Earth Week at SOU packs in wide variety of events

(Ashland, Ore.) — Southern Oregon University’s fifth annual, student-driven Earth Week celebration from April 15 to 20 will be all about awareness of important issues facing the planet – and celebration of efforts that are making a difference.

Events will range from a “tea talk” about environmental justice and a “pollinator party” with local beekeepers, to a transportation options fair and an Earth Day bike ride. The three-day Environmental Justice Film Festival will have screenings on Tuesday through Thursday, and a Gender Neutral Clothing Swap will also be held each of those days.

The film festival – sponsored by SOU’s Sustainability Resource Center (ECOS), Black Student Union, Queer Resource Center and Food Justice League, and the local climate action group Rogue Climate – will offer films that focus on environmental and social justice from 6 to 8 p.m. each evening. Tuesday’s film will be in the Stevenson Union Arena and the other two films will be in the facility’s Rogue River Room.

One of the featured events at this year’s Earth Week observance will be an “Earth Day Extravaganza” on Tuesday in the Stevenson Union Courtyard. It will feature displays that highlight some of the notable sustainability efforts underway in the Rogue Valley, and opportunities to interact with local organizations and groups that are engaged in those efforts.

Earth Week at SOU will feature public events both on and off the university campus.

Earth Week highlights
MONDAY: Meatless Monday brings an entirely vegetarian menu, all day, to the Hawk dining commons; Tea Talk discussion about environmental justice, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Third Eye Theater between the Stevenson Union and Britt Hall.

TUESDAY: Graduate student Emily Lind of the Environmental Education club will lead a short “bird hike” around the Ashland Pond, transportation provided (email stewartc3@sou.edu for information); Earth Day Extravaganza, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Stevenson Union Courtyard; a gender-neutral clothing swap, sponsored by the Queer Student Union, will offer free clothes from 1 to 6 p.m. in the Stevenson Union Gallery (SU 323); Environmental Justice Film Festival, “Viceland’s Rise, Standing Rock Part II,” about the Standing Rock efforts to protect tribal burial sites from the Dakota Access Pipeline.

WEDNESDAY: “Nature Reading” of short creative works about nature and ecology, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., Third Eye Theater; OSPIRG pollinator party with beekeepers, live music, free food, face-painting, raffles and speakers, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Stevenson Union Courtyard; gender-neutral clothing swap, 1 to 6 p.m., Stevenson Union Gallery (SU 323); Environmental Justice Film Festival, “An American Ascent,” about the first African-American expedition on Denali, North America’s highest peak.

THURSDAY: Transportation Options Fair with information about getting around without a car, with goodie bags and smoothies made with a “bike blender,” 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Stevenson Union Courtyard; gender-neutral clothing swap, 1 to 6 p.m., Stevenson Union Gallery (SU 323); Environmental Justice Film Festival, “Urban Roots,” about depressed industrial towns and the need for a sustainable future.

FRIDAY: Arbor Day of service, a day of stewardship with ECOS, SOU Landscaping and The Farm at SOU, with an optional free lunch, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. (details and sign-up online); silver maple birthday party, music and games at the silver maple in Raider Village, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

SATURDAY: Earth Day Bike Ride with ECOS, biking along the Bear Creek Greenway with treats in Talent, noon to 3 p.m. (details and sign-up online); Rogue Valley Earth Day 2019, a free, all-ages celebration about stewardship and community-building, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum.

A full list of SOU Earth Week events can be found on the SOU sustainability website.

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