Strong winds and flying pamphlets did not detour 82-year-old Coby Siegenthaler from raising awareness of her group’s cause: Informing CSUN students about veganism and animal rights.
Siegenthaler was among many at the Earth Fair on Wednesday trying to provide students with resources to make informed decisions about the environment.
Earth Fair has been held annually at CSUN since 1970. The Associated Students University Recycling Services observed the day at the Matador bookstore lawn, hoping to raise awareness about environment and recycling during the four-hour event.
Siegenthaler said she has been a part of CSUN’s Earth Fair since its inception, and that she has been active with animal welfare issues all her life.
“People know so little about cruelties to animals,” she said. “I have been active with the issues all my life. It is in my blood. I have never eaten animals, it can be such a healthier lifestyle.”
The types of organizations that participated in the event ranged from familiar names like Metro, City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Friends of Los Angeles River, to the lesser-known organizations like Mean Green, Freecycle and Tree People.
Rick Walker, an account executive with Metro, was handing out bus schedules to the visitors promoting the use of buses as a means of transportation.
“Ranger Frank” was on hand to talk with young and old about the importance of appreciating the natural environment. Frank is a recreation services supervisor and education director at Placerita Canyon Nature Center ‘ Natural Area, and even got married under an oak tree in that very town.
“You can take a boy out of mountain but you can’t take the mountain out of the boy,” Hoffman said.
There was free literature, free food, free T-shirts and free fluorescent light bulbs, as well as a raffle at the event. Nonetheless, one of the most popular booths seemed to be Freecycle. Visitors could choose to take CDs, magazines, books and more for free from the booth.
Nikki Maxwell, community resource coordinator for the Freecycle and self-proclaimed pack rat, decided to volunteer for the organization because she eventually understood the importance of recycling and reusing.
“Instead of throwing away your objects, you give it to someone who needs them,” Maxwell said.
Freshman Danielle Robinson said the Earth Fair was eye-opening for her.
“The event makes you more aware,” Robinson said. “Half of the stuff I wouldn’t know. I had been swimming the ocean and didn’t know what was in there.”
The CSUN Steel Drum Ensemble played at the event.
“They are local students of CSUN,” said Kevin Mojaradi, A.S. marketing and public relations coordinator, of the drum ensemble. “They play on steel drums that are actually recycled out of oil drums.”
Vanessa Benitez, an education team leader with University Recycling Services, said more than 500 people visited the fair, and there were more volunteers this year than any others. Blaming gusty winds, A.S. elections and USU Carnival as probable reasons for the limited number of visitors, Benitez seemed satisfied that all the promotional items were completely given out.
