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Courtesy Photo / Christine Irvine
Power Shift conference in 2007 in DC

GV students to join 'green' march in Washington

By Ellen Hensel GVL Assistant News Editor
2/7/2009

With a newly-inaugurated president in power, students are taking a chance at passing legislation on energy and climate control.

From Feb. 27 to March 2, 10,000 students from universities and organizations across the country will convene for a summit, culminating in a march across Washington, D.C.

This year, Grand Valley State University students will be a part of the thousands.

Currently, 18 students are signed up to go, but core organizer and senior Danielle Ostafinski said they hope to have 30 in the end.

Ostafinski works with both the Michigan Student Sustainability Coalition and the Student Environmental Action Coalition to get students involved.

Power Shift 2009 is put on nationally by the Energy Action Coalition, which is a group of 50 organizations dedicated to the improvement of the environment and other related topics. This is the second event similar to this, with one being held in 2007.

"This is a great opportunity for students to go to (Washington), D.C., where policies are made, and become engaged in the process," Ostafinski said. "It is also a way to see how the environmental movement isn't just about environment. It's about music and art and education and justice and gender. It is very comprehensive. We can go and learn all these skills and take what we have learned to Monday's lobby day."

Events include sessions with senators and representatives, and break out state-specific sessions. The four-day trip will end with a massive rally and demonstration on Capitol Hill.

Brianna Cayo Cotter, communications director of both the Energy Action Coalition and Power Shift '09, said the political climate is perfect for action such as this.

"We are fresh off of an historic election where 23 million young people turned out and voted," Cayo Cotter said. "And we are now headed to Washington, D.C., to demand that the president, Senate and Congress step up to the plate and pass this legislation."

Senior Jaime VanWeikle will be one of the students traveling from GVSU to the conference.

MSSC reserved buses for students, and overall there are about 400 students attending from Michigan.

"I read about the event and it looks like an incredible way to get involved and actually do something," VanWeikle said. "A great opportunity opened up to get there and I took it. I hope that together our voices can make a difference and get something passed. Our earth can't wait much longer."

Cayo Cotter, who works out of a national office, said Michigan plays a major role in environmental policy, and many students from other states will be looking to those in Michigan as an example.

She said she hopes this movement will cause actual change.

"Most (participants are) young people that care about this issue passionately," Cayo Cotter said. "And we are going to make sure we have the most impact we can. There will be no mistaking our elected representatives that young people are going to create a new energy future; not a question of if and but, rather how soon."

assistantnews@lanthorn.com

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