About 4,000 yellow and red flags with slogans "Clean Energy" and "Kyoto Now" lined the grass of Paterno Library's mall yesterday with a man-made windmill as the centerpiece.

The demonstration was part of Penn State Eco-Action's Kyoto Now! campaign and was held to show student support for concerns about global warming, Maura Cowley, Eco-Action president, said.

Students signed more than 200 petitions during the demonstration in support of Penn State's taking into account Eco-Action's environmental ideas and guidelines.

The Kyoto Now! campaign, launched in 2004, has continued to raise awareness and force Penn State to deal with the environmental issues that are on the forefront of our society, such as greenhouse gas reduction and the use of wind power, Cowley said.

"The student body has mandated a commitment to 28 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by the university," she said. "We expect that the student body mandate will be observed at all levels of the university planning and all goals by the university should reflect this Kyoto Now! campaign."

She said it is a disservice to students if Penn State does not take immediate action by increasing wind power purchase from 4 to 10 percent by April 24.

As of Wednesday, Eco-Action collected more than 4,000 letters addressed to Penn State President Graham Spanier.

Johanna Mirenda, Eco-Action member, said this number shows that students are demanding that Penn State become more energy efficient and abide by the Kyoto Protocol.

However, there have been small steps made by the administration in the right direction, Katie Stoner, Eco-Action vice president, said.

Last week, the administration committed to developing a student internship for the fall semester to raise environmental awareness geared toward on-campus housing residents.

The administration and Eco-Action are still working out specific details for the conservation-paid internship for the fall. It will be used to educate students in dorm rooms about responsible energy use, as well as monitor the usage, which will further the goal of the Kyoto Now! campaign.

The next step in the Kyoto Now! campaign is to continue to talk to the administration to increase wind power purchase, increase student involvement and hold possible rallies in the future, Cowley said.

"We want to see Penn State be a leader and take a stand for its students," Stoner added.