There is nothing I am more interested in and passionate about than the topic of social justice.

This past April, Ohio University was filled with the sound of students standing up for their right to education. An education that is both affordable for the students and one where tuition money is well-spent on the needs of those paying students. Over the past year, the tuition has been raised twice at OU. The first was last school year when it was raised 3.5%, but what was more shocking than just this tuition raise was the subsequent pay raise of the highest paid faculty at the University within days of the tuition hike. 

Students took a stand against the unfair tuition hike and the even more atrocious pay raise of those faculty making over six figures. Speaking out, telling their stories, and asking other students to take a stand as well, the protestors marched through the streets and paraded around President McDavis' house. 

(These photos are a collection from the first tuition hike protest 'Raise Hell, Not Tuition' prior to the administrative vote, and then a second protest a week later against the arrest of four students during the vote itself. 

This week, I began my role as the new Photo Editor for an on-campus publication called College Green Magazine! On Thursday, April 25th, College Green Magazine hosted the showing of the documentary "Trashed" at The Athena on Court Street in Athens, Ohio. The movie was an awesome and terrifying look at our 'throw-away' society and the dangers of pollutants due to our consumptive behavior. After the movie, five panelists spoke about the issues discussed in the movie and the change that needs to come about in our community. 

Dr. Geoffrey Buckley,  a Professor in the Department of Geography and one of the panelists, talks with the audience before the showing of “Trashed.”

Neal, College Green Magazine's 2013 Lifestyles Editor, introduces the five panelists after the showing of "Trashed" the documentary. 

The five panelists wait for the beginning of the question and answer session after the showing of “Trashed.”

Dr. Geoff Buckley, a Professor in the Department of Geography, is a teacher at Ohio University and was featured on the panel after “Trashed.”

Kyle O’Keefe, head of Rural Action’s Zero-Waste Initiative, speaks out during the panel session about ways to personally take action for the waste crisis.

Dr. Michele Morrone, Associate Professor of Environmental Health Science, speaks during the panel session.

So this past Sunday I traveled to D.C. to shoot some video at the Forward on Climate rally! And it was amazing. There were estimated to be around 50,000 people in attendance. The day was filled with chanting, laughing, and dancing. A moment that really stood out to me was during the opening speeches. The wind was freezing and the audience was beginning to grow restless in between speakers. At one point some catchy pop song came on over the speakers and the announcer told everyone to start jumping. As the crowd slowly jumped their way to the left a few feet everyone began chanting "power shift, power shift."  It was amazing to see so many people gathered in front of the White House with the same goal in mind: end the Keystone XL.