Rally spotlights ecology

By Eliana Raik
Daily Staff Reporter

Heavy sleet did not deter students from gathering in the Pendleton Room of the Michigan Union Friday to take part in the Rally for the Environment and a pledge to be environmentally conscious.

As part of the Environmental Theme Semester, the event was a way of encouraging students to recognize their role as key players in the preservation and protection of the world's natural ecology. More than than 30 environmental organizations participated.

The rally offered students suggestions on how they can influence the future of environmental action.

"We're encouraging students to make the environmental pledge as a personal commitment to considering environmental issues and impacts in our daily lives," said LSA senior Trisha Miller, event organizer and chair of Environmental Clearinghouse, a coa

ADRIANA YUGOVICH/Daily Eco-puppets made of recycled garbage entertain students Friday during the Rally for the

lition of student environmental groups on campus. "We are here to mobilize in support of environmental issues at the state and national level."

Students said they were impressed with the personal nature of the event, adding they learned new ways of influencing people in the fight for the preservation of the environment.

"It's good to see people at the grass-roots level," said LSA junior Sarah Hussong. "It brings it to a personal level and tells you exactly what you can do to help."

Prominent speakers supported the rally's purpose by urging students to take action against environmental destruction and help in the fight for preservation.

President of the Michigan Environmental Council and University alumna Lana Pollack emphasized the seriousness of the current state of the environment.

"The direction we are going in is backwards," Pollack said.

Pollack said people with legislative power in Michigan are "moving so fast to deregulate and destroy the environment." She emphasized the importance of student influence in environmental causes and asked people to challenge current environmental procedures.

"The work of the next generation has to start immediately," Pollack said.

A variety of environmental organizations were represented at booths set up in the room. Students observed posters and received pamphlets that informed them about environmental issues.

"It sheds a bit of light on issues that (students) wouldn't necessarily know about," said Shani McLoyd, a junior at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia.

The rally and related events illustrated "tangible steps" students can take at an individual level that impact larger environmental issues, said SNRE senior Mona Hanna, chair of the Environmental Theme Semester.

Along with tips describing daily activities that aid in the environmental cause, cellular phones were available for students to call government representatives and express concerns about environmental issues. Environment as part of the Environmental Theme Semester.

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