Greeks Going Green plans blackout at MU

COLUMBIA— The MU chapter of Greeks Going Green planned a blackout Wednesday  with one goal in mind — conservation.

Greeks Going Green is a nonprofit organization that influences members and alumni of sororities and fraternities nationwide to lead sustainable lives.

Lights in the dome of Jesse Hall, at Memorial Union and at the columns, and exterior lights at the MU Student Recreation Complex, Stankowski Field and the residence halls, will be extinguished from 8 to 9 p.m.

With backing from the MU administration already in place, Greeks Going Green is working to gather support from the student body in its request for one hour of darkness.

The group has posted fliers in residence halls, Greek houses and classrooms urging that lights be turned out. Outdoor movies will be projected on the exterior of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority, and a bonfire will be built for students in residence halls.

The MU observatory on the fifth floor of the physics building on College Avenue will open its center to those who want a good view of the night sky, weather permitting.

Lauren Hasler, who initiated the concept this year, said she was on a train heading back to school last spring when the worldwide blackout known as Earth Hour was taking place.

"I couldn't turn the train lights out so I called my mom to remind her to participate at home,"  said Hasler, the vice president of Greeks Going Green.

"I remember thinking, 'Why couldn't we do this at school?'" she said. "The goal is to make students more aware of the difference they can make on an individual basis."

A tracker for three residence halls will indicate how much energy is being saved. The tracker is a Web-based application that monitors utility usage.