University plans celebration with special events April 17-30

12:44 p.m., April 11, 2011--The University of Delaware will mark Earth Week 2011 with a variety of activites scheduled April 17-30.

Earth Week serves to generate action through recognition and celebration of the planet by bringing it to the forefront of people’s minds. Activities on campus are designed to engage UD students, faculty and the community in environmental awareness.

Campus Stories

From graduates, faculty

As it neared time for the processional to open the University of Delaware Commencement ceremonies, graduating students and faculty members shared their feelings about what the event means to them.

Doctoral hooding

It was a day of triumph, cheers and collective relief as more than 160 students from 21 nations participated in the University of Delaware's Doctoral Hooding Convocation held Friday morning on The Green.

• Doctoral hooding
• Old Swedes
• Summer SAT, ACT prep
• 'Opus 13' pre-sale

A highlight will be a presentation by McKay Jenkins, Cornelius A. Tilghman Professor of English, who will discuss his new book What’s Gotten Into Us? Staying Healthy in a Toxic World at 1 p.m., Wednesday, April 20, in Multipurpose Room C of the Trabant University Center.

Events at the University of Delaware include:

Sunday, April 17

1-2:30 p.m. -- A 5K with the Office of Residence Life and Healthy Hens will be held at the Laird Campus. Register online for the 5K at the UD Earth Week website.

1-2:30 p.m. – Sneaker Mountain. Donate old running shoes to the Sneaker Mountain to be recycled and/or reused. Usable pairs will be distributed to those in need of sneakers and unusable pairs will be stripped for materials to be converted into playground mulch and other compounds.

Monday, April 18

11 a.m.-1 p.m. -- Earth Week 2011 Green Expo and poster session, Perkins Student Center Gallery, East Lounge and/or Front Patio. Register online at the Earth Week website to participate.

2-4 p.m. -- Yoga on The Green.

Tuesday, April 19

3-6 p.m. -- Earth Week Art Show, Rodney Room of the Perkins Students Center, featuring works by UD students. To register to submit artwork, see the Earth Week website.

3-6 p.m. -- Apparel and Accessories Swap Shop, Perkins Student Center Lounge, to encourage reuse of “gently used” apparel and accessories.

3-6 p.m. -- Earth-Friendly Business Market, Perkins Student Center Lounge. Meet local business owners and learn how they minimize impact on the environment.

7-8 p.m. -- Cathy Kunkel will discuss Coal River Mountain Watch, Room 120 Smith Hall. Coal River Mountain Watch is a grassroots organization founded in 1998 in response to the fear and frustration of people living downstream from large mountaintop removal sites.

Wednesday, April 20

1 p.m. -- Jenkins will discuss his book.

1:30-3 p.m. -- Wellspring and Healthy Hens activities, Multipurpose Room, Trabant University Center.

7:30-9:30 p.m. -- The documentary Food Inc. will be shown, Trabant University Center Theatre.

Thursday, April 21

5:30-8:30 p.m. -- Earth Week Concert featuring Tweed, Racket Boys and Potluck. The concert will be held on the Trabant University Center patio if the weather is good or in the Trabant Multipurpose Rooms if the weather does not cooperate.

Friday, April 22

Campus Blackout in which students will be encouraged to turn off items powered by electricity and come outside to The Green.

Saturday, April 30

10 a.m.-4 p.m. -- Ag Day, sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, features educational and interactive exhibits, hayrides and plant sales. Located at Townsend Hall.

All week long

Earth Week Eats – UD Dining Services will highlight sustainable food options throughout locations with the Know Your Food-Print Campaign.

Earth Week giveaways – There will be giveaways at various Earth Week events. 

Article by Kayla Codina