Earth Day Rocks out

By: Carla Mancebo

Posted: 4/18/07

Local pop-punk band Resistant Me performed for a group of middle school students at the Student Union Amphitheatre in hopes of drawing attention to the Peer Health Education's Earth Day.

In bondage belts and a plaid skirt, lead singer Cyn Acevedo said she wants to be a positive influence for students by singing about "good morals."

"We want to encourage being earth friendly and people friendly," Acevedo said.

Event coordinator Gina Vittori thought the concert would be a good way to attract students to earth day. She also encouraged students to sign a petition to support the Peer Health Education's mission of making San Jose State University a smoke-free campus.

"We are trying to create awareness about things students can do to be more earth friendly," said Vittori, a peer health educator and a graduate student in public health. "We want to empower students to make changes on campus."

Ray Brewer, a senior majoring in International Business and Spanish, unaware that is was Earth Day, stopped for the concert while waiting for his class.

"I'm willing to sign the petition," Brewer said. "Smoking is not healthy, if smokers want to it's their choice, but this is a public space and I don't want to walk through clouds of smoke."

Vittori is also working on an initiative with the organization Breathe California, to stop tobacco companies from sponsoring school events.

Joseph Francis, a member of Breathe California, said he is trying to educate students with 10 tips that could help students become more environmentally conscious.

"I have a level of passion for the environment and you have to take that level of passion and drive that energy to support the cause," said Francis, a senior majoring in marketing.

Campus dietician Jennifer Waldrop said music is a great way to get students involved and interested in the environment and hopes the knowledge will interest students in eating better.

"Eating local fruits and vegetables can have a big impact on the environment," Waldrop said. "But it is really important to eat fruits and vegetables whether or not they grown locally or organically."

Once the band, adorned in black and white striped shirts and tattered Converse sneakers, began to cover a No Doubt song the audience began to leave.

Josh Zinman, a junior majoring in animation mocked the band and said he was only passing by.

"I'm not getting that their message has anything to do with earth awareness," Zinman said.

Despite some students' aversion for Resistant Me, Jason Mousel, a graduate student in nutrition felt the band drew a crowd to his table discussing the difference between organic and conventional produce.