From Seton Hall University:
Join Seton Hall University’s celebration during the week of April 18-22, as the University brings the campus community together to inspire change and action, to address local and global environmental issues. There will be educational programs, contests, games and outdoor fun for everyone. Participants are invited to plant seeds in the campus garden, play games on the Green, take a yoga class outside, eat healthy food and indulge in new Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream flavors. The ice cream will be free!
“This Earth Week celebration is in deep harmony with the Catholic mission of Seton Hall and it follows the call of Pope Francis for Catholic universities to promote environmental education,” said Judith Stark, professor of philosophy and director of the Environmental Studies Program. “Seton Hall is in the perfect position to infuse vibrant spirituality and ethical principles into environmental awareness and action. We have the science and understand public policy. The challenge is to bring our ethical principles to bear on the tremendous environmental challenges we all face. Seton Hall is poised to play a vital role in this effort with initiatives like Earth Week 2016.”
Events will include the 2nd annual Eco-Fest on the Green, on Monday, April 18. Featured activities include outdoor yoga, gratitude circle, food trucks, student club tables with contests and prizes sponsored by Coca-Cola. On Wednesday, April 20, the Ecology Club will host a Rainforest Alliance coffee and chocolate tasting in the evening. On Earth Day, Friday, April 22, everyone is invited into the campus garden next to Xavier hall to plant seeds and grapevines and learn about growing organic food. All events are open to the community and will take place on Seton Hall’s South Orange campus, located at 400 South Orange Ave.
“We know climate change is real. We are bringing together the campus community to highlight global and local environmental issues as well as solutions which we can all take part in. This is about students and the Seton Hall community taking action in whatever way they choose, to respect the earth and to say thank you for the beauty and abundance it provides,” said Wanda Knapik, Environmental Studies professor and director of the campus garden.
Andriana Fragola, Ecology Club leader, is one of the many students helping to grow a greener campus. “I joined the Ecology Club because I have always been an avid environmentalist. I have a deep passion for nature and being outside,” she said. “I hope to raise awareness for the environmental issues that exist today and help students realize that they can make a difference.” She added, “I hope to turn students into stewards for the Earth.”
Fragola’s efforts to educate and promote the environment will not end with Earth Week. As a resident of Miami, she is never far from her passion for the sea. She intends to pursue a graduate degree in ocean conservation focusing on tropical marine ecosystems, and hopes to contribute to the preservation of sharks and sting-rays. She is planning to attend the International Coral Reef Symposium in Hawaii where she will present research she conducted in Indonesia concerning coral and algal coverage and the impact of humanity on coral health. She hopes to take her experience and education to a NGO and continue her work with public outreach and sustainable development on the planet.
“The University supports sustainability through Facilities Engineering. We support the campus community through working with student groups like the Ecology Club and sustainability mentors like Professor Wanda Knapik,” said John Signorello, associate vice president of Facilities and Operations. “Campus sustainability is a community event and we invite all to participate.”
Seton Hall University looks forward to seeing the community outside during Earth Week, enjoying the beautiful campus Green and campus garden.
A complete list of events and activities done in collaboration with the Petersheim Academic Symposium can be found below:
Seton Hall Earth Week Schedule of Events
MONDAY, APRIL 18: ECO-FEST on the Green
11:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sponsored by Coca-Cola, the community can start the day with yoga, courtesy of instructor, Shannon Reilly. Food trucks including Waffle DeLys, Taqueria Autentica, Empanada Mania and Gourmet Dining Food Truck will be available throughout the day. Free Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream will be provided courtesy of Seton Hall.
Festivities will begin with a gratitude circle conducted by Campus Ministry, followed by a performance by Gentleman of the Hall, featuring Ecology Club member, Jack Pitt. Afterwards, everyone is invited to take part in fun and educational Ecology Club games with the chance to win prizes.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20: ECOLOGY CLUB Celebration in Mooney Hall Room 17
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Sponsored by Rainforest Alliance, the celebration will feature free chocolate and coffee tasting. The community can learn about upcoming permaculture projects, and other Ecology Club projects. Rainforest Alliance products will be displayed.
FRIDAY, APRIL 22: EARTH DAY Celebration in the Campus Garden
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Sponsored by Gourmet Dining, students can plant seeds and grapevines, and learn about organic food from garden caretakers. The campus garden is located between Xavier and the University Center.
The events are free and open to the public.
View a map of Seton Hall’s green locations: https://www.shu.edu/news/upload/campus-map-eco-tour2.pdf
For more information about Earth Week, please contact Wanda Knapik at wanda.knapik@shu.edu or (973) 761-9022.
Photo Caption: Permaculture design students hanging the Earth Day banner on the campus garden gate, from left, Lukas Howe, Gabi Hunt, Abby Shamray, Rachel Evans, Colin Machat, Tammy Quach, Yasmine Vargas and Jinny McIlvaine.
ABOUT SETON HALL UNIVERSITY
One of the country’s leading Catholic universities, Seton Hall University has been developing students in mind, heart and spirit since 1856. Home to nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students and offering more than 90 rigorous majors, Seton Hall’s academic excellence has been singled out for distinction by The Princeton Review, U.S. News & World Report and Bloomberg Businessweek.
Seton Hall, which embraces students of all religions, prepares its graduates to be exemplary servant leaders and global citizens. In recent years, the University has achieved extraordinary success. Since 2009, the University has seen record-breaking undergraduate enrollment growth in addition to an impressive 95-point increase in the average SAT scores of incoming freshmen. In the past decade, Seton Hall students and alumni have been awarded nearly 20 Fulbright Scholarships as well as other prestigious academic honors including a Rhodes Scholar. In the past five years, the University has invested more than $134 million in new campus buildings and renovations. And in 2015, Seton Hall announced plans for a new School of Medicine as well as launched a new College of Communication and the Arts.
A founding member of the new Big East Conference, the Seton Hall Pirates field 14 NCAA Division I varsity sports teams. The University’s beautiful main campus is located in suburban South Orange, New Jersey, and is only 14 miles from New York City – offering its students a wealth of employment, internship, cultural and entertainment opportunities. The University’s nationally recognized School of Law is prominently located in downtown Newark. For more information, visit www.shu.edu.
