Earth Day Festivities Flourish at VCU

By Leila Ugincius

Virginia Commonwealth University celebrates Earth Day this week with celebrations on both campuses.

Proving just how important sustainability is to the university community, hundreds of people attended the MCV Campus Earth Day celebration on April 21 on Kontos Plaza. A similar celebration will be held on the Monroe Park Campus on Friday, April 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The second annual MCV Campus celebration included more than a dozen exhibitors. In addition to promoting healthy eating, composting, environmentally friendly transportation, energy conservation and recycling, this year’s event included a farmers’ market for the first time, with local farmers selling their products.

Rachel Elves, who helped organize the event, was heartened to see such a large turnout.

“A lot of people are trying to be more sustainable and take more steps in their lives,” said Elves, a member of the leadership team for Green Unity for the MCV Campus and an intern in the VCU Office of Sustainability. “A lot of people come here to learn about sustainability.”

Earth Day may come around once a year, but the VCU Office of Sustainability works to keep the university green and Earth-friendly year-round. Read about its latest initiatives here.

The MCV Campus celebration is part of a week’s worth of Earth Day activities at VCU that includes educational speakers, movies and musical entertainment.

The Monroe Park Campus celebration kicks off Friday at 11 a.m. at the Commons Plaza and will feature a catered lunch, herb and vegetable seedling giveaways, vendors and arts and crafts.

This year, the VCU Sustainability Committee will showcase its various ongoing environmental initiatives, and committee leaders will engage students in thoughtful conversation about the relationship between VCU and the environment.