Earth Week promotes sustainability on campus

The JHU Sustainability Network sponsored Earth Week, a week-long series of events which began on Monday and were structured to promote and educate students about sustainability on campus. The events culminate with Earth Day on Sunday, April 22.

“Earth Week events demonstrate how students can take little steps, such as using tap water instead of bottled water, to make large differences and really contribute to sustainability at Hopkins,” sophomore Julia Bradshaw, Publicity Officer for Students for Environmental Action, said.

The week began with Take Back the Tap, an event run by Hopkins ECO-Reps, which was designed to encourage students to turn to drinking water from the tap instead of bottled water. Individuals passing through Levering Quad between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. were asked to take a sip each from two unlabeled cups of water, one containing tap water and the other bottled water, to attempt to identify the type of water each cup contained.

“Take Back the Tap is a great project . . . that helps students realize what great tap water Baltimore has. [It] promotes the use of . . . reusable bottles on campus as opposed to [plastic] water bottle consumption which could

end up in a landfill,” said sophomore Becky Spellissy.

“I don’t know how anyone could be able to tell the difference between tap water and bottled water,” said sophomore Marianne Avari, after sipping from both cups. “I literally just guessed. This was a great way to illustrate how something so simple as carrying a [reusable] water bottle can make a positive environmental impact with no detriment to the individual.”

Another popular event was the Clothing Freecycle, also held on Monday afternoon in Levering Quad.

Students were able to select from hundreds of different clothes that people donated. Items ranged from coats, tees and tank tops, sweaters, dresses, bottoms, swimwear, accessories and shoes. Clothes for men and women were available at the event.

“Our Clothing Freecycle event pushes attendees to consider donating unused clothing, and reusing others’ unwanted clothing, instead of continually producing more, new goods,” said junior Jacob Wildfire, an intern for the Office of Sustainability. “It was a hit!  Hundreds of students came and picked up a free shirt, sweater or pair of pants.  I picked up three things myself.”

The Clothing Freecycle was sponsored by the Whiting School of Engineering, the Department of Geography & Environmental Engineering (DoGEE), Green Campus Reps and the Office of Sustainability.

“I think it’s an amazing way to introduce people to the variety of opportunities for recycling that exist outside of the realm of plastic bottles and cardboard boxes,” said sophomore Becky Sturner.

The Toxic Tour of Baltimore be on Friday at 12 p.m. from Monument Street entrance of Wolfe Street building on the East Baltimore campus. This bus tour will travel around specific city locations in need of environmental clean-up.

The Healthy Planet Festival will be on the Gilman Quad throughout the weekend at Spring Fair. The event will feature smoothies made in blenders powered by bicycles, blood pressure screenings, massages, yoga sessions and live music.

“Organizing on almost all of Hopkins’ campuses, we hope to reach a huge population of bright, talented, and passionate students, faculty, and staff,” said Wildfire. “Changing even one person’s attitude on bottled water, composting, hybrid cars, or food production is a great success.  With Earth Week, however, we have the opportunity to inspire thousands.”

Bradshaw agreed.

“One of my goals this week is to reach the student who is least likely to care about the earth and convey to him/her the importance of sustainability. If I can convince at least one person that living in an eco-friendly way is crucial to our future, then I will be successful,” she said.