VCU news

By Patrick Kane

This past weekend offered a wave of events for Green Unity for VCU, a campus group devoted to service and education promoting sustainability. Members took part in Friday’s annual Campus Sustainability Day, and then hosted a Harvest Bazaar on Saturday during Family Weekend.

Megan Petzold, a member of Green Unity’s leadership team who is studying liberal studies for early and elementary education, said club members spent a recent meeting creating bookmarks with sustainability-related slogans such as “Veggie Chicken Rocks” and “Don’t Litter.” Members then shared the artwork on social media leading up to Friday’s event.

The group had a table at the event, which was held at the University Student Commons plaza, and shared their bookmarks and tips about sustainable food and living.

“We tabled with a vegan club that’s new this year, promoting a Meatless Monday to get that in Shafer [Court Dining Center],” Petzold said.

This year’s Campus Sustainability Day, which is hosted by VCU’s Office of Sustainability, focused on sustainable food.

“Whenever there’s free food, students flock. It was prime time, too,” Petzold said.

A lot of students here don’t think about being sustainable, and the footprint that they’re leaving every day, so it brought awareness back to that.

Other participants in Campus Sustainability Day included the Byrd House Market, VCU Learning Gardens Program, Wellness Resource Center, VCU RamPantry and VCU Police, which offered bike registrations.

“A lot of students here don’t think about being sustainable, and the footprint that they’re leaving every day, so it brought awareness back to that. They could see how they could make a difference in their everyday lives,” said Madison Soltys, a fellow member of Green Unity’s leadership team who is studying forensic science.

Not resting on any laurels, the next day Green Unity members returned to the Commons Plaza for an expanded Harvest Bazaar as a follow-up to their successful spring bazaar.

“The Family Weekend fall one is new this year. They liked our last Earth Day [bazaar], so the Commons asked us to do one during the fall,” Petzold said.

Nearly 40 groups and eco-conscious vendors participated, including jewelry-makers and local artisans – even one who fabricates jewelry from old skateboards.

“We focus on getting local vendors and students to sell their work,” Petzold said.

Aside from the bazaars, the club also focuses on community cleanups, promoting recycling and other events and activities. They have a camping trip to the Rice Center planned for next month.

In addition, a music fundraiser is in the works to support the soon-to-be-constructed Monroe Park Campus Learning Garden. The garden will be dedicated to growing as much food as possible to support the RamPantry and the Center for High Blood Pressure.

“I think that’s amazing. I hope it helps a lot,” said Soltys.

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