Maryville College students, faculty staff prepare for ‘Earth Week @ MC’ observances
The first Earth Day held in 1970 is credited with initiating the modern environmental movement, and more than 50 years later, the concerns that launched it are still just as relevant as ever.
To acknowledge those concerns, as well as take part in ways to address them, Maryville College students, faculty and staff will observe Earth Day 2022 with a series of events and activities scheduled for April 18-22.
“Earth Week @ MC,” according to Adrienne Schwarte — MC Professor of Design and coordinator of the College’s Sustainability Studies minor — is designed to promote environmental awareness through clean-up events, displays and activities, including a public screening of the documentary “Hidden Rivers,” which is free and open to the public.
The 2019 documentary explores the rivers and streams of Southern Appalachia, some of the most diverse in North America, and “follows the work of conservation biologists and explorers throughout the region, and reveals both the beauty and vulnerability of these ecosystems,” according to the film’s website.
“Earth Week @ MC is a series of events designed to generate awareness about environmental problems and encourage the community to learn about and be a part of the solutions, celebrate our planet and engage in physical health and wellness outdoors,” said Schwarte, co-coordinator of Earth Week alongside Dr. Jay Clark, the College’s Director of Environmental and Sustainability Initiatives.
“Even though Earth Week @ MC happens just once a year, our community is involved daily in initiatives that help sustain our campus, and Earth Week @ MC is a time to see some of those initiatives and generate more participation in them,” she added.
Part of Maryville College’s Fit.Green.Happy.® initiative — which provides strong connections between Mountain Challenge, academic departments and courses and the College’s location — Earth Week @ MC events are free. For more information, visit www.maryvillecollege.edu/about/inside/sustainability.
Schedule of Events
Monday, April 18
10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.: Conservation Fisheries Inc (CFI) display
The nonprofit Knoxville-based organization Conservation Fisheries Inc. (CFI), “dedicated to the preservation of aquatic biodiversity in the Southeast’s many streams and rivers,” will have a display set up outside Pearsons Hall.
Tuesday, April 19
8 a.m. until 8 p.m.: “Lights Out Lecturing”
Faculty members are encouraged to teach their classes with as little energy as possible — for example, convening outdoors, using natural light or instituting a no-technology mandate for the class period. Participants are encouraged to send a photo of those efforts to Schwarte at adrienne.schwarte@maryvillecollege.edu.
Wednesday, April 20
10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.: Electric car show
The Knoxville Electric Vehicle Association will display vehicles in front of Pearsons Hall.
12:50-1:45 p.m.: Court Street clean-up
Students in the ENV/SUS101 course will team up with Keep Blount Beautiful to pick up litter along Court Street, the College’s western boundary. Participants will meet outside of Bartlett Hall.
3:30-6 p.m.: Camp4 activities
Mountain Challenge will sponsor an afternoon of climbing, yoga and more at Crawford House.
7 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.): “Hidden Rivers” screening
The film, followed by a Q&A with a fisheries biologist, will take place in the Lambert Recital Hall of the Clayton Center for the Arts and is open to the public.
Thursday, April 21
12-2 p.m.: “Sustainability Forum”
Clark will lead a panel discussion in Lawson Auditorium of Fayerweather Hall.
Friday, April 22
1 p.m.: Carbon neutrality announcement
Mountain Challenge organizers will make an important announcement at Crawford House.
8-10 p.m.: “Dark Sky Party” and S’mores
The MC Environmental Action Team (EAT) will host a stargazing party on Lloyd Beach, after a s’mores roast at the Crawford House.
For more information on any of these activities, please email Schwarte: adrienne.schwarte@maryvillecollege.edu.