Alcorn to celebrate Earth Day, April 22-23
Alcorn to celebrate Earth Day, April 22-23
Once again, Brave people are going green in celebration of Earth Day. For the 15th year in a row, Alcorn State University will host events to educate the public on its sustainability efforts and inform participants what they can do to contribute to a more eco-friendly society.
Events include a symposium on the environment with Dr. Marta Piva (Department of Biological Sciences), Drs. Yolanda Jones and Sandra Barnes (Department of Chemistry and Physics), George Phillips (Mississippi Museum of Natural Sciences), and Patrice Creel (U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center). Mayors Butch Brown (City of Natchez), Henry Banks (City of Hazlehurst), and George Flaggs (City of Vicksburg) will also be present to discuss what sustainability efforts are happening in their communities.
“Earth Day reminds us all to reduce, reuse and recycle, and work to conserve natural resources for future generations,” says Dr. Alex Acholonu, professor, Department of Biological Sciences. “We want everyone to be inspired to engage in sustainable practices in their everyday lives.”
This year’s theme is “Green Cities”.
Other activities include a dirty sock contest, vising the Millennium Tree planted 12 years ago by late Alcorn president Dr. Clinton Bristow Jr. and more. See complete list of events below.
Earth Day celebrations are free and open to the public and will take place around the Lorman campus and in the Math and Science Building (lobby and room 109).
For more information, contact Dr. Acholonu at 601.877.6236 or email [email protected].
About Earth Day
It may be hard to imagine that before 1970, a factory could spew black clouds of toxic into the air or dump tons of toxic waste into a nearby stream, and that was perfectly legal. They could not be taken to court to stop it.
How was that possible? Because there was no EPA, no Clean Air Act, no Clean Water Act. There were no legal or regulatory mechanisms to protect our environment.
In spring 1970, Senator Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day as a way to force this issue onto the national agenda. Twenty million Americans demonstrated in different U.S. cities, and it worked! Click here to learn more. https://www.epa.gov/earthday/history.htm
Events
Tuesday, April 22
Eve of Earth Day to 7:00 a.m. of April 22
General Clean-Up of Residence Halls
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Inspection of Residence Halls by Ecology Club Members
3:00 p.m.
Dirty Sock Contest
4:00 p.m.
Group photos at Millennium Tree and Earth Day 2000
Wednesday, April 23
Chaired by Dr. Babu Patlolla
Interim Dean, School of Arts and Sciences
8:30 a.m.
Opening Ceremony of Earth Day Celebration
Showing of Earth Day video and/or video on the Environment/Culture
Distribution of hand-outs regarding Earth Day
Debate on Climate Change-Myth or Reality
Pros: Dontrell Guy, Vernell McDonald and ShaTony Hombro
Cons:Amber Tatum, Elwin Johnson and Krystain Coleman
9:30 a.m.
Experts Symposium on the Environment
Speakers:
Dr. Marta Piva
Department of Biological Sciences
Pollutions and Mutations
Mr. George Phillips
Mississippi Museum of Natural Sciences
“Environmental and Climatic Changes in Mississippi: The Last 90 Million Years”
Dr. Yolanda Jones and Dr. Sandra Barnes
Department of Chemistry and Physics
“Sustainability Themes in Education, Research and Community Outreach”
Mrs. Patrice E. Creel
U.S. Army Engineer Research and Devvelopment Ce
