Our Opinion: We all have the potential, and certainly the resources, to leave a lasting positive impact on our environment.

There is a prevailing sentiment among college students that it is uncool to be earth-friendly and environmentally aware. While it may be true that walking around barefoot, eating plants and going by the name “Treeflower” may not get you invited to many parties, it is still possible to be environmentally friendly and maintain an aura of “coolness.”

As college students, we have the unique potential to be the leaders of tomorrow. In the conservation effort, this is made more pertinent by the fact that we attend N.C. State, a school that has many ties to the environment.

Remember the Solar House? NCSU has been on the forefront of renewable energy technology.

Environmental engineers? Our University is known for its engineering program and this subset of it is no exception.

College of Agricultural and Life Sciences? One of the largest schools on campus and one that is almost exclusively dependent on the environment.

Friday’s Earth Day Celebration on the Brickyard highlighted the many ways in which NCSU is involved in the conservation effort. Our school is poised to do great things for the Earth, and as students we should capitalize on these opportunities.

We aren’t suggesting that students go out and hug a tree or anything. But we have many chances to advance the Earth Day cause, and we should not neglect them.