Day honors Mother Earth

photo by Sylvia Castellanos

On Earth Day April 23, Jerome Garcia, adviser for the Society of Physical and Life Sciences Scholars organization on campus, tells Kim Reed, Sarah Morales and Chelsea Boyd about the local air quality. The Society booth had flavored oxygen to sample and tips to improve air quality. Other booths featured information on native Californian flowers and environment-friendly cars.

by Beatriz Mendoza
Staff Writer

Many University of La Verne students might think twice about taking another to-go box from the campus dining hall after the Thursday, April 23, Earth Day picnic at the University Quad.

ULV students and the Sustainable Campus Task Force, an organization involved with the recycling program and campus conservation, teamed up with students to encourage environmental awareness.

Although some enjoyed their lunch in the open air and others strolled through to pick up information, all were taught how to pitch in and preserve the earth’s resources.

“It was successful, and the picnic really brought people,” said Earth Day Coordinator Nicole Forrest.

“Students really interacted with the information booths,” Forrest said.

Information booths were set up by the Society of Physical and Life Science Scholars, Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden of Claremont and other biology students.

An electric vehicle was also provided by the Air Quality Management District, which is the air control agency for all of Orange County and urban portions of Los Angles, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, to assist in promoting clean air quality management.

The Society had a booth to inform people about the danger that automobiles cause to oxygen.

“We want to help educate students about clean air quality management and pollution from cars,” said junior biology major Stephanie Pavon, member of the Society.

Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden of Claremont also had a booth with information for students. Their mission was to encourage people to think twice about the flowers they plant.

The booth had an assortment of native Californian flowers and some seeds.

“It’s important to promote these plants because they use less water, and California needs more,” said Santa Ana Botanical Garden volunteer Bev Rupel. “It’s important to promote these plants because they use less water and California needs more water.”

ULV biology students helped promote the science booth. They gave information about sustainability, the environment and conservation of the land.

“We’re here to make people aware of the potential dangers we’re making on earth,” said senior biology major Desiree Eschardies. “The one thing we can do is prevent the earth from deteriorating.”