NENJI YILPET | senior staff writer

“We are here to provide opportunities for students to learn about a variety of ways they can go green, whether it is with what automobiles are out there or what organizations they can be involved in,” associate director of communiversity Jordy Dickey said.

Tuesday morning, Cougar Walk was lined with organizations and groups advocating for environmental change on and off campus. Students stopped and picked up brochures and watched clips about environmental issues and methods of change.

When Communiversity discovered students were interested in environmental issues, it started highlighting ways students can go green. The office sought out organizations to be represented at the fair, according to Dickey.

One major non-profit represented was Floresta, a Christian organization that focuses on reforestation and community development in Haiti, Dominican Republic, Tanzania, Mexico and Thailand. Their purposes are to plant trees, teach people agricultural methods, and create enterprises. In each location they have local staff overseeing the projects.

“We are all about teaching the people how to help themselves and create a sustainable community,” associate director of Floresta Rachel Castillero said.

Floresta encourages college students to get involved in their Sponsor-a-Village program by donating $30 per month to one of the locations. Students were also encouraged to get the word out about environmental concerns even outside the United States.

“In being apart of this organization, I am acting my faith out in my job. I care about the environment, I care about God and I care about justice. We take a holistic approach to helping with environmental issues,” Castillero said.

Communiversity had a raffle table set up for students to stop by and place their name to be picked to receive free eco-friendly products that were donated through Whole Foods.

“The greatest challenge is that we want to see ‘go green’ continue on in our everyday lives. This week is just a way to plant seeds and give students a variety of learning opportunities, and then really the choice is theirs,” Dickey said.

Associate director of environmental stewardship Tony Snyder urges students who care about the environment to come forward and take part in helping with the recycling of items such as glass, plastic and paper. He hopes to have black recycle containers located at major buildings on campus to promote going green but his greatest need is for student involvement.

“If I could get 20 students willing to commit half an hour every week to move recycle containers from buildings to green dumpsters on campus, that would make a difference,” Snyder said.

In response to students who may not care about the environment or see a need to help out, Snyder insures that a time will come when everyone will need to participate.

“You have to care. If you don’t now, [environmental needs] will only become more of an issue and everyone will be affected,” Snyder said.

According to Snyder, 38% of everything in the school’s dumpsters is recycled by Athen Services but he said that more can be done on campus.

“Ways students can help are to turn off your water while you brush your teeth or men can use a cup of water when shaving instead of running the faucet. Students need to know that every little bit counts,” Azusa Light and Water representative John Lyda said.

Students can also help conserve electricity by using florescent light bulbs.

“We take things for granted. We are only on this earth for a certain time. Everything matters,” Lyda said.

The fair planted seeds for students to see tangible ways of helping grow a green environment on and off campus.