Even Mother Nature herself couldn't stifle University of Memphis' Earth Day celebration Thursday, which took place in the Elma Roane Fieldhouse.
"It would have been great to have this in the (campus) garden," said Art Johnson, garden student coordinator. "But Mother Nature might have had other ideas, so we moved inside."
The celebration, held in the gym where The U of M women's basketball team plays, featured live music, tai chi lessons, yoga lessons and a bike ride. Various information tables were set up as well, focusing on topics that ranged from littering to making your own soap.
Johnson said he hoped the spirit of the event encouraged people to adapt to a more sustainable lifestyle.
"The exhibitors, professors and students are all here because they care about this," he said. "We want to inspire people to nurture Mother Earth as it has nurtured us. Recycling is the most important and easiest thing for students to do. There's almost nothing you can't recycle here. Electronics, plastic, paper, cardboard and everything except meat, citrus and dairy products can be used as compost in the student garden."
People brought in recyclables and shoes to the celebration in exchange for prizes such as tote bags and recycling bins. The shoes collected will be donated to Soles 4 Souls, a charity that provides shoes to barefoot people in need around the world.
"Most of the tables set up at the event were wrapped in brown paper and for kids from the Campus School to draw on. One, though, had several large buckets of soil on it and small cups made from folded newspapers.
"Kids (from the Campus School) came here to make some little pots out of newspapers and planted some watermelons to take home," said Paige Lewis, sophomore human services major and garden volunteer.
Jenna Thompson, an adjunct professor, stood at a booth discussing a planned recycling zone near Mynders Hall.
"It will be a nice place to recycle and it will have a seating area so people can take advantage of our Wi-Fi outdoors," said Thompson.
According to Thompson, the zone will be built in the fall after renovations in Mynders Hall are finished.
"Green internships" were also featured at the event and students involved in The U of M's green internship program displayed their work this semester.
As part of her green internship, Staci Thomasson created a video on saving energy in dorms for the school website.
"I talk about things like turning lights off, unplugging appliances when not using them, not running the water when brushing your teeth and other simple things anyone can do," said Thomasson.
Another intern had a display of a water system that brought water from a fishtank, cycled it through plants, and back into the fishtank.
"It's really about saving water and energy," said Deniz Ohen, a volunteer who helped with the project.
Graham Elwood, a theater junior at the celebration said that it was good that The University wanted to be involved in sustainability.
"Preserving the environment is important and it's good to see the campus excited about it," he said. "It's really encouraging."
