Video Contest, Symposium Highlight Focus the Nation at Willamette

Willamette University students, faculty, staff and community members gathered on campus recently for a daylong symposium on problems and solutions surrounding global climate change. The discussions were part of a nationwide project called Focus the Nation, with more than 1,200 colleges and universities participating.

Willamette also hosted a contest to create a video for the original song “Oceans Rising,” written by Willamette Vice President Kristen Grainger. Grainger performed the song with guitarist Dan Wetzel. The winning video, created by Willamette senior Katie Salisbury, a religious studies major, was shown at a free concert in Smith Auditorium. View Salisbury’s video at www.willamette.edu/go/oceans_rising.

Thursday’s discussions focused on a wide range of topics, including health effects of climate change, the challenge of teaching climate change in schools, the relationship between faith and climate change and private sector contributions to sustainability. Panelists included state agency representatives, educators, students and faculty.

For more information, visit www.willamette.edu/about/sustainability/focusthenation/ or focusthenation.org.