Donya Rouzbehi
Sports Editor
The University held an Earth Day Fair on Wednesday at the Vista La Verne Courtyard and Citrus Lawn. The fair included free thrifting, live music, eco-friendly crafts, food and drinks.
The midday event attracted a big crowd of students with a variety of on campus organizations and outside vendors.
Trader Joe’s gave out free tote bags.
The fair united students and faculty on campus to celebrate sustainability, art and the planet.
Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970. It was created by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson, who wanted to raise awareness about environmental issues like pollution and oil spills. On the first Earth Day, over 20 million Americans came together to demand change.
At one booth students sorted through racks of donated clothing, supporting so-called slow fashion, which emphasizes reusing of hand-me-down clothing vs. buying new.
Live music played throughout the event, which created a festive atmosphere.
Students gathered on the grass with food and drinks in hand, while others checked out the booths and vendors.
Eraci Hamed, a senior biology major, ran a booth for her business fraternity, Phi Epsilon Kappa, and explained why it’s important to recognize Earth Day on college campuses.
“It’s showing how important the Earth is,” Hamed said. “All the booths here have different things that are eco-friendly and biodegradable.”
California is currently facing water shortages due to recurring drought conditions and increasing pressure on water supplies. Many booths highlighted how everyday activities can contribute to water waste.
Organizers emphasized that even small changes, like reusing clothing and being mindful of daily water use, can help address the ongoing water challenges.
Alyssa Navarro, a junior business administration major, shared about her booth for Sigma Kappa, which emphasized recycling. Navarro explained how recycling benefits the Earth in specific ways and what people can do to contribute to sustainability.
“We come together and educate ourselves about an environmental issue,” Navarro said. “It’s just the community all coming together to clean up the environment and have a clean Earth. We want to stay here as long as we can.”
Today, Earth Day is celebrated in over 190 countries and has involved more than one billion people each year. It has helped increase awareness about climate change and pollution. Earth Day encourages people to recycle and practice sustainable habits while also inspiring global movements to protect the environment.
Event organizers shared a common motive of making sustainability approachable and actionable. By combining education and interactive activities, the fair showed that being environmentally mindful does not have to be complicated or expensive.
Helen Davtyan, a junior criminology major, works for the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership and helped out with the shaved ice vendor. Davtyan discussed how the fair’s treats and gifts helped engage students on campus and get them involved with different organizations.
“They have to go to every table, they have to talk to someone,” Davtyan said. “And then they get like a little reward at the end.”
Earth Day serves as a reminder that the planet’s resources are limited. It also brings awareness that human actions directly impact the environment, and everyone plays a role in protecting the Earth.
“I came because there were many booths available,” Harmony Rocha, freshman education major, said. “I love getting to know new people(and) I heard about the free food.”
Donya Rouzbehi can be reached at donya.rouzbehi@laverne.edu.
Donya Rouzbehi is a senior journalism major with a concentration in print/online journalism, and staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. She has previously served as sports editor and a staff writer for the Campus Times, and is co-editor-in-chief of La Verne Magazine. Her other writing can be found at trillmag.com/author/donya-rouzbehi
Stephanie Amaya is a senior communications major with a concentration in public relations and a staff photographer for the Campus Times. She has previously served as a staff writer.
