Renowned poet to speak on Earth Day

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mary Oliver is slated to celebrated Earth Day 2008 with a presentation in Lagerquist Concert Hall.

Oliver is renowned for her evocative and precise imagery, which brings nature into clear focus and transforms the everyday world into a place of magic and discovery.

Tickets to her speech in Lagerquist and at a satellite viewing location in Ingram sold out quickly. Those who do attend are required to present a PLU ID along with a ticket. A question-and-answer session and book signing follow Oliver’s presentation.

Oliver’s address is part of PLU’s annual Earth Week celebration from April 19 to 26. The student groups the Climate Change Ambassadors and Grass Roots Environmental Action Now (GREAN) have planned events throughout the week targeting global climate change and alternative forms of transportation.

The activities began with a sustainability-themed Outdoor Rec backpacking trip to Lake Ozette this weekend, co-sponsored by the ambassadors. During the excursion, Claire Todd, visiting assistant environmental studies and geosciences professor, and Brian Naasz, assistant chemistry professor, discussed the impact of climate change on the Olympic Peninsula.

The week continued with the grand opening celebration of the PLU Community Garden on Sunday.

Monday, Earth Week activities include Pierce Transit representative Lind Simonson speaking at a bus awareness event; “Second-hand Clothes Day,” where students wear second-hand clothes identified by stickers from GREAN; and a showing and discussion of “An Inconvenient Truth.”

“The film is a really good way for visual people to get an idea of what’s really going to happen,” explained Karly Siroky, a Climate Change Ambassador. “You see the spikes in the graph, and you can’t deny it’s happening.”

Later in the week, bikes are the focus with the Central Pierce Fire and Rescue selling fitted helmets for $6 and Jim Couch from Spoke and Sprocket answering bike-related questions.

A bike parade will ride through campus along the Lute Loop route. That evening, PLU alum Drew Romberg from Old Town Bicycle will host a workshop about how to purchase, properly ride and maintain a bicycle.

For more information, contact grean@plu.edu or toddce@plu.edu.