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Students for Environmental Concerns or SECS held a bike tune-up workshop on the front porch of Allen Hall on Thursday to promote alternative forms of transportation. Photo by Rebekah Nelson.

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Our campus is living up the green factor lately. Last week the Illini Union Board and Students for Environmental Concerns sponsored three days of greenness glory, and showed students, faculty and the CU community just how green friendly this campus can be.

The week featured events like a two day bike tune-up (I got that friendly reminder stapled to my handlebars), guest speakers at the YMCA, a film festival, a potentially awesome recycled rhythms concert (that got cancelled), a green RSO showcase and, to finish, a climate change rally.

Some of the events relied on the weather, which turned out to be lame-o, but the week's plans were a hella good on paper, and helped raise green awareness across our campus. I totally think it’s the small things like lectures and movies that get people thinking about a different kind of lifestyle. One thought provoking argument about food gets the consumer thinking about drinking a glass of milk. One factoid about trash statistics might result in extra steps to the recycling bin. This idea of “green consciousness” is contagious, and once it becomes a habit, it becomes a lifestyle, and it becomes who you are.

It reeled me in. I feel like I have the voice to make a difference for our Earth; I have the power to change the way of the Earth with my everyday life measures. Some people dig politics; others jazz to civil rights. I feel like dancing with Mother Nature.

But if someone where to ask me what the main reason I stand for the environment is, I couldn’t tell ‘em. To me, everything is on the same playing field. One issue isn’t more important than another. Instead they all just kind of mesh under one big umbrella to make our everyday lives a wee bit brighter.

I clap my hands to the U of I. She’s comin’ around, because she notices the problems we’ve faced in the past. Lights don’t illuminate buildings at three in the morn' when no one is there, more recycling options are available in the union and in buildings on the quad and MTD buses come in hybrid models. Heck, even the good ole’ QUAD SHOP has an environmentally friendly school supplies section. Now that makes my heart smile.