Be Heard! promotes environmental awareness

John Tyczkowski

Issue date: 9/25/09
Section: Focus

Media Credit: Ashley Pospisil Tyler Bussey, a 3rd-semester English major, performs at Whitney Dining Hall last night.

Last night, UConn's Office of Environmental Policy held its 2009 Be Heard! Acoustic Coffee House at 8 pm in Whitney Dining Hall. The goal was to raise awareness and take action regarding two key issues. Paper, pens and envelopes were provided, and the attendees were encouraged to write letters to UConn President Mike Hogan and other key administrators to advocate for an Environmental Studies B.A. for non-science majors and the planting of trees on campus to replace those previously cut down. All the while, entertaining music of several genres was provided by several artists at the front of the room.

Olivia Cowenhoven, a 5th-semester environmental sciences/geosciences double major and intern at the OEP served as the event's master of ceremonies. She started the night with a quick speech explaining the causes behind the event. Drums and Guns was the first act to take the stage, consisting of a banjo, a guitar and a vocalist. The traditional American folk music they played ranged from a Stephen Foster piece to "I'll Fly," an 80-year- old folk song featured in "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" Tyler Bussey and Thomas Diaz were up next, bringing additional guitar and banjo stylings to the scene. Their set consisted of gossamer-delicate folk ballads featuring dual-vocal harmonies.

After a brief announcement by Cowenhoven about UConn's current EcoMadness program, which challenges students to conserve resources in the dorms, a guitar and conga duo kicked things up a notch with their brand of up-tempo folk-funk. Their one song, though featuring lyrics improvised minutes before the performance, was well-received by the audience. Keelan Freitag and Audra appeared after, sharing the stage with the conga player from the prior group. They performed a number of covers, ending with "The General" by Dispatch. Then, guitarist and singer Dave Wanik played an unusual but popular set including "Poker Face," "Thriller," "Strawberry Fields Forever," and Britney Spears' "Toxic" by audience request.

Next was Chelsea Dodds, who performed one song solo while playing the guitar and was then joined by her friend, who added additional vocals and a ukulele. Rounding out the evening were guitarist Adam Wilson and an encore performance by the conga duo's guitarist, featuring Stevie Wonder's "Golden Lady" and Jimi Hendrix's "Little Wing."

Besides providing the good music, the event was praised for how it handled advocating its causes.

"It was a nice, lively event that managed to bring awareness without overdoing it," said Arragon Perrone, a 3rd- semester English major.

The size of the audience varied throughout the night, but always hovered around 40 people. The evening turned out to be a very successful event for the OEP. As Cowenhoven remarked to the crowd at the end of the coffeehouse, "I didn't expect half as many letters as we got tonight - right on guys!"