Members of the Students Eliminating Environmental Destruction (SEED) gathered three local bands, speakers from the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Park, and boxes of tree seedlings to help commemorate Earth Day and to raise student awareness about the environment.

"Kent State has never had an Earth Day celebration," said Kristy Rop, a member of SEED. "We decided it was time the students had the chance to celebrate this day."

SEED President Dena Berliner said the group had problems getting the university to help fund the Earth Day festivities.

"We tried to get the university interested in giving us some money to help buy the trees and to bring speakers to campus," Berliner said. "We ended up putting this whole thing together with money from our own pockets."

Berliner said the celebration was getting a good response from students.

"Most students didn't even realize today was Earth Day, so I think just having pamphlets out has helped them to become more aware," she said. "Students have to realize that everybody is responsible for our environment and it's safety."

Rob Ahren, a recruiting coordinator for the Environmental Educational Center at the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Park, said when he was a college student, Earth Day was a big deal.

"When I was at Miami University, Earth Day was a huge deal," he said. "The whole town got involved and we had a lot of fun. I always thought that most universities would be interested in helping out with Earth Day because it is the politically correct thing to do."

Ahren said the group was not able to make arrangements to have the three bands play outside in front of the Student Center. Instead, the bands, Don't Eat The Blue Grass, Brandi, and Gypsy Relic had to play inside the Kiva.

"If the bands would have been able to play outside, I think that our cause would have received even more attention," Ahren said.

The bands received a small crowd inside the Kiva.

Sophomores Jackie Wilson and Jen Stone said they enjoyed the Earth Day activities.

"I think that it's about time we had an Earth Day celebration," Stone said. " This has been a really good time, with lots of good music to dance to. I hope they have this next year."

"Don't Eat the Grass" was one of three bands to perform in celebration of Kent State's First Annual Earth Day.