ICE awarded for ‘leadership excellence in campus sustainability’

An action-packed week of activities will begin for the ETSU community on Sept. 24, as Initiative for Clean Energy holds this year’s first environmental awareness event on campus.Beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, the first of a series of environmental films will play at the Ball Hall Auditorium, Room 127, ICE President Lance Lewis said.

The premiere film, “National Sacrifice Zone: Colorado and the Cost of Energy Independence,” will be the first of eight films intended to kick off efforts to make students and faculty aware of the environmental issues the community is dealing with today.

“We had it last year and it was a big success,” said Lewis, who was recently re-elected as president of the sustainability organization.

Due to the efforts that ETSU’s green team put in to cleaning up the campus last year, the Task Tennessee Alumni and Students for Sustainability Campuses has awarded the “Leadership Excellence in Campus Sustainability” title to ICE, Lewis said. A statewide convention will be held on Oct. 2, where ICE members will be honored for their hard work.

The student-run organization is determined to continue their trek to make students and faculty aware of the effects people have on the environment, said Lewis, who felt that the award gave the team more ammunition to fight for environmental health.

On Saturday night, ICE is sponsoring an artistic fundraising event at Next Door/Acoustic Coffee House called “Kayford 8 Benefit Night,” Lewis said. The purpose of the event is to raise money for eight activists who were arrested for protesting mountaintop-removal on Kayford Mountain.

“There will be six bands, lots of friends, tons of fun and plenty of dancing,” Lewis said. “There will also be an arts and crafts table full of great items donated for the cause.”

A silent auction will be held until 12 a.m., he said. A variety of items, such as scarves, pottery, tattoos and photographs will be available for participants to bid on.

Acoustic Coffeehouse is helping to support the benefit by donating the proceeds made from beer and food to the fund, Lewis said. There will be a $5 cover charge at the door that will also go toward the funds to help the activists who are in jail.

With events beginning to unravel for the ICE organization, members will be busy this year informing people about their affects on the community, and working again to maintain their sustainability title.