie "Turtle Woman" Treadway, in Dailey Theatre.

From 11 a.m. to noon the forensics team will lead a debate in Founders Auditorium. The topic will be "This house believes the United States is an enemy of the Environment." The team will discuss the current administration's stand on environmental issues.

From 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., there will be booths set up in the Quad. The booths will inform students and faculty on various topics such as saving water and electricity, recycling and reducing excess packaging.

There will also be a booth with information about the Sustainable Campus Task Force to inform students of the programs the task force has enacted.

KULV will be broadcasting and giving out prizes.

Outside, vendors and organizations such as the Center for Regenerative Studies from Cal Poly Pomona and South Coast Air Quality Management Board will also attend.

"The community can come learn what each person can do to make a difference to the world," Hoffman said.

Davenport Dining Hall will also take part in Earth Day by offering vegan dishes for lunch.

At 3 p.m. in the President's Dining Room, guest speaker Mark von Wodtke will speak on "Living from the Sun: transitioning to renewables on a sustainable basis."

Wodtke will be speaking about solar energy and its potential, as well as possibilities of installing some solar energy projects on campus.

Wodtke is professor emeritus at the College of Environmental Design at Cal Poly Pomona and a principal at the Claremont Environmental Design Group, which designed ULV's Arts and Communications building.

Wodtke is also a founder of Energy Harvester, a solar electricity design and installation firm.

Earth Day will conclude at 7 p.m. in Dailey Theatre, where Southern California Edison will be having a presentation on conserving energy.