The last month of school has finally arrived and as everyone zeros in on finals, ECO Agency is going into celebration mode. A long-standing tradition at the U is the partnership between the Office of Sustainability and Student Government's ECO Agency to create a series of events that correlate with sustainability, conservation, and general celebration of planet earth! This event takes all semester to plan and ends with a festive fair that encapsulates all the events on Earth Day, April 22 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Lakeside Patio.
The Executive Board of ECO Agency consists of 12 stellar students who have paved the way for the club to create such an elaborate event. Ainsley Hillard, a senior majoring in Chemistry, has lead ECO for the past 2 years as chair. “ECO was the first club I joined when I came to UM as a freshman. My favorite thing about it is how there are so many different interests within the club. There is always something new to learn or a project that you never would’ve thought of.” Hillard says reflecting back on her four years in the organization.
There are nine subcommittees that make up ECO Agency and each one was tasked to create an event that encapsulates their committee's mission as well as engage the UM population. As a member of the executive board myself, my subcommittee, Outreach, kicked off Earth Month with an event on April 1. Students were able to stop by our table, grab a sweet treat, and learn about pollution, waste, and sustainability initiatives through a fun game of trivia! Check out the ECO Agency Instagram to see the questions asked.
Conservation ecology, another subcommittee of ECO, has spearheaded the initiative to plant an additional butterfly garden at the Knight Physics Building courtyard. “It is a great way to boost native biodiversity of campus, support local pollinators, and get more community involvement in habitat restoration projects,” says Ryan Chaffee, Conservation Ecology Subcommittee Chair. Conservation Ecology’s goal is to preserve and protect the natural beauty around campus. This year, they have worked on a “Grow-Wall” outside of Richter Library with plants that you can take home.
The Facilities subcommittee created the GREEN games this year to boost engagement from student organizations on campus. “The goal of this competition is to encourage organizations and students to consider what choices they can make to be more sustainable,” says Ryan McMullen, Facilities Committee Chair. The committee works closely with the Department of Facilities and Operations to incorporate energy efficient practices around campus.
The best way to learn about what ECO has done this year is to attend the many Earth Month events that are coming up. Check out the greenu website to learn more about what events are happening and when! All events are free to attend for faculty, staff, students, and the local community.
