-by Andrea Webster, Publications and Education Coordinator and Editor of theAASHE Bulletin

This year, hundreds - maybe even thousands - of campuses participated in Earth Day events on April 22, 2009. Some even held Earth Week and Earth Month celebrations! In recognition of the holiday, I'd like to recognize some unique and/or representational initiatives that took place this year.  Below, you'll find stories about a dirty foot contest, a saved creek, and a garden created specifically for the disabled, among others.  And I encourage you all to tell us about your Earth Day events by commenting below! 

Creek Clean Up

Montana State University held a clean-up day for Mandeville Creek, a small stream that runs through its campus. When the University was planning construction of the new Ag Bioscience Building last year, MSU had planned to bury the creek under a culvert until one Ph.D. candidate, among others, successfully lobbied for the creek's protection. Not only was the building plan changed, but MSU has planned several creek restoration efforts, and the clean-up day is just the beginning. 

Dirty Feet Contest

Salisbury University (MD) held a dirty foot contest to promote water conservation as one of the events of the University's Earth Day activities. Feet were judged by color, odor, and other surprise attributes. Different strategies included going five days without washing below the ankles and taking a barefoot walk in the soggy grass after a heavy rain. The winner received an iPod Nano.

Paper Waste Video

Lehigh University (PA) put together a video entitled, "Paper waste: An Earthweek display," that shows an exhibit on the amount of paper collected in two weeks at the Lehigh's public site computing labs. During that time, the average student printed 111 pages, and the top 100 highest printing students printed an average of 1,000 pages each. 

Sensory Garden

Chico State University (CA) held an entire month's worth of activities to celebrate the Earth. One day in particular included a Sustainability Fair in the campus free speech area. During the fair, the CSU Disability Leadership Council set up a mini sensory garden in a planting pot. The pot contained lemon balm, which features a strong scent of lemon; lamb's ear, a plant that feels like, well, a lamb's ear; and Irish moss, a grass that the blind can enjoy by running their hands across the top of the blades.

Junkyard Art and Upcycling

The State University of New York at Geneseo Environmental Organization and the Environmental and Sustainability Task Force held an Earth Week celebration. On Monday night, the campus held "Junkyard Art," a program that allowed students to participate in a concept called "upcycling" in which participants could turn something they'd normally throw away into something useful. Students used cardboard, empty soda containers, and old newspapers to make such items as jewelry and iPod cases. Throughout the rest of the week, Geneseo students, faculty, and staff heard a presentation on eco-friendly artwork, listened to a discussion on sustainability measures currently taking place on campus, participated in "Dinner in the Dark," planted a tree, and took part in a slow-food cook-off. 

Recycling and Reusing Clothing

West Virginia University's  Fashion Design and Merchandising student organization, Fashion Business Associates, hosted the Spring 2009 A-WEAR-ness Campaign for the Homeless in which the students collected useable, worn, and torn apparel-related goods and donated them to a local homeless shelter. The goods were sorted and classified as wearable or recyclable. Wearable garments were used to help indigent individuals and families. Items which were not viable were baled and sent to a recycling center for a reclamation process. In one day, WVU's Fashion Business Associates collected 2,640 pounds of donated items.

New Solar Array

Eastfield College (TX) broke ground for a 4.4 kilowatt solar array to commemorate Earth Day 2009. The array will be ground-mounted and will be incorporated into the learning curriculum of several classes and help educate students about the benefits of solar energy and the technical aspects of installing an array. A Web site will also be linked to the array and display real-time energy output data.   A local energy company donated the solar panel system to the community college.

Several New Solar Installations

The University of Arizona used Earth Day to announced an initiative, in partnership with APS Energy Services, to install more solar energy on campus.  Beginning in May 2009, 5 additional roofs, including the Student Recreation Center and a nearby parking garage, will feature photovoltaic electricity panels, solar water heating units, or a combination of both. The goals of the solar project are to add 500 kilowatts of solar generating power to campus rooftops, heat the UA's large swimming pools with solar energy, and generally advance the cause of renewable energy on campus.

And finally, here is list of events and initiatives that took place on Ohio campuses in celebration of Earth Day.