A group of 50 students and local citizens gathered for a climate action rally on Saturday to show how action at the local level can help tackle a global issue. The group met in front of ETSU’s carillon, marched to the John Sevier Center in downtown Johnson City and replaced the building’s older, less-efficient bulbs with more than 300 energy-saving fluorescent ones.
“Our action today will result in the decrease of 3,000 pounds of global warming gases per year,” said Sierra Club member Linda Modica, one of the organizers of the event.
The new bulbs, Sylvania Energy Saving 60-watt bulbs, use 75 percent less energy than a typical bulb and can last up to seven years. Donations for the bulbs were collected from private citizens and the Holston Valley Universalist Unitarian Church in Gray, Tenn.
The event was organized by the Tri-Cities Green Coalition, an association of several local groups, including the Sierra Club, the League of Women Voters and the ETSU student club the Initiative for Clean Energy (ICE).
Several members of ICE took part in the rally. “I’m an environmental studies minor and I’ve always felt very strongly about environmental issues,” senior Alex Sircy said. “It’s everybody’s individual responsibility to take the initiative and buy products that can cut energy usage.”
ICE played a pivotal role in helping to create an improved recycling program on campus. ETSU currently recycles a good amount of paper, but the recycling program ICE hopes to implement will go much further.
“We plan to have recycling bins in each dorm room,” Sircy said. “We’ll even have large recycling bins for the public at Buc Ridge apartments.” Student worker positions are being created to help pick up and transport recyclable products.
“We’re trying to get this campus as green as possible,” Sircy said. “As students, we’re in a position where we can really, really make an impact.”
Dr. Kevin O’Donnell, English professor and ICE faculty advisor, said that the club’s emphasis has been focused on creating a comprehensive recycling program. “I’ve been impressed by what the students have been able to accomplish so far. For a student group to make this come about together in six months is a big deal,” he said.
“The students went to the administration and both Dr. Stanton and Dr. Bishop have gotten behind it,” O’Donnell added.
The climate action rally was just the first event in a busy week for ICE.
ICE will take part in a nationwide simulcast program called “Chill Out! Campus Solutions to Global Warming” this Wednesday in the Forum Room on the third floor of the Culp Center.
Sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation, the simulcast will feature a message from Al Gore, live discussion between students and global warming experts, and a student-moderated discussion on ways to address global warming on campus. The simulcast will take place from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
ICE will also be one of many groups taking part in this Thursday’s Earth Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Borchuck Plaza.
For more information on ICE meeting times and activities, send an e-mail to zcpl3@imail.etsu.edu or stop by the ICE table on Earth Day.

Author