In order to raise awareness about health-related issues caused by the coal-fired power plant on MU’s campus, Coal Free Mizzou set up an 18-foot inflatable inhaler on Carnahan Quadrangle on Tuesday to spread asthma awareness.
“The inflatable inhaler is something that is a quick attention getter,” Coal Free Mizzou President Sarah Johnson said. “We thought it would be a really effective tool right now.”
The Coal Free Mizzou members gathered students to stand in front of the inflatable inhaler and get their pictures taken holding signs that read “I’m sick of Mizzou’s coal plant making us sick” and “Chancellor Deaton: Move Mizzou Beyond Coal.”
“Lately, we’ve had people come up to us and say ‘I’ve developed adult asthma since moving here,’” Johnson said. “Not only is that really rare, it is really unacceptable.”
According to a Coal Free Mizzou news release, residents of Mark Twain and McDavid, the two residence halls closest to the power plants, are the most effected by the poor air quality caused by the power plants.
“Students have said that even when they walk around the north side of campus, they have a harder time breathing,” Johnson said.
Carla Klein, an employee of Renew Missouri, spoke at the event, explaining that her daughter has suffered from asthma her whole life, nearly dying when she was 15.
“The impacts on your life, along with the financial expenses, caused by asthma are astronomical,” Klein said. “Coal plants need to be phased out everywhere, but the university should be setting a prime example for what is important and phase out this coal plant and transition to much better energy sources.”
Coal Free Mizzou is gathering signatures for a petition demanding that Chancellor Deaton will issue a public statement saying that the campus will commit to the complete phase-out of coal by 2020. By ending coal burning, they hope to improve the air quality on campus, along with the well-being and health of students.
“My asthma has never been as severe as it is when I am on Mizzou’s campus,” senior Allyson Wilson said. “We are paying for an education, not paying to develop asthma.”
