As Earth Day rolled around the corner, Ventura College organizations established a theme of giving back to the community.
VC clubs took part in various Earth Day activities on Thursday, April 22. Whether club members informed their fellow classmates on the benefits of recycling or beautified the campus by planting trees, students came together to give back to the school and educate the community.
“[We’re doing this] basically to raise awareness,” said Sociology Club President Kayla Ortiz.
The Sociology Club was one of several organizations present for the Earth Day festivities. Other clubs included Alpha Gamma Sigma, Biology Club, Anthropology Club and Holistic Health Club.
From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Holistic Health Festival dominated the campus quad, introducing students to a number of holistic health care providers and other services promoting better health. These vendors included Juice Plus+, Awakening Health and City of Ventura Environmental Services. Other businesses, including the Ojai Herb and Acupuncture Clinic, attended the festival to help students understand the importance of taking care of their bodies. Kali Institute further stressed this importance by giving attendees free massages.
“The massage chair did wonders to my body,” said Annette Briggs, a 23-year-old business major. “I stopped by to check out the festival, and I ended up learning about the [expletive] I’ve done to my body.”
Briggs wasn’t the only student who gained some knowledge from the festival. Francisco Moraga, a 19-year-old biology major, discovered a few recycling tips.
“I never knew that shoes were recyclable,” said Moraga. “With this information I can do my part and help the planet, even if it’s just a small act.”
But small acts were the heart of VC’s giving back theme.
The Sociology Club’s Earth Day actions served as an example of committing small acts in order to gain greater results. In an effort to encourage students to make the world a greener place, the Sociology Club hosted an afternoon showing of the 2006 documentary film “Who Killed the Electric Car?”
The film took a look at the death and rebirth of the electric vehicle, educating audiences on the role of renewable energy and its affect on society.
“We wanted to let the students see a film [that would] inspire them to take action,” said Ortiz, a 19-year-old sociology major.
Biology Club members also did their part to give back to the community, getting their hands dirty and planting a total of five trees, 50 plants and 500 seeds all around campus.
According to club member Kathleen Leonard, 35, there were two reasons for doing this activity.
“This was not only an educational approach,” she said, “but also a way to beautify the campus.”
The array of plants were donated by local businesses including Home Depot, Oasis, Lowes, Nopalito (Native Plant Nursery), Passion Flowers and Green Thumb.
“This native garden is to be used for next year’s field biology classes,” said Leonard. “Students can simply step outside their classrooms and study a variety of native plants right here on campus.”
Leonard, who won her campaign for 2010-2011 ASVC President, also described her personal goals for Earth Day and how these events tie in with her recent victory.
“I wanted to follow through with my integrity of making VC a better campus,” she said. “My first mission was to make campus greener and today’s festivities allow me to get closer to my goal.”
