Out of all the events we organize, none do we hold in higher regard than the semesterly climate marches. While there has been climate action at MSU in the past, most of that action has been instigated through student protests and petitions on campus. Each climate march aims to allow the greater Starkville community, as well as the MSU community, to have a direct method of voicing their concerns to policy makers. The march also serves as an educational experience for those who aren’t informed about local sustainability and climate issues.
At the end of each march we have a diverse cast of speakers recant their climate stories to provide better context as to why there’s a need to march to begin with. No one needs an extensive knowledge of climate literature since the 1970’s to join in; all you need is curiosity and the drive to better our community. With each march comes a carefully crafted list of demands to both university and city officials. These demands, and the reason why we’re marching for them, are announced before the march starts; but we’ll be glad to explain them to anyone who inquires along the way.
On the flip side, we do not plan to confront or engage openly hostile people or groups. Civil debate is a high priority of ours, and the goal of each march is not to shame or demean anyone. While we’ll be marching and screaming out in the streets, it’s only to prove to officials that we have the drive and numbers needed to lay on the pressure, semester after semester, until Starkville and MSU can become regional climate leaders.
Climate change is a fact verified by the global scientific community. This is non debatable. Therefore, we believe that it is only appropriate for students and officials at MSU, a local powerhouse of research and technological innovation, to step up and become one of the first SEC schools to truly go green. We can’t just say we’re the best; we have to truly be the best. Being the best is about being future minded, being alert, and being ready to recognize when something hasn’t been working. No, 100% sustainability isn’t feasible this year or the year after that. It’s also not usually feasible to make a touchdown in the first play of the game, or write a master's thesis as a first year undergrad. These are things that both need time and constant effort to achieve, and sustainability is no different. But, just as we don’t have long to make a touchdown or write our thesis, we don’t have long to act upon the climate crisis.
Each climate march aims to be another step forward to make that final play. It’s a chance to be deep in the action, to be a contributing player toward the highlight of the season. Our last climate march, as described by Kristen Kilgore, our vice president, had no less than an electric energy as at least 80 people from all across the Starkville community came together as one voice. Even though COVID has tried to tackle us down, we’ll overtake it by taking all necessary precautions. Masks will be mandatory, as will social distancing. We know it’s annoying and can dampen the mood, but we’re marching for science, not against it.
Speaking of COVID, the march is an excellent excuse to get out of the house and engage with people face-to-face in a safe and energetic environment. While a certain degree of civility is expected, the march isn’t going to be like a job interview. We’re going out to make noise, be heard, and have some fun. We’ve already arranged for transportation back to campus for anyone willing to stick it through, but we won’t require anyone to make the full journey if they don’t want to. The fall 2020 climate march will be on September 25th, this Friday, at 4 pm starting from the steps in front of Lee Hall. We’ll be there waiting, so we hope that you can be there when we’re marching.