Event spreads word to students about global warming
Focus the Nation, a teach-in event, came to UO to teach students about how to reverse climate change
By: Brent Henzi | Freelance reporter
Posted: 2/1/08
The University is one of nearly 1,100 universities and colleges around
the country that gave students a chance to learn about the effects of
climate change by participating in the Focus the Nation teach-in event
on Thursday.
More than 10 University organizations, including OSPIRG and Campus
Recycling, participated in the nation's largest ever teach-in event,
lining the EMU all day with booths where students could get information
on the effects of climate change and how to get involved.
University student Tyler Polich, a coordinator of the event and Campus
Recycling employee, said that educating students about climate change
is the point of the event and that they accomplished that goal.
"This is definitely a step in the right direction. We are trying to
bridge the gap between students and real world problems," Polich said
during the teach-in. "It's an important issue, and I feel like people
are learning, which is what we hoped for. We want students to get
involved on a personal level, as small actions add up."
University President Dave Frohnmayer began the inaugural event with a
speech targeting the education of students, particularly those on the
University's campus.
Eban Goodstein, an economics professor at Lewis and Clark College in
Portland, started the Focus the Nation project with a goal to bring
education on climate change to schools around the country. He also
intended to have an event during regular school hours, not in the
evening when he feels that communication on the problem is just
preaching to the choir.
Lesson plans and ideas for how universities can organize an event were
posted on the project's Web site, but Goodstein noted that what schools
should do is up to them.
The University's schedule not only included a fair, but also speeches
by 13 professors on topics ranging from the business aspects of climate
change to who is responsible for the climate crisis.
"The idea is to get students in contact with professionals on the
issue," Polich said. "That way students can fully understand what is
happening."
The idea for the national teach-in was ignited two years ago by
Goodstein and planning for the University's event, including calling
professors and building booths, has also been in the works for quite
some time.
"This is a huge process, and we have been working on it for months,"
said Kelly Zillmann, a University graduate and employee of the
recycling center. "But it shows students' awareness that they are the
future. To unite schools like this and educate people, it's a great
thing."
The teach-in gave University student Kathy Redden a chance to promote
the campus organization Students for Reusable Bags, but it also
provided an opportunity for all the organizations on campus to come
together, she said. This reflects the newly formed Sustainability
Coalition, which comprises organizations on campus that deal with
climate change issues.
"The idea of the coalition is to bring together organizations and make
a bigger impact on campus than if done separately," Redden said. "This
way we can get together and not step on each others' feet."
Briana Orr, a University student and volunteer at the event, added that
the coalition will build power in dealing with certain issues, but also
gives students an easy opportunity to get involved.
"The coalition is a great way for people new to campus to find a group
that suits them and get involved," Orr said. "The U of O is one of the
best places to be if you want to learn and be a part of change."
The Eugene-based organization NextStep, which specializes in electronic
waste recycling and refurbishes computers for those that can't afford
them, was involved with the teach-in. Intern and University student
Sarah Dryfoos-Guss said there is a lot the University can do to help
reduce climate change.
"This event is a huge step forward in recognizing the severity of the
situation. We are a consume-and-throw-away society that needs to learn
the effects of this," Dryfoos-Guss said. "I encourage students to look
at their own consumption. If you do a lot of little things it ends up
making a big difference."
As for life after the teach-in, Polich feels that more events related
to climate change will be in store for the future, including plans for
an event on Earth Day in April.
"It's something that is catching on," Polich said. "We are moving to
younger generations that care and are aware of the problem. We hope to
keep taking events up a notch and have a bigger impact in changing more
minds in the right direction."
© Copyright 2008 Oregon Daily Emerald
