Yesterday on October 13, over thirty students in Students Promoting Environmental Action in Knoxville (SPEAK) met at the University of Tennessee’s library right before classes were to change. Everyone who passed by was wondering why there were students wearing breathing masks, green hard hats, and holding signs. Then, all of the sudden a siren went off and all thirty students dropped to the ground. Slowly, one student stood up and said, “Each year 24,000 people die early due to coal related pollution”. The student fell to the ground again. We continued to do this until our message was sent: Coal kills people, jobs, our environment, and our political system. Students held the die in flash mob on campus to call on the university to move beyond coal and fulfill their commitments to be an environmental leader.

After the die in, we marched through three floors of the library chanting: “Dirty coal has got to go!” But it wasn’t over yet, we took to the streets of campus and marched all the way to the chancellor’s office to demand that he eliminates coal. Although the chancellor wasn’t there, we got to meet with his assistant who took our official letter and told us that UT definitely wants to eliminate their use of coal. Unfortunately, as of right now, the university wants to switch to natural gas as their main energy source. Sarah Flower, our SPEAK co-president, made it clear to them that we want nothing less than 100% clean energy. The chancellor’s assistant has set up a meeting for SPEAK to meet with the chancellor next semester.  From now until then, we are going to collect petitions, show awareness films about coal, and organize again to create a bigger movement. We need 100% clean energy now!

The action was part of the 100 actions for 100% clean energy campaign that is happening throughout October. SPEAK is joining other students across the Southeast to demand solutions to climate change and transition towards a clean energy future.

For more pictures of the event check out the original post on Campus Clean Energy Blog.