Maisie Strader
Special to The Leader
Image courtesy of Fredonia.edu
On Wednesday, April 22, people across the world will pay tribute to our home planet on Earth Day.
But how many college students concern themselves with the day and what it stands for?
“I could say that because of the internet and social media, and everybody carrying phones and computers around, people are just more aware that it is an issue,” said Dr. Tracy Marafiote, event coordinator for SUNY Fredonia’s Earth Day Expo and associate professor of communications. “But I don’t think that it has translated into meaningful increased actions.”
Earth Day began on April 22, 1970, to raise awareness on environmental issues and sustainability.
Since then, it has grown into an international movement encouraging individuals and communities to take action in protecting the planet.
Continuing that mission locally, Fredonia’s Department of Environmental Health, Safety and Sustainability will hold its annual Earth Day Expo & Farmers’ Market on Wednesday, April 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Williams Center Multipurpose Room.
The event will feature 32 tables and is free and open to both the campus and community.
Leanne Sczepczenski, a senior and president of FredGrows, will be present at the event, standing at the FredGrows table.
Sczepczenski emphasized that Earth Day is about more than just awareness.
“[It’s about] connecting people with nature, teach[ing] sustainable practices, eliminating plastics and most importantly, hav[ing] fun,” says Sczepczenski.
As part of their outreach, FredGrows will be handing out “seed bombs,” small biodegradable paper balls filled with seeds that can be tossed into soil to promote plant growth.
“You can chuck it anywhere,” Sczepczenski added, highlighting the simplicity and accessibility of the initiative.
Last year, the expo arranged different activities such as upcycling t-shirts into no-sew reusable tote bags, and presented multiple projects brought together by Marafiote’s Environmental Communications class.
Beyond the event itself, Marafiote has also encouraged her students to engage more directly with sustainability efforts.
In past years, she challenged students to collect and keep all of their personal waste for an entire week as a way to look at the realities of overconsumption.
This year, the global theme for Earth Day is “Our Planet, Our Power,” which focuses on increasing awareness and accountability for the damage we do to our home.
The goal Marafiote has for Fredonia’s Earth Day Expo aligns with that message—for attendees to leave with at least one new idea or habit they can adopt to help the environment.
According to the Nature and Culture International Organization, Earth Day “serves as a reminder of our responsibility to safeguard our planet for future generations.”
That message resonates on a local level as well, where environmental challenges can feel more immediate and personal.
When asked about the biggest issue facing the Fredonia community, Sczepczenski pointed to concerns about access to clean water, following the multiple boil water orders.
During her time on campus, she noted that she has not observed many major environmental changes, but her club is working to promote smaller, everyday actions.
One such initiative is the “Turning Off the Lights” campaign.
This encourages students and staff to reduce energy consumption by shutting off lights when they are not in use.
Even with these changes, there are changes that you as a student can make to be more environmentally friendly, such as making changes in what you purchase.
Sczepczenski suggests getting glass packaging or even recommends changing your packaging options on platforms like Amazon.
In addition to the expo, FredGrows is hosting a weeklong series of events, including a Garden Gala on April 18, with all donations benefiting Freddy’s Locker.
Freddy’s Locker is a campus resource supporting students that need access to groceries and healthy foods.
Marafiote acknowledged that while awareness has grown, challenges remain. “There are a lot of people who are knowledgeable and educated, and who care,” she said. “They’re fighting the environment against some scary s*** that’s happening.”
Ultimately, the Earth Day Expo aims to turn awareness into action.
By bringing together organizations, ideas, and community members in one space, the event encourages individuals to take small but meaningful steps toward protecting the world around them.