Earth Week

The celebration and dedication of a student led effort to restore habitat on campus to its native state, is one of the many highlights for Earth Week at PLU.

Habitat Restoration Project dedication: Senior Reed Ojala-Barbour was looking for a way to make his passion for environmental activism tangible.

He found it in a habitat restoration project on PLU’s campus. The project involved clearing invasive plant species from a site on lower campus and planting native species to recapture native habitat on campus.

On Monday, April 18 his efforts, along with nearly 200 volunteers, named in honor of PLU Professor of Emeritus of Chemistry Fred Tobiason ’58.

Tobiason ensured the preservation of more than 100 acres in the Parkland area through the Cascade Land Conservancy and was pivotal in organizing a large group to prevent the 3 acres around the UC from becoming a paved parking lot.

He worked to restore the area by sculpting hills, planting and laying nurse logs to mimic natural habitat after it had been graded.

Tobiason worked with Ojala-Barbour in guiding the restoration of the site. 

Earth Day speaker: Former Seattle mayor Greg Nickels speak on “All Politics is Local: Even Global Warming,” from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 18 in the Scandinavian Cultural Center of the UC. Nickels served eight years as the 51st mayor of Seattle from 2002 to 2009. While mayor, he focused on four priorities: getting Seattle moving, keeping neighborhoods safe, creating jobs and opportunity for all, and building strong families and healthy communities.

Primarily known outside of the region for his leadership on climate protection, Rolling Stone called Nickels the “Pied Piper” of mayors for his works to protect the climate and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded him its 2006 Climate Protection Award. Nickels launched “Seattle Climate Action Now,” a grassroots effort to protect the climate by taking action at home, at work and on the road.

In September 2010, Nickels was nominated by President Obama and confirmed by the Senate to be an Alternate Representative of the United Nations to the Sixty-Fifth Session of the United Nations.

Earth Week schedule:

Saturday, April 16
From noon to 3 p.m. there will be a Community Garden Party at the PLU Community Garden. All are encouraged to come and get dirty by volunteering at the garden.

Sunday, April 17
From 1 to 3 p.m. volunteers are invited to work on the Habitat Restoration Project. There will also be a student unveiling for new signs.

Monday, April 18
Starting at 10:30 a.m., Chapel will be a sustainability themed service with Professor Kevin O’Brien speaking.

Starting at 3:45 p.m. there will be a Grand Sign unveiling and dedication of the Habitat Restoration site, followed by a meat free Monday tabling in the UC.

Tuesday, April 19
From 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Earth Week speaker Greg Nickels will present “All Politics is Local: Even Global Warming,” in the Scandinavian Cultural Center of the UC.

Wednesday, April 20
There will be a sustainability themed dinner in the Commons of the UC. Starting 7 p.m. GREAN is hosting a screening of “Queen of the Sun” in Ingram 100.

Also the Volunteer Center will host its Celebration of Service event as part of Be the Spark.

Thursday, April 21
Starting at 7 p.m., the Diversity Center will host an engaging talk about environmental justice. Appetizers will be provided.

Friday, April 22
No School. It’s Good Friday.