President Mohler-Faria on Saturday addressed the 300 Earth Day volunteers.

Cleaning Up

Posted on April 22, 2009 - Permalink
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"We have taken from the earth and have created a situation where resources are being used faster than they can be replenished," said Dr. Dana Mohler-Faria, president of Bridgewater State College, addressing 300 volunteers gathered for the fourth annual Earth Day Community Clean-Up Campaign, held last Saturday morning.

"We know about global warming and the related issues which affect each of us and I commend you for your willingness to help address these critical issues," he told the group, as its members prepared to depart from the Adrian Rondileau Campus Center for sites in Bridgewater, West Bridgewater and, this year for the first time, East Bridgewater and Middleboro as well.

The effort was organized by Susan McCombe, director of the college's Office of College and Community Partnerships; and Diane Bell, director of BSC's Community Service Center.

"We're extremely pleased by the turnout of volunteers from the college and from the area communities," said Ms. McCombe, who headed a team that worked along the banks of the Town River Landing in Bridgewater, clearing debris on both sides of the river.

"This is the largest number of people we've ever had join us for the clean-up," she continued. "It's very encouraging to see so many volunteers of different ages and backgrounds who share such a strong and personal commitment to improving our environment."

After hours of bagging up trash, pruning dead tree limbs and removing small mountains of underbrush, the groups returned to the campus in the afternoon for an outdoor cook-out, courtesy of the college.

To see a video from the clean-up effort, please click here.

(Story, photo and video by David K. Wilson, '71, Office of Institutional Communications)