Eastern University Honored In Green Campus Report

St. Davids, PA, April 2, 2010: Eastern University is among 52 Christian colleges and universities honored by Renewal: Students Caring for Creation, a student-led, Christian environmental group that published the Green Awakenings Campus Report. Brittany Bennett, an environmental studies major at Eastern, was featured as a student leader for her work with Earthkeepers.

Renewal is a growing movement of young Christians dedicated to caring for God's creation through mobilizing and equipping their campuses to be better stewards of the environment. "The student generation in particular is stepping up to care for God's creation, but previously little was known about what this movement practically looked like on Christian campuses," said Ben Lowe, Renewal's co-coordinator. "The Green Awakenings Campus Report demonstrates to the world what happens when Christian students and campuses come together to care for creation. Our goal is to demonstrate to colleges, churches, and communities how we are working together for the renewal of God's creation, and inspire others to join us."

The feature on Eastern University, a Pennsylvania Christian University, focuses on efforts to become 100% powered by wind energy, which Eastern achieved after just four years. Several other initiatives were documented including a trip to the Appalachian Mountains in 2008 to observe coal mining sites, and the 2009 residence hall energy conservation competition. In the report, Bettie Ann Brigham, Vice President of Student Development, says, "Many of Eastern's students work toward justice by giving a passionate voice to the planet and its people, therefore bringing attention to areas of concern."
Eastern student Brittany Bennett was featured for her work as a leader in Earthkeepers, a student-led environmental group on the Philadelphia college's St. Davids campus. A particular focus for Brittany is mountaintop removal. She took a trip with other students to the Appalachians where they saw firsthand the destructive effects of mountaintop removal and she is now working on a documentary on this devastating practice. Eastern University also hosted the first Renewal Summit in the fall of 2008 when students from across the country gathered for workshops, speakers and networking.
The full report is at: www.renewingcreation.org/resources/green-awakenings-report

About Eastern University:
Eastern University is a Christian university of the arts and sciences located at 1300 Eagle Road, St. Davids, PA. Eastern enrolls approximately 4,000 students and integrates its core values of faith, reason and justice into all of its undergraduate, graduate, professional, urban, Seminary and international programs. Visit www.eastern.edu.