MIA CIECHALSKI
Life & Arts Editor
With Earth Day passing and Earth Month coming to a close, the second annual “SUNY Fredonia Earth Day & Sustainability Expo” took place to help the campus celebrate and learn about Mother Nature.
The Earth Day Expo was held on Wednesday, April 22 in the Williams Center MPR.
It featured a day full of learning about sustainability, and those in attendance made Earth Day-inspired crafts.
The Earth Day Expo was put together by Dr. Tracy Marafiote of the communication department, with the help of some students.
Planning of this event started at the beginning of the semester and turned out to be a highly attended and successful event.
Over 250 students, faculty members, administration members and community members attended.
President Stephen Kolison, Interim Provost Judith Horowitz and Dean Andy Karafa were in attendance as well.
Raffle items included nine different kinds of plants, a canvas tote bag and a crocheted tote bag made by Marafiote.
The Earth Day Expo also had 35 tables, ranging from conservation organizations to fraternities, helping contribute to keeping people informed and interested in the importance of our Earth.
Not only were there conservation groups and student clubs at the event, but the Fredonia Farmers Market and student research projects attended as well.
Three student groups perform for all of the attendees as well, which was different from last year’s event.
The performing groups that attended the Earth Day Expo included students Benton Good and Cody Moran, the Irish dance group “RINCE” and the Fredonia Guitar Quartet.
Isabella Albino, a senior sound recording technology (SRT) major, was brought in to help with audio equipment.
Because of the event’s success, Marafiote said she plans to bring in students to perform and help plan for next year’s event.
Each student-led table had a unique topic they discussed. Some talked about the importance of sustainability while giving away some free sustainable products like bamboo toothbrushes, bath bombs and small samples of shea butter.
FREDGrows also gave away free seed bombs to those in attendance.
Some tables provided craft activities as well, highlighting student creativity.
The Biology Club held a “paint your own plant pot” activity, while Kappa Sigma helped upcycle old tee shirts into reusable tote bags.
Then, once all of the attendees got their crafting fix, the Fredonia Farmers Market also had a variety of items being sold to anyone who attended.
There were homemade desserts, handmade jewelry pieces, beef sticks, crocheted items and homemade body products.
All in all, the Earth Day Expo had a wide array of tables that taught the importance of conservation while providing a fun experience.