2008 Woodie Awards
Every year, rain or shine
Eco-Action encourages University to increase environmentally sound policies
Lindsay Clayton
Issue date: 4/24/02 Section: News
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by Lindsay Clayton
Eco-Action member Elaine Magil, an arts and sciences senior, was busy last week. The days leading up to Earth Day provide her and her organization with an opportunity to increase awareness of environmental issues on campus. But, Magil claimed, Eco-Action works during the rest of the year to “ensure that environmental issues get attention on campus, to make sure issues people care about, if only passively, do not get ignored.”
But Earth Day at Georgetown had to take a raincheck on April 21. Although Eco-Action had planned a bonanza to celebrate the 32nd annual Earth Day (actually April 22), the weather prevented a full-scale festival, featuring campus bands, an art show and a do-it-yourself tie-dye stand, and was reduced to a vegetarian barbeque for the few who braved the rain.
Many of those who attended Sunday’s toned-down celebration are members of Eco-Action’s core of about 12 students who consistently attend the Eco-Action club’s Monday evening meetings, although “we have more support when we need it,” Magil said. While focused on political issues such as sustainability, biodiversity, forestation, and water and environmental policy, she continued, “Eco-Action tries to keep the focus local, limited specifically to Georgetown’s campus, because it is exclusively under our jurisdiction and no one else is covering our issues.”
They recruit speakers, including D.C. Council Member Phil Mendelson, who last fall addressed concerns about urban sprawl and the Metro system. Eco-Action also worked with campus group Outdoor Education, co-sponsoring an Appalachian Trail maintenance trip. The club also organizes coffee mug sales, campus clean-ups, Earth Fest and Earth Week activities.
This year, Earth Week was a success, according to Eco-Action member Geoff Johnson, a theology junior. Beginning on April 15, they kicked off the week with a club recruitment meeting, followed by a vegan dinner on Tuesday. The next day featured a showing of the film Empty Oceans, Empty Nets, profiling the fishing industry’s impact on the environment. Over 200 people attended Thursday night’s “Save the Ale’s” at Champions, which was co-sponsored by the Senior Class Committee.
Eco-Action member Elaine Magil, an arts and sciences senior, was busy last week. The days leading up to Earth Day provide her and her organization with an opportunity to increase awareness of environmental issues on campus. But, Magil claimed, Eco-Action works during the rest of the year to “ensure that environmental issues get attention on campus, to make sure issues people care about, if only passively, do not get ignored.”
But Earth Day at Georgetown had to take a raincheck on April 21. Although Eco-Action had planned a bonanza to celebrate the 32nd annual Earth Day (actually April 22), the weather prevented a full-scale festival, featuring campus bands, an art show and a do-it-yourself tie-dye stand, and was reduced to a vegetarian barbeque for the few who braved the rain.
Many of those who attended Sunday’s toned-down celebration are members of Eco-Action’s core of about 12 students who consistently attend the Eco-Action club’s Monday evening meetings, although “we have more support when we need it,” Magil said. While focused on political issues such as sustainability, biodiversity, forestation, and water and environmental policy, she continued, “Eco-Action tries to keep the focus local, limited specifically to Georgetown’s campus, because it is exclusively under our jurisdiction and no one else is covering our issues.”
They recruit speakers, including D.C. Council Member Phil Mendelson, who last fall addressed concerns about urban sprawl and the Metro system. Eco-Action also worked with campus group Outdoor Education, co-sponsoring an Appalachian Trail maintenance trip. The club also organizes coffee mug sales, campus clean-ups, Earth Fest and Earth Week activities.
This year, Earth Week was a success, according to Eco-Action member Geoff Johnson, a theology junior. Beginning on April 15, they kicked off the week with a club recruitment meeting, followed by a vegan dinner on Tuesday. The next day featured a showing of the film Empty Oceans, Empty Nets, profiling the fishing industry’s impact on the environment. Over 200 people attended Thursday night’s “Save the Ale’s” at Champions, which was co-sponsored by the Senior Class Committee.
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