Take some coffee ice cream, throw in a few fudge chips, add marshmallow swirl, and what do you get?

One Sweet Whirled — the new ice cream flavor created by Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc. in conjunction with a campaign to encourage the reduction of individual contributions to global warming.

Along with the ice cream gurus, the Dave Matthews Band and SaveOurEnvironment.org are promoting One Sweet Whirled. A brochure to promote the campaign encourages a major cutback for Americans — 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per person over the next year.

Cars and power plants are the largest contributors to global warming, but there is hardly anyone on earth who doesn’t add to the problem, according to the brochure. The One Sweet Whirled campaign aims to raise awareness and inform people of simple steps they can take to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The Ithaca College Environmental Society is taking part in the campaign, urging students to pledge to reduce personal carbon dioxide output by 2,000 pounds in the next year. This goal can be accomplished by turning off a computer when it’s not in use and keeping a car in good running condition.

The national campaign also asks individuals to write letters to their U.S. Congress representatives. Aside from helping the planet, students also get $1 off a pint of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and a chance to win prizes such as T-shirts, CDs and ice cream by signing the pledge sheet.

ICES member Melissa Abramson, a senior, said the proceeds go to research and education in global warming, which is good enough for her to support the cause.

“I’m all for corporations using their power and money to promote environmental progress,” she said. “Whatever they gain publicity-wise or not, I don’t think anyone really loses.”

The first 50 colleges that signed up to participate in the campaign were visited by the One Sweet Whirled tour. Students received free ice cream and prizes and Dave Matthews played at some of the schools.

Sophomore Jessica Murray, vice president of ICES, said popular cultural icons promoting environmental awareness on campuses seems like a way to capitalize on serious problems.

“But if it gets attention and gets [people] to think about their own actions, I think it’s good,” Murray said.

Mark Darling, recycling and resource management program coordinator, said the campaign is a good first step in making people aware of environmental issues in general.

“It’s important that icons wake up people to get informed about what the masses are doing to the environment — anything that gets into a person’s bubble to make them aware of the global community,” said Darling, who is also the adviser for ICES.

Darling said he doesn’t like the idea of the sponsors profiting from the campaign, but realizes the important influence they have.

“Sure they’re involved in corporate America,” he said. “But who isn’t?”

Senior Rhiannon Brinton said she thinks it’s unfortunate that it takes large corporations and influence to further environmental causes, but supports the campaign in spite of the profits the sponsors stand to make.

“People should always participate in helping the environment,” Brinton said. “They shouldn’t have to take a pledge, they should do it anyway.”

Senior Class Treasurer Russell Wagner said he’s glad Ben & Jerry’s is promoting the campaign on campus because it is this generation’s turn to make a difference.

“It’s time for us to step up now,” he said.

Pledge sheets and additional information about the One Sweet Whirled campaign will be available at the ICES table in the Campus Center today, Wednesday and alternating Thursdays and Wednesdays in the future.

Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, the founders of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc., will speak at the Class of 2003 Commencement ceremony on May 18.