He flew to Surf City, N.J. and ran the 3,000 miles to Santa Monica Pier, Calif. What he learned had nothing to do with physical endurance or his abilities. Instead, he was shown the goodness of people.

“I had the good luck of meeting the nicest people in America, I’m convinced,” Choate said.

Two years after finishing the run, Choate is planning to bike across the country to promote his book “The Now Testament.” He stresses that the book isn’t about running, it’s about the people he met and the lessons he learned on his journey.

“It’s about doing it now, not waiting until later,” Choate said.

After graduating from UW-Eau Claire, Choate moved to Los Angeles in March 2010 to study at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater.

Choate has degrees from Eau Claire in psychology and criminal justice and is currently working on his nursing degree here, but he said his passion is writing.

The mentality that UCB fosters is based on saying “yes” to things and not limiting yourself. Choate said his upbringing reflected these same qualities and that’s what eventually convinced him to do the run.

With little planning and preparation, Choate started running on Sept. 1, 2010 and embarked on a trip that would teach him more about other people than himself.

As he pushed his baby stroller — which he affectionately refers to as Maybelline — stocked with supplies across state after state, Choate said he would sleep in dugouts of baseball fields and parks. He never sought help unless he really needed it. He said he was lucky enough to meet kind strangers who offered a room in their house or even to pay for a hotel room.

Choate remembers one week in particular in Harrison, Ark. The weather was making it difficult for Choate to run, so he planned to stay a few days. He said he had trouble locating a warm place to stay.

He tried calling churches and shelters in the area until he was led to a woman named Joyce and her husband who not only paid for Choate to stay in a hotel for a night, but also let him stay with them when the weather kept him in town an extra day.

“They were just wonderfully happy people,” Choate said. “It was really cool just to have a family experience, because I’m on the road all day and just talking to myself or to the cows. Just to feel a sense of family was comforting.”

During Choate’s stay in Arkansas, he met some friends of Joyce’s who, after knowing him for about two minutes, handed him an envelope containing $100. Choate said he never even got the chance to thank them and hopes the book accomplishes that.

In the end, the weather forced Choate to spend about a week in Harrison. He kept himself warm and busy by going to movies and hanging out in restaurants. It was in a Taco Bell near the end of his stay in Harrison that he
met Jaccylyn.

She was another important figure in Choate’s run. As they struck up a conversation, Jaccylyn invited Choate to join her and her friend to hang out at Wal-Mart, which Choate said is a common activity in Harrison.

Over the next couple of days, Jaccylyn paid for Choate’s hotel room, bought him a few meals, and drove him to the next town so he could continue his run. He said the ride he got from Jaccylyn was one of only a few he accepted out of necessity.

While he met many people who offered help, Choate noticed that the people offering the most help were often those who didn’t have as much to give.

“All day long, cars would drive by and it was not infrequent that cars would stop,” Choate said. “But it was never the SUV with the new grill up front or the spinning rims. It was seldom the people you’d expect. The people who needed help the most were the ones to first offer it without even thinking twice. You learn more from having a little than having a lot.”

Just as his run wouldn’t have succeeded without the help of those he met along the way, Choate said his wife and friends were integral in making sure he was safe and on track. During the run, he considered his wife Kelly Choate the headquarters of the operation.

“He needed someone to be his eyes,” Kelly Choate said. “He needed somebody to push him in the right direction with planning and to be able to know where he was going to be at the end of the day and know where he was going to be waking up. So basically, every morning he called me. We would try to coordinate over the phone while I was on the computer mapping out (the route).”

Jared Choate’s best friend, Eau Claire alum Keith McAleer helped with the website and other logistical things. McAleer said he wasn’t surprised Jared decided to take on something like this and only wished he could have helped more.

“It seemed like something Jared would do but, (it was difficult) losing control when he started the run … being far away and not being able to help him as much as I wanted to,” McAleer said.

Jared Choate said he had a hard time talking about his experiences after the run. His stories felt very personal to him; not many people even knew he was writing a book. It wasn’t until a presentation in Psychology Senior Lecturer Sharon Westphal’s human development class that he was inspired to start sharing his story.

Jared Choate asked Westphal if she would allow him to speak to her classes about what he learned and she agreed. She hadn’t heard Jared Choate’s story before his presentation and she was just as impressed as everyone else.

“He did his presentations on April 30 and they were amazing,” Westphal said. “My students loved him. He gave them permission to live in the now and to talk to people. I’m glad for him and I hope he’s very successful.”

Jared Choate said he has spent much of his time since the run reflecting on the mental aspects of the run, not the physical, and that is what’s in the book.

He describes the book as more of a mix tape, referring to the chapters as tracks. Each one is the story of the people he met along the way and what he learned from them.

“Hopefully, the book is remembered even more than the run,” Jared Choate said. “I have spent a great deal of time trying to pour into the book the heart and soul and love and life and just all the emotions of the run.”

The book means a lot to Jared Choate, but it means just as much to those closest to him who watched him and helped him during his run. The determination it takes to do something like run across the country could inspire many, but perhaps the person he inspired the most was his wife.

“He’s walking, living, breathing proof that you can just do it if you decide that you want to,” Kelly Choate said. “I would love to put myself in an experience like this…it kind of gives me the chance to do something crazy myself.”

“The Now Testament” will be released on July 13 and will be available at jaredchoate.com.

But for me, being a Blugold means that and more. My definition incorporates the importance of caring for all affiliates of the university as well. With that said, I think the UW-Eau Claire students’ ability or way of showing they care about others is something that sets them apart from not only other universities, but other groups of people.

We lost one fellow student this past month. That’s one too many and Eau Claire understands that. While death is always unfortunate in any circumstance, there is something positive that can be taken away from it here. For each Blugold we lose, I see at least one thing that commemorates their life
while on campus.

For example, after people heard about the fellow student who died last month, there were ribbons all over the walking bridge connecting Water Street and campus in remembrance of him. Along with that, I saw several Facebook and Twitter comments reminiscing about favorite experiences with the student.

Another way to honor those who have died is forming a message out of rocks at the bottom of the walking bridge. Last year after a student died in the Chippewa River at the beginning of the fall semester, people wrote out his name in the rocks and left it there for everyone to see.

It was a daily reminder to fellow students that the university is short one person. I’ve also seen people put things like flowers or something the person was known for on the walking bridge as well.

Along with that, I appreciate how the university’s dean of students always alerts us when someone dies. I think this in itself connects everyone on campus. We are all aware of it and we can all grieve together. It’s important to approach any situation like this as a team. Because of this, I think the university understands the idea of community very well.

Last week’s Day of Remembrance ultimately affirmed my thoughts. The interim chancellor and the student body president both spoke about all of the Blugolds the university has lost this past year. Along with that, it was special to hear The Singing Statesmen come and perform for all attendees at the event at Davies Center.

This community of staff, faculty and students at Eau Claire should be proud of their continued effort to keep those who have died alive through the university.

It’s important to know that every life matters, every life means something and every life is a loss. I can confidently say I’m proud to be a part of this community, this university and this group of caring people here. I’m proud to say “Once a Blugold, always a Blugold.”

I feel comfortable with the world and myself, and everything seems perfect.

But I’m always surprised at the start of the next semester in September or January how wrong I was every December and May when I had this recurring feeling.

Upon recent reflection, I realize how important this constant process of learning is to me. Thinking back to the end of high school and how little I knew then compared to now, I’m almost ashamed. I don’t know what I could possibly be doing with myself.

I’m not saying I couldn’t function as a productive citizen out of high school, but just looking back at what I had not learned, it feels like I was a different person.

These feelings I think speak to why I am willing to borrow another $4,000 every semester to pay for college. My education means more than just an investment to get a better career. It is an investment in myself, to be a better person in ways I can’t really describe.

I apologize for being so abstract, so I will offer some examples. I have spent a lot of time walking home thinking how semi-proportional representation could make our electoral system better.

And I love spotting Machiavellian and Mill-esque dialogue in “The Walking Dead.” Shane is quite the Machiavelli disciple, in fact.

One more example: I love trying to measure how much utility I get from almost any action I take, like riding my bike to class (I gain many utils from this) and eating spaghetti with actual hamburger in the sauce (my utility gained goes through the roof then).

I don’t think my brain would be functioning at this heightened cognitive level if I were not getting an education. So I do not regret for a minute that I am here.

Something to keep in mind, though, is that I will eventually have to graduate. But that does not mean the learning process will stop there. With my solid background in being a critical thinker, developed by my wonderful professors at UW-Eau Claire, I know I will never stop
gathering knowledge.

And I think the utility I gain from being at this university and learning everything I could ever want to leads me to think this is the best decision I’ve ever made in my life, and not just because I’m going to get a good job with my bachelor’s degree.

I love this place so much that when I was recently awarded an opportunity to study politics and journalism next fall in Washington, D.C., my initial reaction was actually one of mild sadness. The fact I had to leave this place for four whole months was the first thought that went through my head.

My one request for all of you reading this is to think about what the education you are getting means to you, and to truly cherish the opportunity we have all received at Eau Claire. I hope that you are all getting the same thing out of this time here as I have. This place has transformed me into a person I never thought I could be, and I am forever glad to be a Blugold.

Plus, this college education makes watching “The Walking Dead” more fun for sure.

When you walk into the Davies Center, you immediately get the feel of an open and natural space. But the more you get to know the building, the more apparent the amazing additions actually are!

More than the terraces to catch some rays or the grand piano in the second floor lounge, the fantastic sustainable measures are my favorite parts of the building.

What? You didn’t know about them? I’ll give you a quick run down

—Green roof with gardens to collect storm water run off

— Floor tiles made from recycled materials

— Local or recycle wood and stone work

—Local and organic food served by Blugold
Dining

— LED light fixtures

— Windows that keep heat in or heat out

—A ventilation system that reuses air
instead of constantly heating or cooling new air

—Automatic lighting which dims lights when necessary

— Water conserving restroom facilities

— Solar panels on the roof

— Recycling and composting availability

The list can go on and on.

The building cost $48.8 million and was paid for by student dollars, according to the university website. With this money, we were able to make some significant upgrades from the old Davies Center and this helped our image as a green university.

For the third year in a row, UW-Eau Claire was named among the top green universities by the Princeton Review. According to a university press release, some of the reasons Eau Claire was again named a green university included the Sustainability Fellowship Program, campus Trash Talks, green certified cleaning products, local and organic food and new construction meeting a      rating system comparable to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which is a third party verification of green buildings.

Now, UW-Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, Oshkosh and Stevens Point were also included on this list, so let’s not get too high and mighty. But it still makes me incredibly proud to go to a university that puts sustainability as such a
high priority.

As (I hope) everyone on campus knows, we are in the process of building a new education building which is set to be in use by spring 2014. After going above and beyond, I hope the university plans on making green features in this new building, just like the Davies Center.

I am aware that in real life people don’t allocate an extra million dollars or so just out of the goodness of their heart, just because they want an Eau Claire university building to be a little bit ‘greener.’ In real life it boils down to dollars and cents and “how can we make this cheaper?”

The budget for the education building is $44.5 million, according to the university. Not a cheap little project at all!

The big difference between the two buildings  lies in the funding: students vs. state. I haven’t seen definite, concrete sustainability additions for the building but in the Program Statement and Pre-Design Study they outline ideas.

More use of natural light, reduce waste, look into the possibility of using on-site renewable energy and water-use reducing facilities are all listed as intended sustainability projects.

But there are also statements like, “The design team will investigate opportunities for incorporating rapidly renewable materials
into the project.”

They are very general and vague. Davies set a really high standard for our university. I really hope our university is taking sustainability seriously and not just using it as another addition to their homepage or detail on the walking tours.

Neenah, a city near Green Bay, has postponed an ordinance that would require Neenah bartenders to remain sober and not drink alcohol while on duty.

According to an article in The Leader-Telegram, the ordinance was postponed because Police Chief Kevin Wilkinson is currently working with tavern owners.

I can understand the concept behind this law. If a bartender is drunk, he/she has no control over their customers and cannot properly supervise the number of drinks a person has and when they should be cut off.

However, I disagree entirely with this law.

It should be up to a bar owner or manager to decide whether the bartenders can drink or not. If and when a bartenders’ drinking becomes a problem while on the job, the boss will notice. If they allowed their workers to drink too much they would lose customers, money, and be liable for a number of lawsuits.

This is Wisconsin for godsakes. We live on cheese and beer. Throw a rock and it’s probably going to hit a bar. Am I the only one that was brought into a bar under the grandfather law as a kid? I know I’m not alone. For those with boring and sober parents, the grandfather law allows those under 21 to be brought into a bar and drink if they are with a parent. We know how to handle our liquor.

I was at a bar that will remain nameless on Water Street the other day and the bartender was talking about this law and I was eavesdropping. He was saying that if he ever got too drunk to do his job he would be fired right away, not even given a second chance. At many of the bars on Water Street and in Wisconsin, drinking with the bartender is a
social interaction.

Customers expect their favorite bartender to take a shot with them. I’m sure they have their tips and tricks to stay sober while still pleasing the customer; it’s part of their job.

Unfortunately, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, Wisconsin has the highest rate of drunk driving in the nation. While that fact is upsetting and something should be done to decrease that number, blaming bartenders is not the answer. Blaming a bartender for drunk drivers is equivalent to blaming McDonald’s for making you fat. It’s a personal responsibility; bartenders are not babysitters.

An article in the Pioneer Press states that three communities in Wisconsin follow this law — Madison, La Crosse and Jackson. That same article found that enforcement in these areas has been spotty. Violations of the law could result in fines of $90 to $300.

The Leader-Telegram article states that the Lake Hallie Golf Course has its own rules that do not allow bartenders to drink on the job. I’m sure most bars, like the golf course, have their set of rules in place that their employees must follow. Co-owner Dino Amundson said they have an official policy in place, but it’s also common sense for the bartenders.

I know that I made jokes earlier about how big of a drinking state Wisconsin is. While I’m proud to come from Wisconsin and love having few beers with my family and friends, our drinking culture is dangerous. We shouldn’t be proud that we are one of the biggest binge drinking states in America.

Perhaps I can come off as a bit hypocritical here because I am an
of-age, drinking college student, but I don’t plan on keeping up my habits when I get out of college and I probably shouldn’t have started in the
first place.

The solution to decrease binge drinking and drunk driving doesn’t lie in enforcing stricter laws, it requires a change in our culture.

I’m all for the noms, but this is straight up crazy.

Poutine flavored soda is now a thing thanks to Jones Soda Co. and it should really just remain a thing of the past. For those of you who don’t know, Poutine is a Canadian dish that is basically French fries and cheese curds slathered in gravy.

I mean that sounds delish, but not as a flavor for a soda. Get real, Jones, come on.

Apparently it is supposed to have “a nice balance of rich, savory gravy over a starchy potato base, and accented with those fatty, cheesy notes you expect in a plate of poutine.”

None of those descriptive words put together makes any sense and it all sounds disgusting. Seriously, “fatty” is not a word I want to describe anything I eat or drink unless I’m in one of those moods where everything bad for me is just the best thing in the world. But never ever will this poutine drink sound good. Thank goodness it is only available in some parts of Canada, including Quebec, Ontario and Vancouver.

I am almost shedding a single tear over how ridiculous this is, even for Canada.

Fallout freakout 

Now is seriously the best time to be pumped that you are fro, or go to school in Wisconsin.

A family in Neenah, Wis. found a fully stocked fallout shelter in their backyard 50 years after the Cold War. It held enough supplies so that a family could survive for two
weeks underground.

The contents of this fallout shelter included food, clothing, medical supplies, tools, flashlights and batteries. Everything was well preserved and many were stored in airtight containers.

This is so awesome. I would love to randomly find a hidden treasure in my backyard. The fallout shelter is as real of a time capsule as you can imagine. Think about all the history that was hidden away for so long.

Just think, you could create your very own museum in
your backyard.

The family donated all of the belongings to the Neenah Historical Society, which in all honestly is the best thing to do. Artifacts like this are meant to be shown to the public and preserved for many lifetimes to come.

That’s cheesy 

Cheese and onion chocolate bars are real and I am real tired of people making weird sounding foods that both repulse me and also make me want to rush to the store and pick it up.

Sold by an Irish potato chip brand called Tayto, the bar was created in response to a social media campaign led by fans. Huh. This sounds a lot like this whole Lay’s Potato Chip thing that is going around.

People are so into making food taste like other kinds of food that it confuses me. I don’t think I really need to eat cheese, onions and chocolate at once.

Thanks though.

They only made 100,000 and they are already sold out in Ireland, so getting your hands on this weird concoction is next to impossible.

The company’s CEO Eamon Eastwood describes the candy as unusual and having a crunchy chocolate texture with the lingering taste of cheese and onion.

Eh, I don’t know guys. Would you try them? I’m always down for something new, but talk about onion breath.

It’s spring! And that means it’s time to start thinking about your summer wardrobe.

Instead of just pulling out the regular old jean shorts and t-shirts, the trends for this spring and summer might mean you’re dressing a little fancier.

Along with getting the lowdown on the latest fashion trends, UW-Eau Claire students and The Spectator staff take on their favorite and least favorite fashion trends.

Junior Hayden Anderson falls in line with bright blue and yellow being hot colors for men this spring and summer. These two colors have been all over the runway for spring 2013.

“I’m attracted to the clashing colors. It’s kind of cool,” Anderson said about his favorite fashion trend of all time. He added he isn’t a fan of 1980’s fashion, the over-the-top statements and rebellion that the fashion from that decade stood for.

Women should stay on the lookout for fashion that harkens back to the 1920s and 1960s for fashion inspiration. With “The Great Gatsby” hitting theaters soon, drop-waist dresses are sure to be everywhere this summer.

Drop-waist dresses can work great as an easy swimsuit cover-up. The 1920’s trend works really well for hot summer parties, but avoid the fringe, which looks great for your Halloween costume, but not so chic when you’re out on the town.

If you want to look like a flapper, consider jewel colors like green or blue with subtle beading.

The ponytail in its many forms — twisted, side, high, low — has made a comeback (has it ever gone out of style?). Eau Claire senior Kiaya Albers said the ponytail is one of her all-time favorite fashion trends.

“(The ponytail) is a versatile trend … your hair’s out of your face, you can do anything,” Albers said.

Hair trends also are reminiscent of the 1920’s and 1960’s fashion trends occurring this year. A deep side part takes on the 1920’s style, while a messy bouffant  takes on the 1960’s style.

So get out and look for summer fashion that isn’t grungy shorts and t-shirts.

The Spectator Staff reviews their favorite and least favorite fashion trends:

Least favorite fashion trend: “I know (fur is) supposed to be timeless and fabulous, but it’s just not. And it’s
expensive.”

Favorite: “Sundresses — those never go out of style.”

— Rita Fay, staff writer

Least favorite: “The fact that (there are) denim jackets for men disgusts me. It is the worst possible thing to have ever happened to a retail store.”

— Bridget Cooke, staff writer

Least favorite: “Jeans with a ridiculous amount of sequins, especially on the back pockets.”

—Haley Zblewski, Chief Copy Editor

With classes on pause and hopefully summer jobs not taking up all your free time, here are Staff Writer Brittni Straseske’s suggestions for filling up time during an Eau Claire summer.

Festivals & Music

— Open Air Festival of the Arts at Phoenix Park: June 8 and 9. Features artwork for sale and on display, music, food and poetry. www.ecoafa.org.
­— Country Fest: June 27 through 30 in Cadott. Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean, Jake Owen, Toby Keith and more. Campsites available, www.countryfest.com.
— Northern Wisconsin State Fair: July 10 through 14. Chippewa Falls. Music, vendors, exhibits.
— Rock Fest: July 18 through 21 in Cadott. Seether, Korn, The Offspring, KISS, Motley Crue, Skillet. Campsites available, www.rock-fest.com.
— Country Jam USA: July 18 through 20 Eau Claire. Rascal Flatts, Kelly Clarkson, Craig Morgan, Gary Allen. Campsites available, Three day student special tickets available, www.countryjam.com.
— Tuesday night blues in Owen Park: Free event run by the Chippewa Valley Blues Society.

Spectator Sports

— Ski Sprites Water Show: Award winning ski team. Shows every Wednesday and Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Lake Altoona County Beach. Free admission, concessions. www.skisprites.com.
— Rock Falls Raceway: Elk Mound. Quarter mile drag racing track open most weekends April through October. Classes of races include sport compact races, bracket races and motorcycle drag races. www.rockfallsraceway.com.
— Eau Claire Express Baseball: Amateur baseball league that plays at Carson park. Tickets only $6-9. Season starts the beginning of June and runs through the middle of August. www.eauclaireexpress.com.

Seasonal Attractions

— Eau Claire Farmer’s Market: In Phoenix Park. Locally grown produce sold in an open air market. 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesdays, 12 to 5 p.m. Thursdays, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays. Schedule runs from beginning of June through end of October.
— Green Oasis Gardens: Chippewa Falls. Garden center. Offers classes.  www.greenoasisgardens.com
— River Bend Vineyard and Winery: Chippewa Falls. Tastings and Live in the Vineyard Concert Series Sunday. Check riverbendvineyard.com for lineup.
— Leinie Lodge Brewery Tours. Free tours starting every half hour from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday and Saturday. Every half hour starting 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Fridays and every half hour from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Outdoor Activities

— Beaver Creek Reserve: Fall Creek. Four hundred acre reserve. Home of Hobbs Observatory, butterfly house, obstacle course and nature center. Has $3 trail fee per person and additional charge for equipment rentals. Hours and events for Hobbs Observatory, nature center and butterfly house can be found at www.beavercreekreserve.org.
— Bike Trails: The Eau Claire area hosts miles of trails between the Chippewa River State Trail, Big Falls County Park, along the Eau Claire river and more.
— Beaches: Lake Wissota State Park in Chippewa Falls, Lake Altoona County Park in Altoona and Coon Fork Lake County Park all offer large beaches, picnic tables and grills.
— Outdoor Equipment Rental: The Environmental Adventure Center rents canoes, kayaks, fishing equipment
and camping gear exclusively to UW-Eau Claire students. Loopy’s in Chippewa Falls rents canoes, kayaks and inner tubes and offers a free shuttle service that takes riders to and from the river.

The carnival-like gathering featuring grill food and pizza, games, silent auctions and loud music gave something of its own, but perhaps a more welcome gift than six inches of snow.

All of the money made at the event was sent to the Bolton Refuge House, a safe space for individuals in Eau Claire who have been victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.

While the weather pushed the event from the Putnam Hall lawn into Zorn Arena and dropped some attendance numbers, Putnam Hall resident and Lovestock coordinator Kendall Henderis said the event was still a success.

“We’re still really excited about the amount we’re going to be able to donate to them,” Henderis said. “Obviously every amount is going to  be helpful to them so we’re excited we were able to put this on at all.”

One of the big attractions to the event is the live music. The basketball court in Zorn Arena was transformed into a stage for local musicians. Seven different bands displayed their talents at the event. All seven bands got in on the charity action as well as they took financial cuts and played for free at the event.

“(The music is) totally for people to enjoy,” Lovestock co-coordinator  Zach Doherty said. “We don’t pay the bands, so props to all of them.”

Junior Stephen Kahlow took advantage of the indoor location, as he cited having class right across the street in Hibbard Hall helped him take those few steps to Zorn Arena. This was the first time Kahlow attended Lovestock, and one particular event made his afternoon worthwhile.

“I was mostly just watching the RAs getting pied in the face,” Kahlow said. “I’m good friends with a few of the RAs, so that was nice.”

While it was literally all fun and games as the event had carnival-themed games set up inside Zorn Arena Friday afternoon, Henderis said a lot of work was put into coordinating the event.  She said it took about eight months to prepare, and while they were unpaid, they all got 15 hours worth of service learning time.

She said one of the big things they do in preparation is contact local businesses to help them fund the event.

“We’ll send out letters requesting a donation, either monetary or raffle prizes,” Henderis said. “We were really excited to get as many donations as we did.”

Raffle prizes included free passes to this summer’s Country Jam as well as free memberships to Anytime Fitness.

The proceeds of the event were donated to the Bolton Refuge House earlier this week, and despite the sudden change in location, Henderis and Kahlow agreed the event was a success in both money raised and fun.

Mother Nature altered the plans of a lot of things late last week, but not enough to alter the success and perception of Lovestock.

This worries some, including Graham Hill, founder of the environmental blog TreeHugger, who now is working to show people that we can live smaller and buy less.

Hill spoke on campus Wednesday, April 24 in the Dakota Ballroom and showed how living a simpler life is possible. But he’s fighting a national trend that will prove hard to change; a trend that is having a harmful impact on the natural environment.

In Eau Claire, according to a 2011 Census estimate, 38.2 percent of households have two cars available, and 21.7 percent have three or more. Compared to U.S. 2011 estimates, about 37.5 percent of households have two cars available and 19.1 percent have three or more.

Professor of geography and Chair of the department Douglas Faulkner recalled when he moved into a new home in the 1960s that was not even 1,800 square feet, and had a single car garage, which he said was standard.

“It seemed very large (back then), but by today’s standards would be kind of on the small side,” Faulkner said. “And I just see now, that house when I see it, it’s a small house.”

The main environmental impact from this evolving way of living is the increased amount of carbon dioxide being put into the atmosphere, Faulkner said.

Burning fossil fuels to create the energy needed during extraction and production of the materials needed for the increased consumption of products, he said, is what is putting more carbon dioxide in the air.

Larger homes also mean more energy is used to heat the entire house.

“Modern houses are a lot more efficient,” Faulkner said. “They have a lot more insulation, but they’re also bigger.”

Making larger homes also means more materials are being used to construct them.

Faulkner said the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are at a historic high of 395 parts per million (ppm), when in the past they were only about 300 ppm.

Some consequences of the added carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can already be seen.

“The biggest thing is the loss of arctic sea ice,” Faulkner said. “The decline in arctic sea ice has been profound and undeniable.”

Extreme weather events are also an effect from the changing climate, as well as more erratic swings of weather behavior.

“These erratic swings of our weather … (are) totally consistent with the kind of changes we’d expect when the Earth gets warmer,” Faulkner said.

Hill said at the presentation that people, although they have more things, are no happier than before with a smaller sized way of living. He showed happiness data in his slideshow and also spoke from experience.

“I’ve had a large house (before) and a car and all those complexities,” he said. “I’ve downsized and I’m really happy about it.”
Hill said about 50 percent of our carbon emissions are building related. His objective is to build a new “model” of the way we live to make the old one obsolete.

Hill showed photographs of his apartment of roughly 400 square feet in size, significantly smaller than the average apartment size in New York City.

His living room also acted as his bedroom, dining room and an office. He had a fold-out bed, a table that could expand to fit 10 people and plug-in burners rather than a full range in the kitchen.

Sophomore Libby Faffler said that although she’s skeptical about human-caused global climate change, she does believe in respecting the environment. She recycles, does not litter and prefers to ride her bike.

She said she would probably not be willing to make a lot of the changes Hill was advocating for. For example, she said she would never not own a car.

“I wouldn’t cut basic comfort to be more sustainable, personally,” she said, although she said that everyone should do things like recycle.

Faulkner said Hill’s suggestions would be a good starting point, but more would have to be done to reverse the effects of climate change.

“I don’t know if this is through government or just the work of groups at broader scales, but to bring about a change that people become part of a social movement,” he said. “It has to start at an individual level … but I don’t think it will lead to the changes that need to happen.”