The University of Toledo

Not every university has a river that runs through campus.

Take a few minutes to remember that and learn more during Celebrate Our River Week.

Several events have been planned by the President’s Commission on the River, a group dedicated to improving the Ottawa River on campus for research, teaching and public outreach.

“The Ottawa River is an important part of the University campus and our community, and the efforts by the President’s Commission on the River and the many partners are intended to enhance and preserve the natural legacy and future of the river to our environment,” said Dr. Patrick L. Lawrence, UT associate professor and chair of geography and planning, who is chair of the commission.

Events scheduled will be:

• Wednesday through Friday, Sept. 8-10 — information displays in Carlson Library.

• Thursday, Sept. 9, at noon — Ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Student River Plaza, located behind the Student Union and Carlson Library. UT President Lloyd Jacobs is scheduled to speak at the event. Refreshments will be served.

• Friday, Sept. 10, at noon — Rubber Duck Race. The toy fowls will be launched at the bridge by Carlson Library and float downstream to the finish line at the David Root Bridge on Towerview Boulevard East. The number of contestants will depend on how many tickets are sold; $1 will enter two rubber ducks. Cash prizes will be up for grabs. Funds raised will benefit future river restoration projects. Tickets will be on sale in the Student Union from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 8-9, and at the race.

• Saturday, Sept. 11, 8:30 a.m. — Clean Your Streams. Come on down to the Ottawa River and volunteer a few hours to pick up along the waterway on Main Campus. Meet at the new Student River Plaza to take part in the community-wide event, which annually draws some 700 volunteers at more than 30 cleanup sites in Toledo. The University is a partner for the 14th annual Clean Your Streams, which is part of the Ohio Coast Weeks Program and the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup Event. In Toledo, the event is organized by Partners for Clean Streams.

“Clean Your Streams is a great opportunity for students in fraternities and sororities to gain philanthropy hours,” Lawrence said.

For more information and to register groups, go to www.partnersforcleanstreams.org/cys.html.

For more information on Celebrate Our River Week, contact Lawrence at patrick.lawrence@utoledo.edu or 419.530.4128.

This entry was posted  on  Tuesday, September 7th, 2010 at  5:54 am and is filed under  Events, UToday.
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