Sustainabilty in focus this week on campus

SustainIU week, a completely student-run series of events designed to engage the student body in sustainability initiatives, began Saturday and will continue during the week.

Events this weekend included tabling for non-GMO produce and a garden workday at the Middle Way House garden, according to the Student Sustainability Council’s website.

“I think there’s a growing traction in the IU community for sustainability,” said Faith Liveoak, IU sophomore and director of projects and events for the SSC.

Liveoak said that a primary goal of the week’s events is to engage as much of the student body as possible, but the SSC doesn’t set any numerical or quantitative goals. 

Emilie Rex, assistant director of the IU Office of Sustainability, serves as adviser to the SSC and said SustainIU week helps to bring different sustainability organizations on campus together.

“I think it’s really great because it just brings us together and community is important,” she said.

Regardless of whether or not students consider themselves part of the sustainability community on campus, everyone is a part of creating a sustainable community
because everyone’s actions impact the environment, Rex said.

“My boss likes to say it’s a team sport,” she said.

Liveoak said  out of all of the planned events, she is most excited for this year’s keynote speaker, Will Allen.

She said Allen is currently the face of urban agriculture and diversity involvement in sustainability.

Rex also said she is excited for Allen, citing in particular the interdisciplinary approach he takes to sustainability issues, incorporating economics and social justice into the
conversation.

Allen is speaking at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Whittenberger Auditorium, and the event is
open to the public.

There will also be plenty of hands-on opportunities for students as the week goes on.

Liveoak said she got involved in sustainability initiatives through her role as the Oxfam liason to the SSC her freshman year. It was then that she became educated in sustainability issues and felt a pull to become involved.

“Coming into college, I didn’t really know anything about sustainability,” she said. “I thought it was something that people just said to scare you into recycling.”

Liveoak said the education she received is what motivates her to put so much time into SSC. Five months of planning went into just this week.

If members of the sustainability community hadn’t been working hard to spread the word when she was a freshman, Liveoak said she never would have learned about sustainability. She wants to provide that opportunity to other students.

“Unless we educate college students now so that they can start shifting their habits, it may be too late,” she said.

Follow reporter Anna Hyzy on Twitter @annakhyzy.