Penguinda the penguin told her tragic story yesterday of leaving her mate in Antarctica after their igloo had melted because of global warming. After a long journey, she ended up safely on the Blue Loop.

The official mascot of Eco-Action's Kyoto Now! campaign rode the Blue Loop to raise awareness and gain support of the group's efforts to reduce Penn State's greenhouse gas emissions.

On the bus, Anne Kirkner (sophomore-sociology), who was dressed in the penguin suit, and Eco-Action President Maura Cowley (senior-political science) distributed letters describing their message and asked for student signatures to show support.

The group is asking Penn State to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to become compliant with the Kyoto Protocol, which would require a 30 percent reduction, Cowley said.

The Kyoto Protocol, a treaty negotiated in December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan, commits countries that signed the document to cut their emissions of greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, which contribute to environmental problems like global warming.

To do this, Eco-Action wants the university to increase wind power purchase from 4 percent to 10 percent and renovate older buildings like the Sackett Building to increase energy conservation.

Eco-Action has gained the support of more than 3,000 students with the letter-signing campaign over the past year and a half, in addition to the support of eight registered student organizations.

Cowley said 37 Penn State professors issued a statement saying that global warming is real, and it is possible for the university to take action by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

However, she said the group has been unsuccessful with trying to meet with Penn State President Graham Spanier and the administration for the last year and a half.

"It's a slap in the face to students. If enough students believe something should happen, it should happen," Cowley said. "Students are usually really shocked at how Penn State is dealing with the issue ... Penn State calls itself a leader in environmental stewardship, but really it's all hot air -- they need to buy more wind."

Tysen Kendig, university spokesman, said Penn State is routinely considered to be one of the most environmentally sound universities and has recently been recognized for making the United States Environmental Protection Agency's top 10 Green Power Partners list.

Cowley pointed out, however, that Penn State is the smallest user of green power on the list at just 4 percent, especially when compared to universities like Western Washington, which uses 100 percent of its energy from green power.

"It's just because we're so big and use so much energy. It doesn't mean they're buying a lot as a whole," she said.

This is not the first time Penguinda has made an appearance on the bus. Kirkner said they have been riding the Loops on various Friday nights for the past few months.

Matt Forsyth (freshman-mechanical engineering), who heard Penguinda's presentation on the Blue Loop yesterday, said it shows that a large number of students are trying to make the campus "greener and cleaner."

Joseph Doran (freshman-health policy and administration) said he could see how greenhouse gases are a problem because those pollutants harm the atmosphere.

"I didn't understand the penguin suit at first, until they explained the global warming thing, but I definitely think it was an effective method."

However, Caitlin Zankowski (freshman-chemical engineering) said the signatures gained through the Eco-Action's efforts show false support because most people don't read the letters.