Every year a new holiday appears celebrating something slightly more bizarre and unusual. We recently celebrated national Beer Day on April 7 and on May 8 many will honor No Socks Day. Google holidays and you will find that just about every day has some kind of underlying importance. But at some point, we have to decide which of these special days deserves attention.

Earth Day began in 1970 to mark the anniversary of the birth of a modern environmental movement and is celebrated every year on April 22nd. As the environmental state of the world has worsened, many young Americans have bleak outlooks for Mother Earth and the day that commemorates her.

At the University of New England in Biddeford, students and staff members have mixed emotions about what Earth Day symbolizes.

 UNE’s motto is “Innovation for a healthy planet,” and the campus typically plans activities for Earth Day.

 “We raise the Earth flag,” explained Pam Morgan, professor of Environmental Sciences and Studies. “It’s usually a small group of people and we bring something to share (like a poem), and then we raise the flag to start the day.”

Morgan also used to host a large cookout on campus, but said the event hasn’t occurred since COVID.

Earth Day, Morgan said, presents an opportunity to raise awareness on the topic of climate change and sustainability.

 “I do have hope (for the Earth’s future) because I see how many people are getting involved to take action,” she said. “I’m hopeful because we have seen in the past big transformations in small amounts of time.”

Senior Ryan Dews, a Marine Bio major and Environmental Studies minor, also believes Earth Day should be honored.

“Earth Day is meant to celebrate the Earth, it’s generally environmental based and I think it’s not necessarily about celebrating the fact that Earth is a planet, but more taking a step back and seeing that it’s pretty with all its forests and oceans.”

 When asked how he celebrates Earth Day, Dews explained, “I make a point to go outside, but honestly I try to do that everyday. Everyday is Earth Day to me.”

Not everyone on campus is so eager to celebrate the Earth. Sports and Recreation Management freshman Ryan Schino wasn’t sure that Earth Day should even be considered a “real holiday.”

“Never do I do anything to celebrate Earth Day,” Schino said. “I am not Earthy.”

Junior Meaghan Sullivan offered a different opinion. She wished that Earth Day was taken more seriously prompting discussions and action on how to curb climate change.

 “Earth Day is a cute day where I like to look at all my cute earthy photos and appreciate the places I’ve been a little more than usual,” said Sullivan, who is Nutrition major with an Environmental Studies minor.

“I feel like it is unfortunately a Valentine's type of day, but it should be more celebrated, most people just post pictures on Instagram instead of focusing on the underlying issues.”

And myself, Madeline McDonald, as the author of this article and a sophomore with an Environmental major and writing minor, I think that Earth Day is a day to appreciate nature and spread awareness about the different ways we can take care of it. During the past two years in my classes at UNE, I have only seen the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the history of our planet, however it gives me hope for our future. Seeing the dedication from UNE’s professors to educate us along with the increase of environmental students in my classes, I've grown more optimistic for our future knowing that there are people out there who care.