IU celebrates Earth Day

For the Indiana Public Interest Research Group, Thursday's rain may have affected the turn out for the Earth Day celebration in Dunn Meadow. But the rain did not dampen the spirits of many INPIRG volunteers, who continued to celebrate the event while educating passers-by about this year's list of environmental issues. \nWorking out of INPIRG's fourth floor office in the Indiana Memorial Union, seniors Melanie Thomas and Jen Foster finished last-minute posters using the natural sunlight beaming through the office windows. \n"We've been planning this for a month-and-a-half," Thomas said. \nAfter a series of tabling sessions and volunteer recruitment, Thomas and Foster hauled a month's worth of decorations out to a damp Dunn Meadow. Bright letters of acrylic paint read: "In case you're wondering, we are not hypocrites. Our signs are made out of re-used materials."\nThe Forest Alliances and Student Environment Action Coalition paraded from the Monroe County Courthouse to Dunn Meadow at about 11 a.m. to kick off the event. \n"That was really kind of the success of the day," said Kate Mobley, entertainment coordinator and junior INPIRG volunteer.\nMobley said because of the rain, the Earth Day celebration faced problems with attendance and scheduled sponsors. Junior INPIRG volunteer Ben James said sponsors like the Sahara Mart left early due to lack of attendees.\n"Our sound guy pulled out, too," said Lauren Fischer, senior coordinator and INPIRG volunteer. \nScheduled bands like the Undefeatable Beats also reneged. \n"I've been calling all my friends who play acoustic instruments to come out and play," Fischer said.\nDespite the change in plans, senior Sarah Graub serenaded onlookers spread out on blankets with melodic tunes from her acoustic guitar, singing: "Live our dream/ Our future's not in electricity." \nVolunteer Mike Englert also successfully led a group of five students in a tree-planting campaign around Bloomington's Sycamore Land Trust. Together, the students managed to plant about 40 new trees. \n"This is the 34th anniversary of a national holiday," Fischer said. \nThough INPIRG has always promoted Earth Day, she said this is the first year they have sponsored an event. Fischer said she hopes this will be the beginning of an annual celebration. \n"There's lots of things happening right now," Thomas said. \nThis year's environmental issues have included mercury poisoning in Indiana waters and the controversial construction of the I-69 Interstate highway. Concerning campus issues, Thomas referenced INPIRG's year-long campaign to enforce double-sided printing in campus computer labs. \nThe turnout also included graduate students from the School of Public and Environmental Affairs. Graduate students Blake Weathers, Taylor Aldridge and Wendy Freeman came in hopes of setting up a table for SPEA, but the rain was too heavy.\nGraub ended her live performance in ode to the downpour, asking people not to be discouraged by the gloomy weather. \n"Thanks so much, and thanks to the rain," she said. "Remember, it's what makes the world grow."\n-- Contact staff writer Amber Kerezman at akerezma@indiana.edu.