VCU students to kick off Year of the Environment celebration

By Mike Porter

Falling leaves and gray skies are a sure sign that winter is coming, but the Virginia Commonwealth University Student Commons Plaza will feel like spring, summer, fall, and winter on Nov. 18 as students kick off their “Year of the Environment” celebration. 

The day’s activities will go from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. and are sponsored by Green Unity for VCU, a student organization devoted to promoting environmental awareness and education, the VCU Student Government Association, and the VCU Center for Environmental Studies.

“This is going to be an exciting event,” said Elle Chang, executive officer, Green Unity for VCU.  “We’ve put together some engaging activities that will be fun and a great way for students to think about the environment.”

The Commons Plaza will be divided into quadrants, one for each season, and students, VCU units and community organizations will team up to promote a sustainability theme in each quadrant.

“We wanted to come up with a way to make this special,” said Amanda Schutt, executive officer, Green Unity for VCU. “The quadrants will help us raise awareness about environmental issues with a local focus, so that students see the changes in front of them.”

Fall’s theme emphasizes locally grown foods and sustainable eating and includes participation by VCU Dining Services, Aramark, “Farm to Family Farmers Market on a Bus,” and the Center for Rural Culture-Goochland Farmers Market.

Winter’s focus is on energy and recycling. Students will learn about VCU’s recycling and energy management efforts and about upcoming America Recycles Day and Recyclemania events. Green Unity for VCU and the VCU Linux User Group will host an E-cycling event, to collect computers, I-Pods and other electronic items for recycling or repurposing. Energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs will be passed out.

Spring covers gardening and Earth Day. Backyard Farmers will host a composting workshop on the Harris Hall lawn and the Student Gardening Club will host a workshop on making seed bombs, a technique for introducing vegetation to soil. Displays will be set up by Tricycle Gardens, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Alternate Spring Break.

Summer focuses on recreation and transportation and includes displays from VCU’s Outdoor Adventure Program and VCU’s Cycling Club and a rock climbing wall.

Organizers also have created a number of unusual environmentally themed games like a “guess the number of cigarette butts in a jar” contest based on cigarette butts collected from a recent cleanup along West Grace Street, and “recyclables” bowling, featuring tin cans. Students will be eligible to win stainless steel water bottles, Ellwood Thompson’s Natural Market gift cards and a bike.  

The student kickoff follows VCU’s launch of the Year of the Environment last month to highlight the contributions and leadership that university’s can bring to further improve Virginia’s sustainable practices and the impact on natural resources.

For more information or to volunteer, e-mail greenunity4vcu@gmail.com or check out the group’s Facebook page at Green Unity 4 VCU.