Green Week Takes EFFECT on Campus

Sitting in silence for six minutes on the quad. That was how upper school members of EFFECT kicked off Green Week, a week dedicated to environmentally conscious activities.

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Violet Paull ’24, who spearheaded the sit-in on Wednesday, May 12, explained that the six minutes represented “the six years that humans have until climate change is irreversible.” She added that “We wanted to do something to focus on the reality of the climate crisis, and the sit-in seemed like a good way to involve people on campus and spread awareness.”

Tyler Hack ’23, Sophia Semczuk ’23 and Katie Williams ’22 sponsored a campus thrift shop to highlight the importance of sustainability. “The proceeds from our sale will be going to Earthjustice, a non-profit organization that strives towards creating a better, more sustainable environment and future. The items that are not sold will all go to an actual local thrift store/charity shop!” Hack said. 

“Sustainability is an issue of great importance to me,” Semczuk explained. “Since joining EFFECT, I've learned so much more about what I can be doing to aid in the fight for environmental justice and awareness.”

Green Week wraps up with a campus clean-up — an issue that Patrick Curnin-Shane ’22 and Esme Talenfeld ’23 have felt passionate about for a long time. “It is one of the easiest ways that we can make our campus more ecologically friendly,” Curnin-Shane said. “Plastic waste can be deadly to plants and wildlife, and making sure our campus is as litter-free and zero-waste as possible is what matters most.”

The School’s green dean and EFFECT faculty advisor, Courtney White, and EFFECT co-chairs Anastasiia Gorobets ’21 and Jake Sloane ’21, have been amazed to see everyone come together “in spite of Zoom fatigue, AP tests and myriad other stressors to advocate for positive environmental change in our community.”

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