Office for Sustainability hosted, and will continue to host, Eco-April events around campus to creatively educate and promote an eco-friendly lifestyle in the community. The Powersol Ribbon Cutting event, Environmental Discussion Panel, Free Bike Tune-Up, Arbor Day Tree Planting and LU Eat Smart were all projects that eco-representatives passionately planned and implemented into their schedule of Eco-April events.
Senior integrated environmental science majors Alex Lee, Jennifer Carlson and Frida Cruz were some of the eco-representatives in charge of running the events, as well as sophomore integrated environmental science major Jessica Newcomb and sophomore accounting major Helen Iraheta. Epsilon Eta, the environmental honors fraternity, members participated in the Eco-April events.
According to Carlson, the purpose behind the events was to “seed a culture of sustainability at Longwood.”
“They may be…small things, but they’re still getting the idea out there, getting people talking,” said Carlson.
On Monday, April 17, the Free Bike Tune-Up was held on Brock Commons. The Longwood Cycling Club partnered with Office For Sustainability to offer this service to students, faculty and staff. The tune-up included chain/sprocket alignment and lubrication, brake checks and alignment and tire checks and inflation.
The second annual Environmental Discussion Panel was held on April 12 in the Student Union Ballroom. Five faculty and staff members discussed topics from different perspectives. Anthropology professor Dr. Brian Bates, Associate Professor of Sociology Dr. Carl Riden, Associate Professor of Biology Dr. Dina Leech and Geography Professor Dr. Edward Kinman, as well as Executive Director of Campus Planning and Construction Louise Waller made up the panel. Some topics discussed included fresh water quality, environmental education, climate change and government environmental policy.
“It was really cool because we got a good array of perspectives and disciplines,” said Carlson.
Carlson and Lee both agreed the Environmental Discussion Panel was their favorite event so far this year. According to Lee, the event had a positive atmosphere and the panel was very conversational.
The Arbor Day Tree Planting event is coming up on Wednesday, April 26. Students can sign up on the Facebook event page for an hour slot from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to plant a tree on campus either with a group of friends or organization.
The Powersol Ribbon Cutting event took place on Brock Commons on April 10. The new umbrellas covering the picnic tables have solar panels on the top and a place to charge your electronic devices by USB at the base of the umbrella. The umbrellas were mainly funded by a grant from the Parents Council, and the Office for Sustainability matched the funding so there could be two umbrellas.
“I would say the Powersol event was really engaging…people that aren’t really interested in sustainability were able to come out and get excited about it because everybody uses their phone. We had people that were just sitting there while we were doing the ribbon cutting event and…we got to go over and show them how to use it and they were excited about it,” said Lee.
The LU Eat Smart project lasted for a week. Two wooden cut outs of a cow and a pig were displayed on Brock Commons outside of Dorrill Dining Hall. The animal cutouts had information posted on them about how much water goes into creating meat products for example hamburgers and how much methane gas is released through certain farming practices. The purpose of the event was to promote food awareness.
“One of our workers is a vegetarian, so she wanted to spread food awareness,” said Lee.
There is also a bulletin board competition going on to promote environmental awareness.
“I thought that was really cool just because we got to get involved with the (Office of) Residential and Commuter Life, (because that is) one of the main ways that the administration reaches out to students,” said Carlson.
Carlson and Lee both acknowledged the support they have received from the director of landscaping and grounds, David Love. Lee added that ARAMARK Dining Services Director Grant Avent was really receptive to their ideas at committee meetings and began making changes immediately.
To stay up to date on what events Office for Sustainability are hosting around campus or even volunteer, the organization encourages students to follow them on social media. Their Facebook account is @longwoodsustainability.
Tables on Brock Commons have been given an update with solar panel umbrellas to charge the outlets at the base of the table.
Tables on Brock Commons have been given an update with solar panel umbrellas to charge the outlets at the base of the table.
