“It was a simple but effective protest," environmental biology sophomore and new member Ella Graves said. "And also I feel that climate is such a broad topic that sometimes people think that they can't do anything about it because it's so big and sometimes people try to focus on specific issues within it... but I think the snowman protest kind of shows people that you as an individual can have an impact.” 

One of the CCL members' biggest concerns is the lack of conversations about climate change. The members hoped to help combat that with this protest and spark urgency into MSU's student body.

 “I think a lot of time people think that climate is a distant issue and it's something that's far away and not going to affect us," advertising management junior and vice president Madison Nero said. "I think it's important to think about the generation that is coming after us, how their earth is going to be affected if we don't make change now."

The messages of the snowmen's signs were "Born & rolled here. Don't wanna move. Need climate action." This visual element made sure MSU students passing by the front of Wells Hall were able to notice the snowmen and their message.  

“It's visual, you can't ignore it and it's evidence that it's not a future problem,” Nero said. “(The snowman protest) shows people that you as an individual can have an impact." 

The CCL is a non-profit, non-partisan climate change organization.

“They’re really unique in the way they approach the climate movement because I think many organizations say they’re non-partisan, but still definitely struggle to really remove themselves from the toxicity of our political climate,” public policy senior and president and founder of the MSU CCL chapter Serena Westcott said.

Westcott explained the importance of lobbying both republican and democrat senators and treating them fairly. CCL's non-partisan element is a core part of what makes it appealing for new members to join the movement.

“I joined (CCL) because CCL offered a realistic and easy way for me, someone who’s not politically focused in my studies or haven’t been politically involved a lot, and it offered an easy way for me to start into that avenue with something I’m interested in, like climate change,” Graves said.  

Lobbying is a core part of CCL, when volunteers from the community take time to talk with congressmen and senators to urge them to care about environmental issues, according to Westcott. MSU CCL has weekly activities on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at Wells Hall and has interactive activities so members can make a difference. Activities can look like arts and crafts that are sent to lawmakers about climate change policy. 

MSU CCL aims to get their name out there, create more conversations and make actions happen. Members expressed the need for more awareness and communication about what to do about the state of the environment.