As Ohio Wesleyan University students and faculty walked upon the earth to their destination Tuesday morning, some of them might have come across a llama, a pig, goats and ducks on the campus’ JAYwalk between Beeghly Library and the Hamilton-Williams Campus Center.
The sunshine and 70-degree weather was out when the OWU Environment and Wildlife Club/Tree House organized the petting zoo featuring animals from the Kentucky-based Honey Hill Farm. The event was one of more than a dozen “Green Week” activities, including a free concert, to celebrate Earth Day from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, said Eva Blockstein, an OWU sophomore and president of the student club.
Like other students who live at the Tree House small living unit, Blockstein was required to complete a house project. She decided to organize a Green Week at OWU to inform people about the environment and its impact on humans in light of the current “political climate,” she said.
“I hope people realize that environmentalism is important,” Blockstein said.
Other Tree House students are using the week as a way to complete their own house projects such as OWU senior James Ormerod with Saturday’s free concert. His event will feature local musicians. Ormerod himself will be performing both solo and as part of his band, the Spacemen Spiff. He said the concert will have a variety of music from acoustic performances to rock bands.
“It’s about the music, but it’s also about people appreciating the Earth,” he said.
Free vegan and vegetarian food and environment-friendly games will be available at the concert, which will take place at the university’s amphitheater.
Here is a complete list of Green Week activities:
Wednesday
• Don’t Frack Ohio Tabling, Hamilton-Williams Campus Center, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• A Talk With the Buckeye Environmental Network, The House of Peace and Justice, 94B Rowland Ave., 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday
• US Environmental Policy Tabling, Hamilton-Williams Campus Center, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• “Trees in Trouble” film screening and director’s talk, Schimmel Comrades Science Center, Room 163, 7 to 9 p.m.
Friday
• Environmentalism Around the World Tabling, Hamilton-Williams Campus Center, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Campuswide Trash Cleanup, meeting at the Fountain on the Jaywalk, 4 p.m.
Saturday
• Earth Day Concert, The Amphitheatre, 6 to 9 p.m.