University at Buffalo - The State University of New York

Published: May 3, 2007

By SUE WUETCHER
Reporter Editor

They came from near and far, representing urban, suburban and rural schools, to hear the man who "used to be the next president of the United States" talk about global warming and climate change.

They weren't disappointed.

The high school students and their teachers who spoke with the Reporter Friday afternoon while attending former vice president Al Gore's presentation in Alumni Arena were in agreement: Gore offered a compelling argument that man-made greenhouse gases are endangering the planet. Descriptors used frequently by the students to describe Gore's presentation ranged from "informational" and "shocking" to "awe-inspiring" and "fantastic."

More than 3,500 students from 82 schools attended the lecture free of charge as UB's guests.

"It was a real eye opener," said Dottie Sisler, a senior at Niagara Falls High School. "I'm definitely going to buy a hybrid."

Added classmate Corey Hamilton, also a senior: "I'm going to think twice about running the water and lights in my house all the time."

Stephanie Beback, a sophomore at Lancaster High School, said she was "shocked" by what's happening in different parts of the planet as the atmosphere warms, and felt privileged to hear Gore speak. "I hope many others get the chance to hear this," she said.

Brian MacCleod, a member of STEM, the Iroquois High School environmental club, also was shocked by what he heard at the presentation.

"I thought it was really interesting. It was shocking to see how big an effect global warming has," he said, noting that he found the images that Gore presented of the ice caps melting the most surprising.

Most of the students interviewed had seen Gore's Academy Award-winning film, "An Inconvenient Truth"; many were members of environmental clubs at their schools, such as Allison Wagner and Taylor Niceforo, a sophomore and junior, respectively, from Nardin Academy. Wagner noted that at Nardin, club members were managing recycling bins in the school's classrooms and lunchroom, and looking into the possibility of using energy-efficient light bulbs at the school. Niceforo said she wanted to attend Gore's presentation to "learn more about our environmental problems and what else we can do to improve the environment."

Julianna Didas, a junior at Mount St. Mary Academy, said she wanted to attend the presentation "to learn more about what we can do to preserve the environment and make the world better for the next generation."

Her thoughts were echoed by Tanika Brown, a sophomore at Elmira Free Academy. "I'm in Environmental Club and I just wanted to come and see what's going on and what Al Gore's talking about," she said. "The environment is a really big thing because if there's no environment, then we're not going to live here. It's kind of that simple."

Dorothy Deavers, an earth science instructor at Mount St. Mary, said her classes had held lengthy discussions about the implications of man-produced global warming. Attending the Gore presentation offered students a "great opportunity to actually hear Al Gore" and evaluate the issue for themselves and determine whether there are things they can do to stop the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Besides, she said, it was an "historical opportunity to see the former vice president and almost president."

Ed Walsh, who chaperoned students from his AP history and global studies classes at Lancaster High School, said he was impressed by Gore's PowerPoint presentation.

"It was really well done, and he made a convincing argument," Walsh said. "I'd like to see the U.S. come together with other countries around the world to pass on a decent environment to the next generation."

While many students noted that Gore's presentation was very similar to "An Inconvenient Truth," Frank Niemiec, a senior at Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts, said that "seeing him [Gore] in person makes it more real."

"He's right in front of you; it's really empowering," Niemiec said.

Classmate Alessandra Duarte, a junior, agreed. "It was absolutely amazing. I saw the movie, but there were entirely different elements to seeing Gore in person," Duarte said, pointing out that the former vice president "had a good grasp on the high school demographic, so he was able to make compelling scientific arguments without pushing it too far."

Jared Courier, a junior at Performing Arts, said Gore's lecture made him want to take action. "Before coming today, I turned off all the electricity in my house as a homage to him," he said.

David Whitcombe, a biology teacher at Batavia High School who came to UB as part of a contingent that included 40 students, has seen "An Inconvenient Truth" and was interested in what Gore had to say. "I think he's telling the truth, whereas the Bush Administration is probably the least environmentally friendly group that I can think of," Whitcombe said. "I think he's somebody who has his facts right and I think he should be listened to."

Karen Leonard of Tapestry Charter School summed up the feelings of many: "It was very informational and awesome. He should be president."

—Kevin Fryling and Lauren Newkirk Maynard contributed to this story.