FSU Hosts Student-Organized Climate Strike

Thousands of young people around the world rallied together on Friday, Sept. 20^th marching for action on climate change as the United Nations summit opens on Monday, Sept. 23^rd.

Students and faculty of Frostburg State were joined by local dignitaries as they took to the upper quad to give speeches, carry signs, and march for climate change action. The march began at 1 p.m. at the center of the upper quad and took protestors down to the Clock Tower before coming back for the beginning of the Appalachian Festival symposium.

Organized by senior Cassie Conklin, first-year William Coburn, and Dr. William Weatherholt, a professor in FSU’s geography department, the rally was inspired by 16-year-old climate change activist Greta Thunberg.

“As a Frostburg State student myself, I felt compelled to organize the event and find campus and community members who would be interested in speaking and presenting,” said Conklin. “We want to demonstrate two things: rural students are concerned about climate change and to show that Frostburg State University is an engaged and aware campus of bright students. We here represent a student body of forward thinkers and innovators.”

Conklin paired with Dr. Kara Rogers-Thomas, the coordinator of the Appalachian Festival and Western Maryland Green New Deal Group. The rally was held prior to the start of the symposium that kicked off the Appalachian Festival on Friday with hopes both events would draw attention to one another.

The rally kicked off with four student speakers and one faculty speaker prior to the march on campus.

Tyler Bauer, a senior who is the president of College Democrats and a member of the President’s Leadership Circle, spoke about the environmental changes correlated with climate change and how those in power have been static in combatting the problem.

Another speaker, Sara Gahagan, a first-year in the Wildlife and Fisheries program, pushed for those in the position to make a change to do something about climate change.

Christian Sanders, an FSU junior, advocated for the importance of being politically engaged while speaking.

Dr. Tiana Bogart, an associate professor in the department of geography at FSU who holds a doctorate in climatology, spoke to the crowd about understanding climate change, comparing what is going on in the climate to putting on a blanket.

This past summer, FSU announced a minor in climate science. Originally, there was a climate science concentration within the geography department, but students outside of the department were isolated from it. Now, the 21-credit minor is available to more students.

“Climate change is real, and it will disproportionally affect our generation, despite the fact that we did not cause these problems,” stated Conklin. “We are asking our leaders to take notice of this crisis now. We demand real change – not plastic straw bans or temporary band-aids.”