Group criticizes balloon launch

Not every student will cheer during the traditional balloon launch celebration before the men's Little 500 race Saturday.\nThe Student Environmental Action Coalition believes the launch might be detrimental to the environment; a view not shared by many race organizers.\n"It's been documented that coastal balloon waste comes from inland sites as well, not just coastal cities," graduate student Chris Stafford, a member of the coalition, said. "According to the Environmental Protection Agency, an average of 32,000 balloons are picked up off the coasts alone each year, and it seems ridiculous that IU would want to be a part of that."\nStafford, who once rode in Little 500, was quick to point out that the city of San Francisco as well as the National Park Service, White House and U.S. Navy have all either prohibited or restricted the mass launching of balloons. \n"Balloons can drift for hundreds of miles," Stafford said. "Marine animals often mistake collapsed balloons for food and end up choking to death."\nIU Student Foundation Director Heather Anderson said the group has looked into finding a company that sold biodegradable balloons but has had no luck so far.\nThe coalition said it believes releasing balloons is no different then any other criminal offense and would like the release to be cancelled.\n"Mass littering is a crime, but apparently it is disregarded when it comes to balloons," said sophomore Courtney Gavin, a member of the coalition.\nThe coalition has proposed finding an environmentally-friendly alternative to allow the tradition to continue. The group said it plans to distribute a limited number of donated tree saplings to be planted, because the race is near Earth Day; an idea proposed by graduate student and coalition member Jennifer Hanink. In addition to the trees, the organization will distribute informational flyers at the race in hopes that support for the change will grow before next year's race.\nFor the time being, balloons will fill the sky on race day, Anderson said. \n"Because we plan our release far in advance, we're going to continue as planned," Anderson said.\nThe coalition said it has come to grips with this reality and is looking optimistically toward the future. \n"We realize that the University may have already bought supplies for this year and it may be too late to change currently, but we are working with the University Environmental Stewardship group in hopes that change will come in the future," Stafford said.\nThe group won't be alone, as Indiana Forest Alliance, Heartwood and the IU-Bloomington Greens have all expressed interest in helping find an alternative for next year's race, Stafford said. IU Student Foundation has also pledged to remain in contact with these organizations after the race to come to an acceptable solution, Anderson said.\nThe coalition stressed they were not trying to disrupt the tradition of Little 500, but were merely trying to make the tradition more sustainable and environmentally friendly.\n"Many people think that environmental groups are just out to make some kind of statement, but in the end we are trying to do what is best for the University," Gavin said.