Two students showcased their efforts to promote environmentally-friendly living at Campus Sustainability Day Wednesday in the Kansas Union. The Center of Sustainability hosted the event to focus on environmentally conscious operations developed by students and faculty.

Director Jeff Severin said because the center developed from student initiative, it was important to get students involved with opportunities and research on campus and to highlight their work.

Neil Steiner, Tulsa junior, and Dena Hart, Chicago junior, presented their contributions of environmentally friendly practices.

Steiner, an architectural engineering major, explained a Natural Playscape design, a playground made almost completely of natural products and, most importantly, stimulating to children. Steiner and two other students Christina Hoxie, graduate student, and Rolf Petermann St. Louis senior, designed the playground over the summer and presented it to Lawrence Parks and Recreation this fall. The design is being considered for use in west Lawrence’s DeVictor Park that opens Friday.

Steiner said the playscape used native vegetation such as herbs, and fruit-bearing trees that appealed to all the senses and were edible. Steiner said it was both educational and safe for children “who are always eating things anyway.” He said the plan also featured trails, structures made of bamboo and tree trunks, and recycled materials for the children to play on.

Steiner said the design of a completely natural playground seemed limiting at first, but the benefits of natural playscapes were obvious.

“It doesn’t leave a negative aspect on the environment,” Steiner said. “And it’s much more intriguing for a child.”

Steiner said it was absolutely necessary to incorporate sustainable practices into our lives.

“It must be a holistic approach,” Steiner said. “It’s difficult when we’ve spent 200 years going the opposite way.”

Hart said she became interested in sustainability at Social Action Project last spring after hearing environmental journalist Simran Sethi speak. The project challenged students to create some kind of presentation to highlight an aspect of sustainability. Hart and two other students decided to make a documentary, “An Evening of Green.” Hart showed the documentary at Campus Sustainability Day.

The documentary focuses on people’s awareness of sustainable practices. Hart said they shot much of the film on Massachusetts Street and asked people at random to define sustainability and global warming.

Hart said she was shocked at some of the answers. Some of the interviewees got confused looks on their faces and were at a loss of how to define the terms. When asked what global warming was one student said, “Is it coming to Lawrence?” and another said, “Stuff that hurts the ozone.”

Hart said the film highlighted just how unaware people were of the situation and didn’t realize that even the little things made a big difference.

“We’re not very educated about this,” Hart said. “People get so involved in their own lives. They don’t realize the smallest things we are doing are what’re hurting our environment.”

One scene of the documentary shows two girls brushing their teeth with a timer in the bottom of the scene to show how long people let water run. Hart said after that scene she always thought about the water when brushing her teeth. She said there were small ways students could work at sustainability in their lives. Hart said turning off lights and television, using washable water bottles and unplugging chargers not in use were little things she tried to do.

The day also featured presentations from KU Dining Services, the Environmental Stewardship Program, CReSIS, Chevron Energy Solutions and the chemical and petroleum engineering department. Each group presented their research and work in sustainable practices.

The Center for Sustainability opened last January after research and work by students, faculty and staff. A sustainability task force made up of students and faculty, which initiated in Fall 2004, helped establish the center. Severin said the goal of the Center for Sustainability is to educate and involve the campus in sustainable projects and policies.

— Edited by Kaitlyn Syring