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News
the Racquette
April 29, 2016
Middle Ground Celebrations Engage Campus in Earth Week Festival Paul Halley Staff Writer
Earth Day, which is celebrated every year on April 22, allows all of the inhabitants on planet Earth to show their support for environmental protection and conservation. Middle Ground, the Environmental Studies organization on campus which has been active since 2005, made an impressive effort to raise awareness about Earth Day last weekend with series of events and programs happening all across campus. Nearly thirty people, a group predominantly comprised of students, participated in the Earth Day Climate March on Friday, April 22. The march, which was the first event of the festival, went from campus to Pierrepont Avenue and through Market Street and Ives Park, ultimately returning back to campus. Participants shouted “Happy Earth day!” to passersby and some of those passersby even gave out peace signs. The front end of the march held a big blue banner that read “Earth Day Climate March” and had a picture of a globe surrounded by silhouettes of different animals. Participants were heard repeating various chants, including “Save our planet; don’t can it,” “No more coal, no more oil, keep your carbon in the soil” and “We march for the love of the Earth.” Junior Hannah Racette, the co-president of Middle Ground who has minors in wilderness education and environmental studies. Bill Brown and Kristen Van Hooreweghe offered extra credit to their students for attending the march. The second event in the Earth Day Celebration was Middle
Ground’s Earth Day Show at Hurley’s last Friday night. “[Our club] designed the Earth Day show around [Dr.] Donald McNutt’s brother’s band, The John McNutt Band, coming to visit,” Racette said. The Earth Day show also featured two other bands, “Coyote” and “Hot Beer.” Due to a scheduling issue, the Earth Day Show was combined with Active Minds’ event “Arts of the Mind.” “We absolutely loved working with Active Minds,” Racette said. The final event of the Earth Day Celebration took place on Sunday, April 24 with the Earth Day Festival, which featured musical acts such as “Okuma Taiko,” “The Hoax,” “We Build Tomorrow,” “Meal & Flex?,” “Coyote,” “REEL DEAL Records,” “Pete Something” and “Sunflo’er.” There were also booths for people to plant flowers and herbs, to do arts and crafts and an ‘Eat a Cricket’ booth hosted by the Biology Club. Presentations included environmental education on waste, environmental justice by the Sociology Club, and a general Middle Ground table handing out free reusable water bottles and bumper stickers. “We also had cotton candy, veggie burgers, whole fruit, vegan samples and popcorn,” Racette said. “It was rewarding to see so many people come out and support climate activism, because tis the most pressing issue of our generation,” said Sarah Chapell, a senior and co-president of Middle Ground. “Even if we only got one person to think
Brandi Dupere, a member of Middle Ground, represents her club and joins the supporters at the Earth Photo by Alexis Orlopp Day Climate March.
about the impact on the climate, I think it was successful.” Racette said that Middle Ground is actively working to improve sustainability on campus, and students are very impressed with their effort.
Police Blotter April 23-26
April 23-24 10:45 – Participated in Open House at Maxcy Field House – Approximately 40 people visited the UPD table 13:01 – Fire Alarm Activation – Crane Complex – System immediately reset itself. Units, HP and PVFD on scene 16:15 – Fire Alarm Activation at Bowman Hall. Unknown person pull station at Bowman South East fifth floor stairwell 17:22 – Visitor into UPD and states he forgot music stand at Hurley’s last night; while performing. Patrol escorted and retrieved item 19:31 – Anonymous report of four males at Lehman Park with a fire going and throwing stones. Patrol had four students put fire out. Did not observe other actions 02:21: Assist State Police – Noise complaint
April 25-26 10:00 – Instructed Self – defense class – Maxcy Hall 11:00 – Processed paperwork
“[Middle Ground is] one of the more active clubs to the campus,” said Kevin Fitzpatrick, a junior here at SUNY Potsdam. Some students were personally inspired by the Earth Day events, including Becka Willeigg, freshman and Climate
March Subcommittee member. “It was beautiful,” Willeigg said. “It was really uplifting. It’s small, but we have to start small to make a big change.” Middle Ground meets Tuesdays at 6pm in the Barrington Student Union.