BSU Celebrates Earth Day 2011

By Venetta Bronson

Bowie State University's Earth Day meeting was held April 20. Earth Day was established 41 years ago on April 22 in 1970 by U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson with the purpose of spreading awareness and appreciation of the Earth.

Bowie State President Dr. Mickey L. Burnim opened with a speech about the importance of sustainability across not only Bowie States campus but for all HBCU's and he acknowledged all the hard work put forth by the Bowie State Climate Control Committee to keep Bowie State green. He also announced Bowie State's recent membership in the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), an organization dedicated to leading the sustainability transformation among higher education institutions. Burnim also announced Bowie State's receipt of the Kresge Award. The Kresge Foundation seeks to provide better lives and opportunities among the less fortunate.

Bowie State also welcomed guest speaker Felicia M. Davis, who directs the UNCF institute for Capacity Building Facilities and Infrastructure Enhancement Program. She expressed her concern for the diminishing of world habitats and population problems, and the breakdown of the fabric of moral society. She also expressed how important it is for HBCU's such as Bowie State to embrace sustainability and spread it out into the surrounding community in a positive way. It is evident that Bowie State is doing everything in its power to become a greener campus and taking all the necessary steps to become more sustainable.