Bruins gathered on Kerckhoff patio April 22 to show support for preserving the planet.

ASUCLA hosted “Planet & People: A Sustainability Celebration” to commemorate Earth Day. Participants traded books at a book swap, voted on their favorite student-taken nature photos and shared personal sustainability goals at the event.

The ASUCLA Volunteer Community, a support and fundraising group, helped plan and run the celebration.

Jesus Angel Rodriguez, a third-year political science and public affairs student and member of the ASUCLA Volunteer Community, said the book swap allowed event-goers to pick up a new read and leave one behind for someone else to enjoy.

“A lot of students here, we want to give back,” Rodriguez said. “I feel like that’s the whole point of higher education.”

The event also featured a table where Bruins wrote their pledges to work toward a more sustainable future.

Elease Lui Stemp, who works for UCLA’s Sustainable LA Grand Challenge, said she plans to visit second-hand stores before turning to fast fashion. She added that working toward more environmentally friendly lifestyles starts with small steps.

“Once you get used to those little steps, then you can make bigger changes,” she said. “Sooner than later, you’ll just end up making a very measurable change in how you live and become more sustainable.”

The celebration ended with a round of Earth Day trivia, where participants tested their knowledge of current and historical climate issues.

Alice Chen, who also works for UCLA’s Sustainable LA Grand Challenge, said students interested in learning more about the environment can enroll in one of the climate-related courses offered on campus.

Chen added that she views sustainability as a political topic, as it is influenced by systems put in place by governmental agencies.

The Trump administration has rolled back several policies dedicated to fighting climate change since taking office, including removing the United States from the Paris Climate Accords and expanding regulations regarding mining and coal use. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin announced in March that the agency will reevaluate a 2009 report that identified greenhouse gas emissions as harmful to environmental and public health.

Rodriguez said the event provided students with a way to reconnect with nature and find community at a time when climate protections are under attack.

“There’s a lot of scary headlines and news that circles around, but I think it’s mostly important that we do care for Earth right now,” Rodriguez said.