Wright College Students Discuss Important Earth Day Issues

By: Reanna Sturgill

Earth Day is a global holiday celebrated on April 22 every year since 1970. Its goal is to promote awareness of Earth’s declining environment and inspire change in damaging human behavior. 

Wright Times randomly interviewed 27 students around campus, while the majority knew what Earth Day was, no one knew when it was. 

Biology Professor, Tarranum Uddin, said that Earth Day “...should be a reminder for us to think about ways of protecting the planet and come up with more sustainable choices so that we have this planet for our future generations.”

Uddin said that Wright students should care about the environment, “because it’s not a secluded place. It’s where we interact with each other.” 

With every species being connected, Uddin said, “It’s not just about your survival or not just about another species’ survival– it’s the survival of everyone on this planet.”

All 27 Wright students agree that Earth Day is important to help bring awareness to Earth’s environment. Many students held the same sentiment regarding Earth being home. 

Illustration by Tito

Cybersecurity major Kevin Niola said, “I think it’s important to take care of the place we’re living.” Niola said, “It’s like in your house, you also want to keep it clean. It’s where you live.”

Of the 27 students interviewed, 21 said that they would participate in Earth Day events at Wright. The students look forward to any educational, outdoor clean-ups, marches around campus, and planting events that could be offered.

Film major, Bel Shmoeil, wants to do events that help the community. Schmoeil said that “We have to do the steps to help the neighbors too.”

Wright’s Peer Specialists are hosting an Earth Day event, on April 22 from 2-5pm in the faculty dinning room. The event will include making mason jar terrariums for plants and painting terracotta pots that will have wildflower seeds planted in them. 

Barroso said that “I know a lot of us don’t really touch grass that often, if that makes sense. Or not a lot of us connect with nature.”

Uddin plans to give her students seeds to plant on Earth Day. In her regular biology 114 class, Uddin teaches a unit on ecology where students research different parts of the environment and present their findings to their fellow students.

Uddin said that “I do try to make a connection so that students form a connection between their own life, and this planet, and the species that are on this planet.” It is important for non-biology majors to also reflect and think about the environment and the students’ impact to it. 

Uddin adds that “Nature is not something that you can take out of us– it’s something that’s related to us.” 

Of the 27 interviewed, 24 Wright students are still optimistic about Earth’s future. Many of them still placed conditions on whether Earth can be helped. Marketing major Shante Portilla added to his belief that Earth can be saved, “If we put our time and effort in it.”

First Year Experience’s Earth Week Event on April 17, 22, and 24 in Room S100. The Student Government Association’s  Earth Day celebration with food and discussions of how to help the planet on April 22 from 1-2 p.m. in the Events Building Atrium.

Wright’s Humboldt Park Campus is hosting an Earth Day event from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. on April 26. Participating students must fill out the registration form with the QR code on flyers around the home campus.