Earth Day Memories

A photo gallery of 1970s activism at Eco U
With universities near and far jumping on the Sustainability bandwagon, UW-Green Bay rates special mention as one of the places the movement first rolled more than 40 years ago. Described as America’s first environmental university, where every day was Earth Day, UW-Green Bay claimed national attention almost from the day it opened in 1968.

This April 22 marks the 40th celebration of Earth Day, and UW-Green Bay will observe the occasion with a major on-campus event, Green Innovations 2009.

1970 – The First Earth Day Photo Gallery

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Earth BallEarth Day March 1970Earth Day March 1970First Earth Day RallyFirst Earth Day RallyEarth Day StormEarth Day Panel of ExpertsEarth Day pioneers Victor Yannacone and M. King Hubbert visited campusEarly Earth Day activity: canoeing from St. Norbert College to UWGBEnvironmental Action MonthEnvironmental Action MonthNancy Jochman

Eco-U Photo Gallery

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A 1970s ‘Eco U’ graphicMay 1971 Commencement ProgramEarth BallEarth BallMarty Schaefer ’72 ‘Eco U’ fieldworkwater-quality testingAt the time, field research for undergrads was rare, nationwidelearning in the 1970sCampus waters and Green Bay wetlands were outdoor labsEarly UWGB students aided pioneering wetlands researchProfessors studied thermal discharge from local power plantSea Grant Founders – Prof. Bud Harris, Paul Sager – in a 1995 shotA trip to monitor spring runoff at Green Bay’s Duck CreekField research near campusBiology Prof. Harry Guilford; field experiences for undergrads was an Eco U specialtyChance for field work with faculty was a UWGB selling point1970s students demanded more than rote classroom learningThe largely undeveloped Shorewood site was a favorite of birdersEcosystem research by students made UWGB distinctiveBicycle riding was promoted as energy-efficient transportationUWGB students tapped nearby “cow power” for an early anaerobic digesterUWGB student Jerry Eucke built a geodesic dome home in 1972, near ManitowocBack indoors, examining plant specimensStudent and teacher discuss environmental issuesField notes reflect students’ out-of-the-classroom workOpen dump sites were not an uncommon scene, pre-Earth Day 1970After the first day Earth Day (1970), the new UWGB swiftly embraced recyclingWhen paper recycling was revolutionary: 1973, at UWGBEnvironmental awareness after the 1979 Three Mile Island incident

1970s – Contemporary Scenes on Campus

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1970s Campus EntranceFounder Edward Weidner leads officials on late 1960s tour of future campus siteMid-1970s view of Circle Drive dropoffThe eight-story Cofrin Library was completed in 1972early 1970s campus aerial photoUWGB celebrated its first year on the Shorewood site, 1969-70An informal 1970s student gatheringMayor Don Tilleman addressed peaceful protesters at a 1970 anti-war rallyUWGB students were behind the 1970s birth of a regional history troupeFounding Chancellor Edward Weidner hosted ‘rap sessions’ at his homeWeidner sought input from 1970s students, faculty and staffHomecoming activities (undated photo)Father and son outside the Laboratory Sciences Building, the first on campusProf. David Galaty and others led numerous travel tours to Mexico’s Mayan countryA view overlooking the dock (formerly the Bayshore Center on campus waterfront)1970s, between Lab Sciences and Environmental Sciences1970 Construction of Bay Appartments1970 Construction of Bay Appartments1970 Construction of Bay Appartments

Do you recognize anyone in these photos? Do you have any fun memories? We invite you to share your thoughts about these photos in the comments section below.

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12 Responses

  1. RIP to all the people who already in the heaven.

  2. Memories last forever s what they said. The photos are really great.

  3. It’s a nice thought that people still acknowledge God’s great creation. The Earth.

  4. Wish we had managed to protect Earth with all our attempts. However, the truth is that our planet is being destroyed by many pollutions, which are the result of many barbarous decisions. Wild animals are disappearing, fishes are dying, and the atmosphere is in a horrible state. This is why many new diseases have appeared, and even young people are suffering from diseases that cannot be cured.

    I feel like crying when I see these photos. Everything was made in vain. We didn’t manage to protect Earth, and we are still not able to. Why?

    The answer is very sad.

    Indifference and greed are responsible for what is happening to Earth, and to our lives. Nobody really cares about mother nature, or about the destiny of the entire humanity.

  5. Tim says:

    Quite the difference between the 70’s and now. Kudos to UWGB for being green before people knew what the environment was all about.

  6. kadın says:

    Remember in the ’70’s we were afraid of Global Cooling? Another one the teachers laid on us kids was, “in the year 2000 there wont be any trees left on earth”. Ah, nostalgia.

  7. Denise says:

    Hard to believe it’s been 40 years and people are just starting to see the light. You guys were way ahead of the curve. I admire you for that. Being Green has always been cool, some just didn’t realize it.

  8. Chris Sampson says:

    The symbol shown in the slide is the “Ecology” symbol widely popular in the ’70s, I believe. I think it is meant to be a stylized “e”… As for “Survival ’70s,” that was the theme chosen for the first, campus-and-community Earth Day symposium in Green Bay in 1970… the suggestion being that earth’s very survival was at stake if we didn’t mend our polluting ways.

  9. David Voelker says:

    Can anyone explain the “Survival 70s”/”The Beginning” graphic?

    For that matter, what does the circle with with the cross bar represent?

    Thanks! –DV

  10. michael candee says:

    Having graduated in 1976- these photos brought back some very great times, and now I would love to visit the campus to see just how much it changed. I always appreciated how the school was really quite student driven. I give it a lot of credit for my independence that I enjoy to this day.
    Cheers,

    M Candee

  11. Todd says:

    Love the photos, thanks for posting (and opening up comments).

  12. Wild to see how much campus has changed from my parents’ time to mine and now. Some great old photos in there!