A table of information, a petition and a clothes line strung with underwear paid tribute to Earth Day Tuesday south of Parks Library.

The Student Environmental Council helped promote Earth Day by providing information about recycling, a T-shirt sign-up and a petition opposing the construction of a second Ames mall.

“[Ames] is trying to build a new mall on the wetlands,” said David Grimesey, senior in political science and council member. “There may be lost business and money because [of the new mall]. It would compete with other businesses that are already established.”

ISU students and inhabitants of the wetlands would also be affected by the possibility of a new mall, Grimesey said.

“[Iowa State] wouldn’t be able to teach classes there anymore,” he said. “It would hurt the animals there as well as students’ education.”

Noel Reyes, sophomore in computer engineering, agreed with Grimesey.

“[I signed the petition because] it seems like a good cause,” he said. “It would hinder the growth and the progress that we have going on.”

Others are in support of a new mall over saving the wetlands.

“[The mall] we have now doesn’t have enough variety as far as stores, and the new mall would offer it,” said LaRon Hughes, graduate student in zoology and genetics.

“I would like to see more men’s apparel and restaurants [in the new mall].”

The Student Environmental Council also promoted recycling by hanging socks, bras, boxer shorts and tights from a clothes line strung between a tree and a pole.

“What we’re saying [with the undergarments] is that you wouldn’t wear your clothes once and throw them away, so do the same with paper — recycle,” Grimesey said.

Recycling is essential to maintaining the environment, which should be important to all people, he said.

“The environment is important because without it we couldn’t live,” Grimesey said. “We need clean air and clean water, otherwise we’d die.”