The South Oval was unseasonably green during the fourth annual Scarlet, Gray and Green Fair Friday afternoon.
OSU Students for Recycling organized the fair, which included about 40 local businesses and organizations exhibiting their environmental friendliness.
The goal of the fair is to show that being green can be easy and enjoyable, said Stacey Weisfeld, a third-year in French and international studies and vice president of Students for Recycling. Being green “fits into every aspect of life and career.”
Participants paid a $25 fee and were asked to show how they are being environmentally friendly in the community, Weisfeld said.
After visiting 10 booths, visitors received free T-shirts and water bottles. They were also automatically registered to win a gift certificate for a bicycle from a local bike shop.
Previously, Students for Recycling had given away an actual bike but opted for a gift certificate this year so the winner could choose a bicycle, Weisfeld said. The organization also wanted to support a local business.
Last year, about 1,000 people attended, Weisfeld said. Although the number of organizations participating was comparable to last year, attendance is expected to increase because students can receive credit for coming as part of the First Year Experience’s Success Series, she said.
First-year students are required to attend three success series events to receive class credit.
The event is affiliated with No Impact Week, which takes place from Oct. 10 to 17. “No Impact Man” by Colin Beavan inspired the weeklong experiment that encourages students to reflect on their environmental impact.
CD 101 served ice cream and provided music. The station, which recycles at its office, brought about 60 gallons of ice cream to the fair, said Kara Jones, a member of the radio station’s Scene Team.
The OSU Dining Services booth encouraged students to be “green when you eat” through its bag-less initiative. Each of the 10,500 students living in residence halls received a reusable bag after moving onto campus, and additional bags were available to purchase for $1, said Karri Benishek, marketing director for University Residents and Dining Services. Plastic bags have not been used since late August or early September, she said.
Patrons can also bring their own mug into any dining service location that sells coffee to receive a refill for the price of a small.
COTA demonstrated its commitment to the environment by displaying a booth at the fair. The Columbus transportation service is using ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel in all of its buses and purchasing six hybrid electric buses for 2010, said Claire Ferneding, an OSU marketing intern for COTA.
Jessica Hanson, a first-year in electrical engineering, signed up to join an environmental organization after walking around the fair. She was the most surprised with the COTA bus display, she said.
“I didn’t expect them to bring a whole big bus out here—that’s really cool,” she added.
Visitors flocked to the Square One Salon and Spa booth for free items, including reusable shopping bags containing a $25 gift card. The salon carries Aveda products, which are certified organic.
Aveda “can specifically tell you what farm and country the product came from,” said Brent Johnson, one of the salon’s three owners. “They can name the farmer for you.”
The salon also recycles glass, plastic, paper and aluminum, he said. The salon’s envelopes are made from folded pages of magazines, he said.
“It’s important that we not only look at how we’re taking care of today, but how we’re looking forward to taking care of tomorrow,” Johnson said.
Hanson said she hopes that students who attend the fair pay more attention to the booths and message than the free stuff.
“I know a lot of people coming here just want free ice cream, but at least they’ll be seeing things,” she said. “Maybe they’ll think about it for a second, and that’s better than nothing.”
