The DIag

I’m sure that you’re all probably familiar with Earth Day, but you might not know much about the connection between Earth Day environmental activism at Michigan. The Diag serves an important historical purpose in this story. Here, the first Earth Day “prototype”—an environmental teach-in— was hosted in 1970 by ENACT, the Environmental Action for Survival student organization.This teach-in was a product of the 60’s passion for activism.

Leading up to the teach-in, symposiums and seminars were held on Michigan’s campus surrounding topics such as environmental law, marine transport pollution, and Canadian environmental problems. An open forum on “intellectual” pollution aptly called an Environmental Scream-Out that was also sponsored by ENACT and the School of Public Health, which gave students and faculty a place to voice not only environmental concerns, but also issues of racism, poverty, and the Vietnam War. This addressed widespread anxieties and worked to create multicultural and community alliances that would speak to a range of issues simultaneously.

After gaining momentum from previous events, the first day of the Environmental teach-in kicked off with a “Car Trial” held right here on the Diag. Various members of the public went on the stand, advocating either for or against the car. Some claimed the car and associated auto industry boosted the economy, while others slammed the gas-guzzler, stating that it must be held responsible for its polluting nature. In the end, the judge found the car guilty, condemning it to the fate of being beaten to death.

Upon delivering this verdict, students and Ann Arbor residents alike stepped up for a chance to bash in the physical car. People chose their own weapons; some used baseball bats, others sledgehammers, and a few were content with kicking and punching. At the end of the execution, the car was left unrecognizable as the hundreds of viewers cheered on those willing to lend a hand in destroying the vehicle.

Though beating up a car could seem aimless, this demonstration served to educate the public on environmental issues surrounding the auto industry. During this time period, there was a national push for automobile reform and paying closer attention to their mileage. Reflecting this, ENACT ran ads pushing people to use the more environmentally friendly public transit system as opposed to their own personal vehicles. This combined national effort eventually led to prolonged changes throughout the 1970s, when car fuel efficiency standards were implemented and the EPA was signed into law by then President Richard Nixon.

The main environmental teach-in events were held at Crisler Arena, drawing a crowd of over 50,000 attendees who came to hear from scientists, the sitting Governor of Michigan, and television personalities. The University of Michigan's environmental teach-in received significant attention as it was the first environmental teach-in in the nation. However, this distinction was primarily because the national environmental teach-ins happened to coincide with U-M's exam period. Just a month after U-M's teach-in, on April 22nd, over 1,000 colleges and 400 high schools held their own environmental teach-in events–now known as the first annual Earth Day.

Blum, Joshua, Meghan Clark, Amanda Hampton, Matthew Lassiter, Maya Littlefield, Julia Montag, Cinda Nofziger, Trent Reynolds, Hannah Thoms, Kiegan White. Give Earth a Chance: Environmental Activism in Michigan (online exhibit). Accessed October 20, 2022.

Marowski, Steve. “University of Michigan plans teach-in, climate summit ahead of 50th Earth Day anniversary.” MLive. February 13, 2020. https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2020/02/university-of-michigan-plans-teach-in-climate-summit-ahead-of-50th-earth-day-anniversary.html

Tobin, James. “Earth Day Eve.” Heritage Project, University of Michigan. https://heritage.umich.edu/stories/earth-day-eve/