Feature Photo: Keystone Protest
Students, faculty and Oberlin residents gathered in Tappan Square on Monday, Feb. 3, to protest the State Department’s recent evaluation of the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline. The report concluded that greenhouse-gas emissions and future tar sands expansion would not be affected by the approval or disapproval of the pipeline. Double-degree first-year Hayden Arp, the demonstration’s organizer, said that the event was one of over 200 that occurred across the country in response to environmental activist website 350.org’s call for action. “My goal was just to say that we did something,” said Arp, “and we succeeded.” Despite the cold, the demonstrators stayed in Tappan Square for approximately 30 minutes before marching in a conga line to the post office. They chanted, “Hey Obama! We don’t want no climate drama!” and other slogans. “In a small campus, especially in the cold, every single body counts,” said College sophomore Eli Dalven. College senior Kai Drumm agreed. “It’s important to draw attention to Keystone and show solidarity for causes we believe in,” she said. Lee Paxton, a resident of Bellville, OH, said that he came here with some friends who, like many participants, heard about the event online. “I organized the whole thing on Facebook yesterday around 3 p.m.,” said Arp, who also said it was his first experience organizing. “Only three or so RSVP’d on Facebook, so I’m surprised at the turnout.”
February 8, 2014
Students, faculty and Oberlin residents gathered in Tappan Square on Monday, Feb. 3, to protest the State Department’s recent evaluation of the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline. The report concluded that greenhouse-gas emissions and future tar sands expansion would not be affected by the approval or disapproval of the pipeline. Double-degree first-year Hayden Arp, the demonstration’s organizer, said that the event was one of over 200 that occurred across the country in response to environmental activist website 350.org’s call for action. “My goal was just to say that we did something,” said Arp, “and we succeeded.” Despite the cold, the demonstrators stayed in Tappan Square for approximately 30 minutes before marching in a conga line to the post office. They chanted, “Hey Obama! We don’t want no climate drama!” and other slogans. “In a small campus, especially in the cold, every single body counts,” said College sophomore Eli Dalven. College senior Kai Drumm agreed. “It’s important to draw attention to Keystone and show solidarity for causes we believe in,” she said. Lee Paxton, a resident of Bellville, OH, said that he came here with some friends who, like many participants, heard about the event online. “I organized the whole thing on Facebook yesterday around 3 p.m.,” said Arp, who also said it was his first experience organizing. “Only three or so RSVP’d on Facebook, so I’m surprised at the turnout.”
