Earthfest held on the Quad

On Sunday, the University's chapter of the Alabama Environmental Council and the Creative Campus Initiative hosted the sixth annual Earthfest on the Quad.

Earthfest is a daylong event following the SGA's Green Week, which was held April 14 to 17.

Earthfest began at 10 a.m. on Sunday and lasted until 7 p.m.

The day was a chance for people to learn more about ways to help the environment, said Joseph Wright, president of the AEC.

Wright, a senior in New College, is completing a depth study in natural building, which he defined as construction using natural materials.

"I love Earthfest," he said. "I'm helping out a lot with it this year."

"We've set up tables for different environmental organizations to come from across the state," he said. "There's also face painting, tie-dying, vegan and vegetarian foods - lots of stuff like that."

Wright said half of the funds raised from the event would go to an environmental organization, and the other half would go to AEC to cover various expenses.

The organizations represented at Earthfest included the Sierra Club, Tuscaloosa Recycling, Students for a Democratic Society and Vegans, Vegetarians, and Allied Community.

Seven bands from the Tuscaloosa area, including Skullduggery, performed as well.

Catherine Hamlin, a senior majoring in biology, said she was at Earthfest for three hours.

"I made food for the Vegan table, tie-dyed and got my face painted," she said. "I had a great time."

Hamlin said she has recently become involved with the environmental movement, and she felt that Earthfest went well.

Stephanie Dees, a senior majoring in psychology, said she was also just starting to get involved.

"I try to be. I'm much more aware of the need," she said.

Dees said she came to Earthfest for the music and the food.

Liz Outzen, a senior majoring in psychology, attended Earthfest last year, and said the 2008 event was more successful.

"This year was great. Last year's wasn't nearly as good," she said.

Outzen said, for her, tie-dyeing was the highlight of the day.

"It was very fun," she said. "I thought that my shirt was going to be ugly, but it turned out really cute," she said.

"It's been great," Wright said of the event. "The weather has been absolutely perfect. It's been absolutely beautiful."

Stephen Spikes, vice president of AEC, coordinated Earthfest this year.

Spikes, a senior in New College with a depth study in environmental science policy, said the day was a success, and he feels the message of environmentalism reached students.

"It's been very, very successful," he said. "Most of the people here, I think, were students."