Following the success of last spring's Live Green Day featuring speaker Debra Rowe, another sensational Live Green presentation was organized and held on Feb. 18.
According to the event's paperless online advertisements, it is an event that "focuses on taking green initiatives and applying them to student life as well as the surrounding community."
A board was placed in the Union lobby on which anyone could place a recyclable item with their name written on it in order to make the "Green Pledge" - to keep in mind the mark that each of us leaves on the environment and to try to make changes to reduce our negative impact on the earth. The names of those who made the pledge on the board will be posted on the event's Web site at livegreen.geneseo.edu.
The Live Green expo featured displays from a wide variety of groups, including CAS Dining Services, the Environmental Impact and Sustainability Task Force, Geneseo Environmental Organization, Democracy Matters, In.Site Architecture, Waste Management and Muddy Waters Café, among others.
"Hopefully this will get out the word that it's important to think about what we're consuming," said sophomore GEO member Arielle Arnoff.
"It's great that they're bringing students' attention to the fact that they can be part of change," said sophomore Tess Leverenz while browsing the plethora of information on display.
In addition to the displays in the lobby, several "green" vehicles were parked outside on the Union Patio. Among these were several of the campus' vehicles as well as a General Motors Equinox Fuel Cell Car from the fuel cell research center in Honeoye Falls.
Sculpture professor Dan Dezarn also contributed to green awareness, talking in the fireside lounge from 3 to 3:45 p.m. about his exhibit featured in the Kinetic Gallery until Feb. 19. "Boot Straps," which he created with fellow artist Thomas Sturgill, was created using debris from houses destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. His presentation dealt with the idea of sustainable art.
Co-founder of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Virginia Rasmussen spoke as part of Live Green Day in Newton from 4 to 5:30 p.m. She addressed such topics as political changes regarding the environment and how colleges and universities fail to address the need to advocate these beneficial changes.
Although last year's Live Green presentation was not necessarily intended to become an annual event, organizers Tom Matthews and Kay Fly received so many inquiries as to when the event would be happening that they decided to hold it again this year.
"Bringing the speaker in last year was a collaborative effort. Everyone was involved because they cared about the issue and we felt it was something we could support," said Matthews.
"I think we've got a good mixture of groups that have a part in this," said Fly. "It says a lot about our campus that students are interested in global issues and they are well supported by the faculty and staff."