LHU's Dr. Joseph Calabrese, left, listens to Manfield University's Dr. Thomas Young during an environmental panel discussion on Oct. 18 in the Parsons Union Building multipurpose room.

LOCK HAVEN, Pa. - Lock Haven University’s Parsons Union Building multipurpose room was a place for serious environmental discussion on Thursday, Oct. 18, when scientists, writers and conservationists came to together during the first ever Environmental Issues Panel.

The interdisciplinary group was brought to campus through the efforts of Dana Washington, assistant professor of English; Dr. Joan Whitman Hoff, professor of communication and philosophy who moderated the discussion; and Dr. Marjorie Maddox-Hafer, professor of English; among other departments and professors involved.

“We tried to get students involved on several different levels,” said Maddox-Hafer, who explained that some of the panelists visited classrooms as students read or studied their work. “I had many students excited about how the issues and disciplines interacted.”

Panelists included: Dr. Joseph Calabrese, professor of biology; Amidea Daniel, involved in numerous conservation and environmental endeavors in Clinton County; Dr. Todd Davis, poet and associate professor of English at Penn State Altoona; Rick Henrich, owner of Rock, River and Trail Outfitters Inc.; Mark Smith, English instructor at LHU; Dr. Md. Khalequzzaman, geologist and geology and physics department chair at LHU; Tim Morey, a natural resource specialist with the PA Wilds Recreation Team; and Dr. Thomas Young, professor of philosophy at Mansfield University.

With the spectrum of disciplines represented, the panel discussed different approaches to the same environmental quandary – where does the environment need our attention and how do we work toward a solution?

All present explained their unique role in pushing for and partaking in environmental resolutions.

Henrich’s downtown business rents and sells outdoor recreation equipment to customers, and by doing so, Henrich believes he is raising the public’s appreciation of nature, if nothing else. He added that he helps in any and every way he can, no matter how small.

“What I do is appreciate where I go and what I do,” said Henrich of his outdoor activity, “I work with the local country and government to do clean-up... I go at it in a simple direction.”

Young approaches environmental issues from the standpoint of ethical theories.

“Unfortunately, when it comes to environmental ethics, some of these (theories) come up locally short,” said Young.

The problem stems from the fact that most theories are meant to relate to humans and not the natural world.

The addition of poets and writers to the panel added another perspective and “interesting balance” according to Maddox-Hafer.

Davis explained how the famous statement “poetry makes nothing happen” is false.

“Art... can’t do what activist speeches can do, it can’t do what expository essays can do. Having said that, exposition relies on the fact that humans are rational creatures,” Davis said as laughter followed.

The poet went on to describe how the public will often select which sciences it wishes to acknowledge and which to ignore. Unfortunatly, environmental science is one that is often pushed to the wayside, he said.

When it comes to bringing out an appreciation in the environment, art can invoke feelings of affection and care in a way no science can.

“Art is trying to find a language that brings people deeper into a relationship with an experience they’ve already had,” Davis explained.

Some of the most pressing environmental problems identified by the panelists included acid mine drainage and invasive species of plants and animals.

Khalequzzaman explained that over 285,000 acres of land are impacted by coal mining in Pennsylvania, and over 1,100 river mines are facing this problem in the West Branch watershed alone.

Species like hogweed and the gypsy moth, mentioned by Henrich and Morey, are also making a big impact in the region and need attention.

Better land use overall could help a number of these issues, said Morey.

“There are no easy choices or answers in land use,” he admitted, but with the right focus a solution isn’t impossible.

Despite the onset of global and regional environmental challenges, the panelists emphasized hope and local action.

“Finding and maintaining hope is going to be crucial for your future and your children’s future,” said Smith.

America’s tendency to connect happiness with consumption is a cultural obstacle that needs changed, according to Young.

“Consumption is probably one of the major problems, the sacred cow . . . because we tend to worship economic growth and accumulating toys,” said Young.

Daniel encouraged students to “look at your surroundings as a whole” and be aware of how they impact them both good and bad.

Calabrese stressed involvement and learning and said that clean-up efforts by clubs and other beautification activities are one way to make a difference.

“It’s all about education,” Calabrese said, adding that the faculty and students should not be afraid to educate others in the campus community on ways they can help make the school greener.

“We are most efficient when we act locally,” said Khalequzzaman.

Maddox-Hafer expressed great satisfaction with the “interesting balance” of panelists and their perspectives and said she would like to see continued work on connecting issues with the variety of disciplines available on campus.