UC News & Updates

Earth Day 2008 at University of Northern Colorado draws over 700 to participate in the day's diverse activities

The Inaugral UNC Earth Day Event drew enthusiastic students, faculty, staff and community members together to celebrate Earth, Spirit and Community. The day began with an earth meditation run by Steven Quakenbush from the UNC Counseling Center. Businesses and community organizations then joined with on-campus services to promote the ideas of local community, environmental friendly practices, and unity building activities. Ehrlich Toyota brought two hybird vehciles to display and organizations such as the Campaign for Burma Awareness and the Progressive Voter Network highlighted various political movements. Northern Colorado Paper promoted various earth friendly cleaners and disposable/bio-degradable dish ware made from cane sugar waste. Apple Computers showed off its latest envirnomentally friendly electronic equipment. Other local business participants included Madison and Main Gallery, Life Source, Dragon's Cache, Cranberries Fresh Foods Market, and Heruka Buddhist Center. United Sisters, Study Abroad, and the Environmental Studies Club offered students on campus options to help make the world a better place. University Program Council and Student Representative Council co-sponsored the Eco-Pledge wall which allowed students to write pledges on the wall and then were entered in a drawing for one of four Barnes & Noble Gift Cards.

Mid-day poetry readings featured 20 poets and was recorded for playback on UNC Radio this Saturday April 26 at Noon and 8:00 p.m. and Sunday April 27 at Noon.

Native American dancers from the group Azteca Danza Tlalac graced the campus with one of the biggest hits of the day. Enrique Meastas, UNC faculty in Hispanic Studies and Anthropology, organized the performance of seven including himself. An audience of over 100 persons, including middle school students visiting the UNC campus, watched with amazement as the dancers honored the earth with their drumming and footwork. The dancers then invited the spectators to join in in a dance that spirled around the grass. These same performers also brought their fine art works and displayed paintings in the UC Fireside Lounge for the day.

Faculty members including President Kay Norton talked in an intimate audience setting about various topics relating to Earth and Community Connections. Dr. Keiko Kranhke led a workshop entitled "Return to Wholeness" that brought tears to the eyes of some of the participants as they delved deep inside to think about their relationship to the world and to themselves.

As a culmination to the day's activities, the African drumming group Fale wowed the audience and by the end nearly the entire crowd was on their feet and dancing. Following the astounding drumming performance, poet Richard Tayson and Colorado Poet Laureate Mary Crow read poetry speaking to a deeper level about the Earth and the meaning of Earth Day.

The Earth Day activities were supported by departments across campus as well as off campus groups including:

Academic Affairs
Center for Honors, Scholars and Leadership
Eaton Grove Nursery
Greeley Tribune
Monfort College of Business
Native American Student Services
Schulze Endowment
Student Representative Council
University Center
University Program Council
UNC Connection
Women's Resource Center

Earth Day was envisioned and led by the Center for Honors, Scholars and Leadership with co-chairs Michael Kimball, newley appointed Director for the HSL Center and Associate Director Debra Holman with special thanks to Keiko Krahnke, Cynthia Mitchell, and Michael Knisely for their significant contributions to the Earth Day Programs.

For more information about the activities and list of Info Fair participants: Earth Day Website at www.unco.edu/earthday.

Winners from the Textbook Scholarship Drawings

This semester the University Center has given out several Textbook Scholarships to Barnes & Noble College Bookstore. Following is the list of winners:

John Kiaha $250 from the UC Interest Survey drawing
Nick Bayer $100 from the UC Student Appreciation Days drawing
Kindal Konechne $100 from the Earth Day Drawing
Amelia Sidinger $100 from the Earth Day Drawing
Lauren Dent $100 from the Earth Day Drawing