Clemson University student government to host sustainability week

Published: February 14, 2013

By Molly Collins

CLEMSON — Clemson University's Undergraduate Student Government will host its first sustainability week Feb. 18-22 with a series of events highlighting the university’s sustainability initiatives.

“We are trying to highlight what we are already doing as a university and community,” said Taylor Wells, director of Undergraduate Student Government’s sustainability committee. “We have a lot of businesses and student groups working together to show off what they are doing and how people can get involved." 

Major events will include presentations of Clemson’s waste management, economics of recycling and sustainability action plans, and tours of recycling and compost facilities. There will be a Sustainability Teach-In at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, at Clemson House, where people from the campus and community can join in a discussion on sustainability. 

“We have been doing the Teach-In for several years and we have tied that in with the events this year,” said Kristen Doolittle, assistant director of the students' sustainability committee.

The Teach-In, hosted by a Creative Inquiry class, will have four components:

• A series of interest sessions from 3:30 to 6 p.m. focusing on various topics, including the President’s Commission on Sustainability, water, bikeways, energy conservation and food and compositing.
• A Green Expo that will follow and showcase sustainability efforts of organizations and businesses, including the introduction of “Park and Bike,” a pilot program through Clemson University Parking and Transportation Services that will allow students to park at the Campus Beach at a discounted rate and bike the rest of the way to campus.
• A networking reception with a meal for the first 100 registrants will begin at 6 p.m. and a film will be shown at 6:45 p.m. Events are open to the university and the public, but registration is required.

“We see this week as an outstanding opportunity to coordinate all of the sustainability efforts on campus in order to engage and educate the Clemson community and its students,” said Doolittle.

To register and see a full schedule for the Teach-In, visit http://bit.ly/XpoC2p.

The week will conclude with a Sustainability Fair from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at the Hendrix Student Center. The fair will feature student groups and local business and organizations. Participants can also check out the new Clemson Area Transit bus and a Chevy Volt.

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