Spring Break
Living community promotes Earth Day awareness
Omkar Baxi
Issue date: 4/25/08 Section: News
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The event was meant to promote environmental awareness by asking people to donate and reuse their clothes, according to Benjamin Smith, a freshman majoring in mechanical engineering and member of the Environmental Living and Learning Community.
"We want to give a new life to these clothes, not just have them thrown away," Smith said.
260 items of clothing were collected and will be donated to the Darfur Human Rights Organization, which will disburse the clothes throughout the Darfur refugee camps, according to Megan Wilson, a freshman education major and an organizer of the event.
The clothing swap was meant to be more than a simple donation, according to Wilson. Students were invited to bring an article of clothing to donate and trade for another they liked. While there were some people that did swap their clothes, most elected to just donate them.
"We were hoping to have people swap clothes, but this is still great anyway. It's more that we can donate to charity," Wilson said.
While the clothing swap was the first event conducted by the Environmental Living and Learning Community, which is comprised of about 10 people, they will continue to hold environmental awareness events throughout the year, according to Katie Kranich, a freshman biology major and learning community member.
"We are planning to host screenings of various environmental movies that focus on topics like clean air and ocean acidification," Kranich said.
Soon, there will be lectures about environmental policies and procedures, as well as showcases of environmentally-friendly businesses such as PhillyCarShare, Smith said.
According to Wilson, the Environmental Living and Learning Community will not be a freshman living and learning community next year.
Instead, the current members will continue the group as a For Students, By Students community in North Hall for the 2008-2009 academic year.
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