Earth Day fair a week later
By Genna Tan
Green Club member Sarah Cafasso, dressed in a tie-dyed T-shirt with a peace sign painted on her right cheek, answered a student who wanted to know if she could take a compact fluorescent energy-saving light bulb.
'»¿"Of course, that's what they're there for," said Cafasso. "Happy Earth Week!"
Cafasso, along with other members of Green Club, organized a series of events for Earth Week to educate the community about sustainability. Although the event normally takes place the week of Earth Day, it was postponed this year. "It's about awareness and being able to have an opportunity for students to learn about sustainability on campus, because Santa Clara really is a leader in sustainability," said Cafasso. "It's great to be able to show it off at this fair.'»¿"
Cafasso said the event was postponed because of the events surrounding the inauguration of Michael Engh, S.J.
'»¿"We understand that the reason we couldn't do anything during the week of actual Earth Day was because facilities was tied up with the inauguration," said Cafasso. '»¿"It was a little surprising to us in the beginning, but we were thrilled with what Fr. Engh said in the speech about environmental justice, and I think that's going to really make the sustainable movement bigger on campus.'»¿" James Purcell, vice president for University Relations, said he could not confirm that the event was postponed because of the inauguration.
Junior Megan Kollar, a member of the Healthy Heart Club, said Earth Week should not have had to be postponed.
"It was a little ridiculous how the school wouldn't allow the celebration during the week of actual Earth Day," said Kollar. "It's not like this event on Wednesday would have interfered with Father Engh's inauguration on Friday."
Co-organizer of Earth Week Liza Dadiomov said the postponed events worked out better for the organizers.
"A lot of the outside companies we invited had their own Earth Day activities going on last week, so they actually had more availability this week," said Dadiomov. "It ended up working out OK."
Caroline Yacoub, a member of the Green Party, an external organization invited to the Earth Day Festival, said she was glad the event was held this week.
"We were at San Jose State's Earth Day last week, and I'm really happy this wasn't on the same day because it gave us an opportunity to participate in this," said Yacoub. Besides the Healthy Heart Club and the Green Party, Bon Appetit was also represented at the Earth Week Festival.
Marketing manager Melissa Reynen was tabling at the festival to promote Bon Appetit's new eco-tray, which is a recyclable and reusable to-go box that has been introduced at Market Square.
The new boxes allow students to pay a deposit for an eco-tray, which can be exchanged for a new, sanitized tray at Market Square after it has been used. Students can also drop off their eco-trays and get a keychain, which they can exchange for a new tray the next time they are at Market Square.
Student-run bicycle exchange program Bronco Bikes was also tabling at the festival.
"The whole idea of sustainability is exactly what we're about," said Maidere Sorhondo, a student co-founder of Bronco Bikes.
She said one of Bronco Bikes' goals is to promote the use of bikes instead of cars. '»¿
"'»¿It's good to have a big event like this attracting everyone and reminding them about sustainability," said Dadiodov. "But hopefully there will be some lasting changes, like with the CFL lightbulbs we're giving out. Hopefully students won't just change their behavior during Earth Week."
Contact Genna Tan at (408) 554-4546 or gbtan@scu.edu.