By Mia Lupo –
Protect Our Wildlife (POW) is a club that focuses on protecting the environment, specifically protecting animal rights and conservation. Co-presidents Stephanie Beels and Jessica Lane, both sophomores, run the club to help wildlife and to raise awareness in the SRU community. Club members will learn ways to help wildlife everyday – even outside of the classroom.
Media Credit: Mia Lupo - Co-Presidents of POW, Stephanie Beels (left) and Jessica Lane (right)
The main goal of POW this year is to get the Salve community to participate in service of Newport’s local animals by attending POW fundraisers and events. “We hope to work with other universities and large organizations,” says Beels. This will both spread awareness for the club and their cause, as well as offset costs. This fall semester, the club plans to hold a fundraiser to buy dog toys for the Potter League, the local animal shelter in Middletown, as well as bring speakers to campus and show films concerned with the injustices wild animals face.
Last semester, POW and the Environmental Club showed The Cove in Bazarsky Hall. The documentary is about a group of activists unveiling the tragedy of provincial fishermen in Taiji, Japan slaughtering dolphins for their meat. Many found the way in which these poor creatures were killed appalling, and Beels was one of them. “Animals who are believed to be more intelligent than human beings are being murdered halfway across the world,” she said.
After watching the film, the student viewer became aware of the situation and felt compelled to contribute, but Beels notes that contributing to this group has its set-backs: “it’s hard paying thousands of dollars to travel [to Japan].” There is a feeling of helplessness knowing there is an injustice so far removed from the student’s reach.
While helping dolphins in Japan may be a bit out of reach for many on campus, POW puts Salve students in the position to make a difference in the lives of animals here in the Newport area. The club currently works with the First Responders program based at Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, CT. First Responders is a training program that teaches students how to help animals who may be sick or injured on site.
For instance, if a trained student First Responder walks along Rejects Beach and notices there’s a seal lying on its side in an unnatural looking position, the student First Responder is able to identify whether the seal is just resting or sick. If the latter, the student reports the seal to Mystic Aquarium and waits with the seal until more help arrives. Lane describes the product of the student First Responder experience as very rewarding. It comes with the “instant gratification of making a difference.”
Students can complete many of the requirements via online courses, despite the fact the program is based over an hour away from Newport. Becoming a First Responder is a great volunteer opportunity that is more accessible than one would guess.
POW ultimately plans to raise awareness among the student body of the local, national, and international impact of animal rights. It is their greatest hope to reach larger audiences beyond the scope of Salve Regina and Newport—the state of Rhode Island, the United States, and possibly farther.
POW holds their meetings Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. in Wakehurst. Come be a part of field trips and discuss ways to help local animals, as well as actively participate in the First Responders program. There will be a surprise speaker on November 15 and a club movie showing on December 16.
For additional information, check out their Facebook page
