Students march for Earth

USD students march to combat climate change and to spread campus-wide awareness

Rosalinda Puentes / Contributor / The USD Vista

On April 30, students at the University of San Diego took part in the USD March for Climate in an effort to spread awareness for the environmental issue of climate change. Climate change is a fluctuation in the earth’s weather patterns, caused by human activity that affects various weather patterns. The USD community gathered outside of the Torero Store with signs and chants in an effort to push the voices of the Youth Climate Movement into action.

Environmental studies major and sophomore Gianna Petersen, a member of the student organization Be Blue Go Green as well as an employee at the Office of Sustainability, saw the March for Climate as an opportunity to educate and empower the community.

“We marched to educate and bring awareness within our community,” Petersen said. “We marched to acknowledge those who are victims of climate injustice. We marched because we want our institution to be more accountable for climate action.” 

Petersen marched through the SLP and down to Paseo de Colachis alongside professors and students from the Environmental Science and Ocean Science (EOSC) departments and both on and off-campus organizations. One such off-campus organization was SanDiego350, a volunteer organization that strives to prevent climate change and injustice through education and advocacy. Participants were given the opportunity to visit booths from campus organizations such as Climate Education Partners and the Office of Sustainability. 

One face that stood out among the crowd was Marlene Brito-Millan, Ph.D., from the EOSC department. Before marchers dispersed to visit the various booths, Brito-Millan gave a speech discussing the importance of climate action and highlighting that marginalized groups are affected by and bear the burden of climate change much differently than more privileged individuals. Her background in ecological research and environmental justice made Brito-Millan’s presence a crucial component of the March for Climate, indicating that the involvement of staff is just as important as that of students. 

Petersen reiterated the importance of both student and staff involvement. Her belief is that the message must be spread in order for action to occur and before it is too late. 

“Students at USD are one, two, three, four years away from entering into the professional world in which they will have the choice and power to make decisions to prevent climate change and its implications from continuing on its current path,” Petersen said. “Professors and staff are in the positions where they currently have the ability to make a difference as well.” 

The March for Climate was one way for students to become involved in creating an impact for the environment, but there are still plenty of other ways students can take part year-round to support sustainability. Petersen noted that starting small leads to a more environmentally-conscious mindset, both within the individual’s actions and on the actions of those around them. 

“From my experience, when you begin carrying around a straw or your own utensils or coffee mug, people see you using it and might even ask you about it and that’s how we begin changing our culture and begin the conversations we need to have more of,” Petersen said. 

While encouraging her fellow students to start small, Petersen also emphasized the urgency and time sensitivity of the issue at hand. 

“USD is part of a community where we, with the right efforts, can collectively make a difference,” Petersen said. “There is no time to wait and it is important that we educate our community and empower our peers, cohort, coworkers to take action before it’s too late.”

As a Changemaker campus, the March for Climate displayed passion and determination from many Toreros in support of a cause they deeply believed in. In taking action and standing together against climate change, the students involved used their platform and voices to promote the salvation of this planet and the promise tomorrow may bring if the right steps are taken here and now.