For the Love of Trees
Story by Natascha Terc

Driving around the Worth Hills parking lots before his introductory environmental science class, Leo Newland, professor of biology and geology, conducted an unscientific study to get his students thinking about the environment.

“In one parking lot in the Greek area, I counted 34 vehicles,” Newland said. “Only four were cars — the rest were trucks and SUVs.”

Newland said he took the time to stop and count to prove a point to his students.

“I wanted to let the class know that we’re part of the problem,” Newland said.

Sunday marks the 22nd anniversary of Earth Day, created in 1969 by Senator Gaylord Nelson.

The day is dedicated to international awareness of environmental issues, such as air and water pollution.

The first Earth day took place on April 21, 1970, in which 2,000 colleges and 10,000 grammar and high schools participated in events.

Newland, adviser for an on-campus environmental group called TERRA, has helped students organize Earth Day activities the past eight years.

The organization will not be participating in the April 22 Earth Day activities this year because the officers are gone this semester, but several activities are planned in the Fort Worth Area.

“There’s so much competition for people’s attention on a daily basis, and most people don’t think about environmental issues on a day-to-day basis,” Newland said. “The point (of Earth Day) is to bring environmental awareness to the everyday person.”

The Great American Cleanup is underway now through April 29, and “Care for Cowtown Air” clean air fair begins April 28 in downtown Fort Worth.

The clean air event, sponsored by the Department of Environmental Management, is held to help citizens understand the urgency of Fort Worth’s air pollution problems.

Events will include the display of student solar ovens, alternatively fueled vehicles, on-site pet adoption, eco-games, more than 60 environmental-health related booths and the collection and recycling of cell phones to benefit domestic abuse victims.

A state air quality plan was passed in January, and the Dallas/Fort Worth region has six years to comply with it, said Haily Summerford, public education specialist for Fort Worth’s department of environment management.

“Citizens can play a big part in helping air quality conditions,” Summerford said. “We try to educate people about keeping vehicles well-maintained.”

Emissions from one badly maintained vehicle can equal those from 25 properly maintained vehicles, Summerford said.

“What a lot of people also don’t realize is that operating one gas-powered lawnmower for one hour emits as much pollution as driving a 1992 model automobile from Fort Worth to Houston and back,” Summerford said.

Summerford, who is organizing the clean air fair, said officials in Fort Worth like to say that Earth Day is everyday in the city.

“I think young people are our future and we have to educate them about car maintenance because they’re starting to drive,” Summerford said. “If we can start young, it can become a way of life.”

The single most significant issue in the Dallas/Fort Worth area is the air issue, and Newland said more citizens need to use mass transit.

“I see buses everyday going up and down Hulen Street empty,” Newland said. “(Poor air quality) is going to affect us economically because if the DFW area doesn’t meet its air quality standards, the Environmental Protection Agency can put economic sanctions on us.”

Newland said sanctions, such as requiring employers to use a ride-share program, can prevent new companies — and new jobs — from coming to the area.

The key to any strong environmental program is education, Newland said.

“Most people do not know that there is a finite amount of fossil fuels,” Newland said. “Students are concerned with immediate problems, like buying gas for their SUV’s today — not five or 10 years from now — because they think technology will save us.”

Newland said the average gas mileage for the United States has dropped in the last five years because more people are driving SUV’s and trucks.

“(Low) environmental gas standards for SUV’s and trucks is an environmental crime,” Newland said. “I bet there’s less than 10 percent of SUVs on campus that have ever been off-road.”

Newland said the best thing any TCU student can do to help is to inform others, especially little brothers and sisters.
“That’s the way things get changed,” Newland said.

Natascha Terc
n.f.terc@student.tcu.edu