12 COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES NEWS Fall 2009

Adelphi’s Earth Day Celebration

Vegetables and fruits grown by local farmers, organic cookies, soy shakes, organic
hair products, and biodiesel fuel created by Adelphi students, all on display at
Adelphi’s Earth Day celebration, showcased the plethora of possibilities for green
living available to the local community.
Organized by Adelphi’s Environmental Action Coalition
(EAC), a student organization involved in educating the
community about environmental issues, in conjunction with
Coordinator of Special Projects for the Division of Student
Affairs Kathleen Watchorn, the Earth Day celebration
unfolded in the Ruth S. Harley University Center lobby on
April 22, 2009.
The event featured organic desserts, including organic
smoothies and soymilk, and presented participants with
the chance to test organic and nonorganic cookies to see if
they could tell the difference. EAC also showcased biodiesel
fuel produced by Adelphi students in the Science Building
laboratories, made from excess frying oil from the Panther
Grill in Post Hall. The bottles containing student-produced
biodiesel fuel are to be used for the campus automobiles,
according to Michael Sosin ’11, an environmental studies
major who conducted and designed the laboratory work
for the EAC biodiesel project. “Shuttle buses will run on
biodiesel produced by the students,” he said.
Promoting the green spirit, Kappa Sigma raffled smart
electric bulbs and DVDs about Earth Day, and sold small
bamboo plants to benefit Adelphi’s green movement. The
Office of Public Safety distributed information about fuel-
efficient transportation methods, such as carpooling, biking,
and the use of Adelphi’s shuttle bus transportation for
commuter students. Manager of Transportation and Parking
Services Dorothy Randell informed interested parties that
Parking Field 2 on the Garden City campus reserves parking
spots for students who carpool.
Off-campus organizations that participated in Adelphi’s Earth
Day celebration included the Queens Botanical Garden,
Wildlife in Need of Rescue, and businesses including Big
City Bicycle, Eco Salon Spa, and local vegetable and fruit
vendors who will be setting up a fresh market stand in the
University Center cafeteria once a month this fall.
The Queens Botanical Garden came
to teach Earth Day attendees the art
of vermicomposting, which is a way
to recycle indoors. The necessary
ingredients are a plastic box, food
scraps, tea bags, shreds of newspapers,
and a half pound of the Eisenia fetida
worm, according to Claire Bernardo,
volunteer at Queens Botanical Garden.
The worms can be found at New York
Worms in Glen Cove, New York, or at
Outstanding Renewal Enterprises, Inc.
in Manhattan.
“It’s perfect for people who don’t have
gardens,” Ms. Bernardo said. “I’m going
to start one in my basement.”
Wildlife in Need of Rescue is a
nonprofit rehabilitation center that rescues injured animals
and takes care of roughly 500 animals each year, according
to Director Bobby Horvath. The center exhibited three
adult and baby owls, a fox, skunk, box turtle, and an
opossum, which attracted many students eager to see wild
animals up close.
“I’m a grad student in the University’s History Department and
I came by to see the Earth Day events,” said Michael Kennedy
B.A. ’07, M.A. ’09. “I heard there were animal displays on
campus and came to see the owls and opossums.”
Two Garden City vendors offered Adelphi students viable
eco-friendly and organic solutions to everyday living. Big
City Bicycle sells bicycles and safety accessories, while Eco
Salon Spa Store, which promotes eco-friendly cosmetics
and hair care, urged participants to visit the store for facials,
dance sessions, and yoga sessions.
Other Earth Day activities included the planting of trees
outside of Earle Hall and the Alice Brown Early Learning
Center. A life-size artwork constructed from tree branches
was showcased in the main lobby of the new Performing
Arts Center.
Outside the Ruth S. Harley University Center, Professor of
Sociology Pierre Hegy, a member of the Model A Ford Club
of Long Island, brought his Model A Ford car, illustrating
the difference between this vintage car and a Toyota Prius.
He spoke about the evolution of environmentally friendly
cars.
“Earth Day keeps things going,” Professor Hegy said.
“Progressing towards the earth, using less fuel, but getting
there faster.”