Thousands of High School Students Hear Gore's Climate Change Message Friday

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Extraordinary: That's how University at Buffalo officials describe the response of area high schools to UB's invitation to hear former vice president and environmental activist Al Gore speak on what could be the defining issue of their generation: climate change.

On March 22 UB announced that Gore had agreed to the April 27 school-time lecture, and UB was offering it free to area high-school students as part of its public- and community-service mission.

By the close of business the next day, 3,465 students from 80 schools had been signed up for the event. Shortly thereafter, the university had to discontinue its waiting list due to the demand. Each school received complimentary tickets for approximately 45 students and many schools had to set up lotteries in order to determine which students would attend.

It is the first time that Gore will give this lecture to so many high school students from so many schools, according to Gore's staff. The lecture will be held at 12:15 p.m. in the Alumni Arena on UB's North (Amherst) Campus.

Area high school principals noted that their students are very excited about attending.

"I can't tell you how much we appreciate this opportunity," said William Kresse, principal of City Honors School. "The students heard about it before we even put it on our public address system and several parents called me within hours of the announcement to say, 'Hey, did you hear UB is giving away tickets for high school students to see Al Gore?' So thanks to all the folks at UB for the tickets. I think it's really important that young people be exposed to environmental education and especially the research Gore and his group have done."

Ramona Thomas-Reynolds, principal of Bennett High School, said the Gore lecture provides a wonderful opportunity to augment classroom learning. "Our students have done projects about global warming in class and this is their opportunity to hear about it firsthand."

The student contingent from Batavia High School "is thrilled to participate in the opportunity to learn more about environmental issues and to hear, firsthand, from a highly knowledgeable world figure like Gore," said Pamela J. Buresch, principal of Batavia High School. "Our sincerest thanks to UB for hosting this important event."

UB's goal is to encourage area high school students' involvement in science and environmental conservation by exposing them to Gore's message about global warming and climate change, according to UB President John B. Simpson.

"We have been eagerly awaiting Vice President Gore's visit for some time now, and we are thrilled to be able to share this tremendous opportunity with so many students throughout our greater Buffalo community and well beyond it," Simpson added.  "The incredible response we received from area high schools really speaks volumes about the growing interest in environmental issues and the future of our planet. 

"Public research universities provide an ideal forum for discussing the critical issues and questions that shape our world, and here at UB, we are firmly committed to seeking out the innovations, approaches and discoveries to make this world better," he said. "UB's decades-long commitment to environmental sustainability is the perfect example of these two guiding objectives coming together, and we are very excited to welcome some 3,500 high school students to join us in this vital conversation."

High schools throughout the counties of Erie, Niagara and Genesee are widely represented, including 14 in the Buffalo Public School District, and many suburban and rural districts.

Complimentary tickets also were given to approximately 2,000 UB undergraduates and Graduate Student Association-represented graduate students; an additional 2,000 tickets were made available to UB students for Gore's sold-out evening lecture Friday at 8 p.m. Gore will speak as part of the UB Distinguished Speakers Series.

Approximately 90 UB students, faculty and staff are volunteering at the afternoon lecture.

The program will begin with a video about two UB students in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Josh Hancock and Kelly R. Miller, who are combining academics and environmental activism.

Simpson will address the students and introduce New York State Lieutenant Governor David A. Paterson, who has championed a statewide alternative energy strategy and who Governor Spitzer has asked to lead New York State on environmental stewardship and energy conservation strategies. Paterson is visiting UB as part of a multi-day tour addressing environmental issues statewide.

"Governor Spitzer and I join Vice President Gore in our steadfast commitment to environmental stewardship, promoting alternative energy sources, reducing energy costs and seeking ways to safeguard our fragile climate," Paterson said. "We congratulate President Simpson and the University at Buffalo community for their research and pedagogy concerning these critical issues. Global warming is a global challenge and each of us has a part to play in protecting our children's future. As Vice President Gore has taught all of us -- the time for action is now."

Gore's appearance on campus comes during a semester when UB is celebrating its decades-long commitment to environmental stewardship while exploring the climate change crisis and other critical environmental issues through a series of speakers and activities under the theme "A Greener Shade of Blue."

Simpson noted that the decision to invite nearly 3,500 area high school students to the lecture as UB's guests demonstrates the university's strong commitment to supporting K-16 education. In that spirit, the university also is extending learning opportunities for students beyond the April 27 lecture.

UB has expanded its Greener Shade of Blue Web site http://www.buffalo.edu/greener_ub to include environmental information specifically tailored for high school students on how to "Go Green with UB." The site provides information on careers related to the environment, alumni profiles of those working in the field and ways that students can get involved in reducing global warming.

Students attending the lecture are encouraged to visit the site to register for a chance to win a blue 1GB iPod Shuffle. Each student who attends the Gore lecture is eligible to win; one winner will be chosen per school. At the lecture, each student will receive a card with a number on it, providing access to the Web site where they can register to win.

UB also is partnering with the schools and with Re-Tree WNY in an effort to replace trees lost during the "October Surprise" snowstorm. Later this spring, each school that attends the Gore lecture will receive a tree to plant, thanks to American Forests Historic Tree Nursery, Citadel Broadcasting, IP/Xpedx, Davey Tree and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

For more than three decades, UB has led the way in commitment, research, teaching and pioneering energy-saving campus practices. This long, proud record of environmental stewardship is exemplified during this "Greener Shade of Blue" semester by Simpson's signing of the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment and the university's commitment to sustainability and proactive solutions in all of its planning.

UB is the first institution in Western New York to sign the commitment to achieve "climate neutrality." It is the first university center and second campus in the State University of New York system to do so. At the time that UB joined, leaders of only 133 of this country's more than 4,000 colleges and universities had signed the agreement.

UB acknowledges Apple, Inc.'s assistance in supporting this event.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York.