NPR: Slideshow: A Cool Dip for a Warming Planet

Slideshow: A Cool Dip for a Warming Planet

St. Mary's College students filled their campus waterfront with splashes and shrill laughter on Thursday afternoon -- not just for fun, but to show concern about global warming. As part of their second annual "polar bear splash," over a hundred stripped down to their swimsuit and plunged into the freezing cold St. Mary's river.

Click the image to view the slideshow.

"In our frenzy we lost our thermometer, but we're pretty sure it's 38 degrees," said a shivering Shane Hall, junior at St. Mary's, about the river's water temperature. He spoke with the Bryant Park Project by cell phone shortly after the event, standing knee deep in the river.

The swimmers chased a canoe manned by a student dressed in a polar bear costume and brought it back to shore. They hope the stunt reminds people about the effects of global warming, including the threat to polar bear habitat as a result of thinning arctic ice.

"If they swim, we swim," said Hall, who is a member of SEAC, the Student Environmental Action Coalition on campus.

The polar bear splash was one of many climate change educational events that took place on an estimated 1500 college campuses nationwide this past week. Campuses from New Mexico to Philadephia had teach-ins about renewable energy and environmental protection, under the leadership of Focus the Nation.

Shane Hall of St. Mary's says climate change is "our generation's greatest challenge."

Pauline Bartolone

1:31 PM ET | 02- 1-2008 | permalink

Comments (Send a comment)

Well done St.Mary's!!!

Sent by Erin McDermott | 8:41 PM ET | 02-01-2008

What a great polar bear costume!!

Sent by Jane | 5:10 PM ET | 02-02-2008

Nicely put, great photos, good cause. Once again confirming St. Mary's status as a great place for college for people who like the outdoors.

Also, saw my son in one of the photos!

Sent by Jeff | 12:59 PM ET | 02-03-2008

Didn't "get this" when my daughter called about jumping in the river...but the pictures say it all and show great dedication by these brave (& crazy!) students to demonstrate that something must be done or all will be lost. Go Liz. Go Seahawks!

Sent by Myra | 11:46 PM ET | 02-04-2008

great courageous efforts to pass along the message of global warming. My daughter is in the slide too. I love her, and I am glad she chose ST. Mary's.

Sent by Kul Virdee | 6:03 PM ET | 02-07-2008

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