Students at the University will celebrate Earth Week this week with free coffee, caring for native plants, organic-beer drinking, ice cream eating, and a John Travolta movie.

The week began yesterday morning on the quads with Earthball, music by Loose Roots, and a bike repair clinic sponsored by Blackstone Bike Works. In the evening, students gathered in Hutchinson Courtyard to eat free ice cream while writing letters to politicians and pledging to become vegetarian or vegan for one week. Their pledges aimed to protect the Earth from the damage they believe is caused by animal agriculture.

Today, students will help care for the native plant garden that was begun last year on the University Avenue side of Pick Hall. They will also learn about the importance of preserving native plants and the effects of invasive species.

Other events planned for Earth Week include “Save the Ales” Friday night at the Pub; a vegetarian dinner and cooking lesson by Soul Vegetarian Restaurant Saturday at 7 p.m. in the Ida Noyes Library; a free Doc screening at 9:30 p.m. Sunday of A Civil Action, a film about industrial pollution starring John Travolta and Robert Duvall; and a hiking trip to the Indiana Dunes.

In addition, the Astronomy Club will be hosting stargazing all week from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. on the roof of Ryerson, and the Divinity School, Uncle Joe’s (Reynolds Club Second Floor), and Cobb coffee shops will be giving out free coffee all week to anyway who brings their own mug instead of using a disposable cup.