During April 20-25, Initiative for Clean Energy (ICE), the ETSU environmental club, will celebrate Earth Week with many events on and around campus that are all free and open to the public.
Monday, April 20, is designated “Get Active Day.” Five tables around campus will offer information on the environmental movement and ways people may become involved. At 4:30 p.m., the Female Majority Leadership Alliance will screen “The Shape of Water” in Common Grounds located in the D.P. Culp University Center. Starting at 6 p.m., a bicycle maintenance workshop will take place at the Wayne G. Basler Center for Physical Activity.
On Tuesday, Dining Services will be practicing “trayless” dining to help educate students, faculty and staff about the economic and environmental advantages of eliminating trays used to carry food items in the cafeteria.
Wednesday, tree planting will be held on ETSU’s campus from 2-4 p.m. Then, at 5 p.m. in Common Grounds, Dining Services will screen “Sustainable Table” and serve free fair trade coffee.
During the week, there will a recyclable sculpture contest. All parts of sculptures entered in the competition must be made of recyclable material, and final sculptures must be submitted by noon Wednesday.
On Thursday, the week’s main event – the Earth Day Festival – will take place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Borchuck Plaza in front of Sherrod Library, with student organizations, local venders, food, games, education and music as part of the extravaganza.
Many free items will be given away, including reusable mugs from Dining Services that can be used on campus for a discount on beverages. The day will conclude with judging for the recyclable sculpture contest.
The Rally for Renewable Energy is scheduled from 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. on Friday. In addition to hearing various speakers, participants will march around campus to promote the use of sustainable energy sources, with the rally beginning at Borchuck Plaza and ending at the campus power plant.The week concludes on Saturday (April 25) with Appalachian Trail maintenance from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Those wishing to participate can meet in the parking lot at the southeast corner of the University Parkway and South Roan Street intersection to carpool to the trail.
“We’ve got a week packed full of events,” said Alex Munjal, ETSU junior and ICE vice president. “There is something for everyone. Hopefully, through this celebration we can raise awareness of the environmental issues facing us all and encourage people to do their part to help the Earth.”
For more information about Earth Week, search for “ETSU Earth Week” on Facebook or e-mail ICE president Lance Lewis at zjll44@goldmail.etsu.edu.

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