TAMIU Celebrates Earth Day with New Bike Repair Station
You might say that this year’s Texas A&M International University’s (TAMIU) Earth Day observance was a “wheely” big deal.
That’s because Friday, April 22, TAMIU highlights its day-long observance of the international environmental awareness event with the dedication of a new Dustdevil Bike Repair Station, now located outside the Kinesiology, Wellness and Recreation Center. The station is designed to help provide a safe and enjoyable biking experience on campus, and encourages students and staff to use bikes as a means of transportation. The University has also installed new bike racks across campus and will be providing students with vouchers for free bike locks to further encourage use.
TAMIU president Dr. Pablo Arenaz said the 300-acre campus truly lends itself to safe bike use.
“We wanted to provide a safe and enjoyable biking experience on campus so students and staff would be encouraged to use bikes as a means of transportation. Our new bike repair station includes an air pump and all of the necessary tools to easily perform basic bike repairs and maintenance, from changing a flat to adjusting brakes. It’s also fabricated from steel, a fully recyclable material. It’s free to use for all students. We want students to know that riding bikes on campus has never been easier and bike users can feel safe and secure, while also helping to save our environment,” Dr. Arenaz said.
The Bike Repair Station is part of an ongoing partnership with Schneider Electric to showcase a a shared commitment to sustainability by creating an Earth Day Celebration so students can participate in good ‘green’ fun around campus.
Also scheduled during TAMIU’s Earth Day observance is a “Take Action” beautification event with students helping to beautify the TAMIU Community Garden by planting citrus trees donated by a Texas A&M University – Kingsville tree farm.
Following the Bike Repair Station dedication, an Earth Day Festival in the Student Center Memorial Garden takes place with booths featuring fun games and prizes promoting environmental stewardship. Students can explore topics ranging from water conservation to recycling and could make their own ‘green’ pledge to show their support for Earth.
TAMIU vice president for Finance and Administration Juan Castillo said the Earth Day observance helps underscore the University’s commitment to its shared environment.
“Over the past four years, TAMIU has partnered with Schneider Electric on a multi-phase energy conservation project that helps significantly reduce our energy use and impact on the environment. This energy conservation project not only makes our campus more sustainable but also spreads awareness about environmental issues and energy efficiency to our students and Laredo community. Sustainability is an important lesson, and with our Schneider Electric partnership, everyone at TAMIU is learning how they can make a difference,” Castillo noted.
TAMIU president Arenaz also thanked organizers and participants in the event.
“I appreciate the combined efforts of the University’s Environmental, Health and Safety Office, The Environmental Advisory Council, TAMIU Grounds Committee, and the office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration for their help in coordinating our Earth Day celebration.
“At TAMIU, ‘maroon is the new green,’ and we are blessed to have so many faculty and staff members committed to fostering environmental awareness among our students, as well as the greater Laredo community,” Arenaz concluded.
Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970 and continues to grow. It is now observed and celebrated in over 174 countries.
For additional information on TAMIU, call the University’s Office of Public Relations, Marketing and Information Services at 956.326.2180, email prmis@tamiu.edu or click on tamiu.edu.
More of the University’s story is available on its website, tamiu.edu and dedicated social media channels on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.
For more on Schneider Electric, visit schneider-electric.com.
