Student Group Hosts Summit to Discuss Environment
By Pamela Brown

Students and community leaders concerned about the earth are worried about greenhouse gas emissions and alternative transportation.

SURGE, students united for a responsible global environment, hosted an Earth Day Summit Saturday as a way to spark discussion about dangerous emissions and energy efficiency.

One of the initiatives already under way is a bike-loan program, which allows free bike rentals in local communities and on campus.

Executive director of SURGE Dennis Markatos-Soriano says becoming a society less dependent on cars is an important step in cutting pollution.

“Transportation is a really big factor of emitting carbon dioxide and other gases, so we need to work on that,” he says. “We can use transit, but we also need to get on our bicycles to get around.”

The bike-loan program is being put together by community volunteers, and at least 30 bikes will be available when the program launches in the upcoming months.