CSUN Hosts Earth Fair to Shine a Light on Sustainability

  • Students walk through gates to earth fair.

    CSUN Associated Students 25th annual Earth Fair drew a crowd to Bayramian lawn on April 21. Photo by Lee Choo

  • Sirotkin, Donahue and Eriksson stand next to large solar panel unit with CSUN branding on the side.

    Eric Sirotkin, Vice President of Global Sustainability at DC Solar Freedom, Colin Donahue, Vice President of Administration and Finance at CSUN, and Austin Eriksson, Sustainability Program Manager at CSUN, gather for a photo next to one of the new DC Solar charging stations. Photo by Lee Choo

  • Students help plant trees.

    An Earth Day tradition has been to plant trees, as these students lend a hand. Photo by Lee Choo.

  • Two male students use shovels to fill in dirt around tree near Manzanita Hall.

    Students helped plant trees in the quad at the Associated Students Earth Fair. Photo by Ruth Saravia.

  • Man with beard plays guitar.

    Musicians performed at the Associated Students Earth Fair. Photo by Ruth Saravia.

  • Student does push ups while trainer watches.

    The CSUN Student Recreation Center's booth featured fitness demonstrations with personal trainers. Photo by Ruth Saravia.

  • Student works on bike in front of truck with Matador Bike Shop logo.

    The CSUN Associated Students Matador Bike Shop made its debut at the 25th annual Earth Fair. Photo by Lee Choo

California State University, Northridge’s Associated Students invited the CSUN community to its 25th annual Earth Fair at the Bayramian Lawn on April 21. The event revolves around informing and spreading awareness to students on environmental conservation and current sustainability issues around the world.

Numerous CSUN departments, clubs and outside vendors set up booths with giveaways and informational material on how to maintain a more sustainable lifestyle. This year’s fair also hosted several organizations that promote healthy and organic eating habits.

Students engaged in free activities such as yoga, free massages, crafts and tree planting. The tree planting was part of CSUN’s campus tree program, which just earned the university Tree Campus USA recognition by the Arbor Day Foundation.

“The tree planting was my favorite part for sure,” said Arcelia Martinez, Cinema and Television Arts junior. “It made me feel more connected to the campus. It’s kind of like leaving a legacy behind.”

Martinez, who noticed the fair when passing by, said she immediately wanted to explore what the event was about.

“It is important to have events like this to bring the students together, show them what the campus has to offer and connect them to campus resources,” she said. “I also loved the live music – it really completed the event and made it feel like a festival.”

DC Solar Freedom, a benefit corporation that provides campuses across the nation with free solar products, was one of the outside organizations participating in the fair, raising awareness to renewable solar energy. The organization provided CSUN with 42 different mobile solar products and is one of CSUN’s latest partners in its commitment to foster clean energy and a sustainable campus environment.

John Miranda, Director of Communications for DC Solar Freedom, said the organization wants to educate students  and raise awareness on the efficiency of solar energy and the availability of mobile generators, electric vehicle charging stations and power stations, where students can charge their personal devices with the power of the sun.

“We’re trying to show students that solar energy is coming down from the rooftops and it’s mobile. It can be everywhere and be used off-grid, especially in California – but also in states where it’s not so sunny and this is what a lot of people don’t know,” he explained. “Solar can work in a number of climate conditions, including cloudy weather.”

Miranda said the AS Earth Fair was the perfect occasion to shine a light on solar energy and to inspire students to develop a more sustainable mindset.

“The young generation is going to lead the way,” he said. “[Students] can be inspired by what they are seeing and improve upon it. We want college students to look at [solar products] and say ‘How can we make it better? How can we make it more efficient?’ That’s what we’re here for – we’re hoping to inspire.”

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