Miami’s sustainability week cultivates community and conversation

Sustainability week returns to campus Oct. 18-24, bringing the community together around eco-friendly crafts, trail clean ups and environment-centered activities.

Lynn Setter, secretary of sustainability for the Associated Student Government (ASG), said these activities are put on by green organizations and are open for all students to attend.

The first event is a trail clean up hosted by ASG on Sunday, Oct. 18. The event will run from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and volunteers will meet in Armstrong Student Center (ASC) 2012.

“Sustainability is so important for the future,” Setter said. “Everybody making those small choices is going to help all of us live healthier lives, cleaner lives and live longer. I think every student just attending one event can learn about how committing to sustainability isn’t hard and how it can be fun.”

The second event is an environmental themed craft and movie night hosted by Miami Environmental Professionals Association (MEPA). The event will take place from 6-8 p.m., Oct. 19 in Shideler 009.

The Green Team, a student organization dedicated to improving environmental sustainability, will host a battery taping event on Tuesday, Oct. 20, from 4-6 p.m. in the ASC third-floor lounge. Students will sort through alkaline and lithium batteries and tape the ends of the batteries so they can be recycled. This event can also count for service hours.

Will Sayner, president of the Green Team, said he hopes this event will teach people how much work goes into recycling batteries.

“It’s more than just putting it in the recycling bin and sending it off, it’s also just getting people involved in some aspect of sustainability,” Sayner said.

Wednesday events will start at noon, with a sustainability week celebration on Joslin Terrace hosted by Student Sustainability Council and the Green Team. There will be a number of crafts and treats for students to enjoy until 2 p.m.

Sayner said the Green Team plans to host a house planting event for the celebration where students can reuse metal cans and pot a succulent from the greenhouse.

“The fact that we’re reusing cans is what I’d like people to take away from it,” Sayner said. “You can use anything to grow your own little plant. It doesn’t have to be something crazy. It could just be like a little can and add some dirt to plant it, versus having to go out and purchase a new plant from Walmart.”

There will also be a 2040 dinner from 5-6:30 p.m. in ASC 1066. This event offers free Chipotle and an opportunity to learn about the 2040 climate action plan, which sets the goal for carbon neutrality on Miami University’s campus by 2040. This dinner will focus on updates and future plans to reach this goal.

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Alex Miller, sustainability engagement coordinator, is hosting and presenting at the event and said she hopes students will RSVP on Miami Central for events with food, like the 2040 dinner, to reduce the amount of overall food waste.

“Food waste is another thing that our office is trying to tackle for the university,” Miller said. “Finding ways to do a better job estimating catering for events is a great way that we can try to reduce food waste. Since it is in Armstrong, everything that's left over will be able to compost, which is great.”

Thursday’s event features a sustainability trivia night hosted by ASG in the Joslin Senate Chamber. It will take place from 6-8 p.m. and offers gift card prizes and pizza for attendees. Students can compete as individuals or with a team.

On Friday, Oct. 23, students can participate in a spooky geothermal and tunnel tour on western campus from noon-1:30 p.m. Students will meet at the geothermal plant and explore the dark tunnels under campus.

Sustainability week concludes on Saturday, Oct. 24, with a trip to Butterfield Farms from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. The trip hosted by MEPA includes a hayride and pumpkin painting.

Setter said she wants to see an increased amount of engagement from students this year to show the university that a large number of students care about sustainability and they should continue to invest in green organizations and solutions around campus.

“It’s important to come to these events because just going to one sustainability event can really open your eyes to how many resources we have,” Setter said. “Sustainability looks different for everybody, but everybody can do one thing. Everybody can pick up one piece of trash on your way to class or if you’re at Bell and you see a bag on the ground and you’re about to pass by a trash can anyway.”

More information about the events can be found on the Students Sustainability Council Instagram or on Miami Central.

mchenrvg@miamioh.edu