This year’s Green Week program moves beyond simply marketing various green programs and initiatives and focuses on challenging members of the university community to step forward by supporting volunteer service and encouraging lifestyle choices that benefit the community, all key elements of sustainability. Information on several pledge opportunities will be available throughout the week to encourage people to learn by doing and by serving others through activities such as recycling, adopting a highway or by taking the bus.
During Green Week’s “Walk the Walk” campaign, students and members of the Oxford community are encouraged to pledge to take one additional step to becoming more sustainable in their daily lives. To symbolize their commitment, individuals can write their pledge on pledge boards Monday through Thursday at the Student Union Plaza and Friday on the Oxford Square.
“What we are trying to do is align with the Chancellor Jones’ call for service by not only educating people about ‘going green’ but also encouraging them to act on what they’ve learned,” said Jim Morrison, UM director of strategic planning and campus sustainability.
Each day of Green Week focuses a different aspect of sustainability: recycling and waste minimization on Monday, transportation on Tuesday, energy conservation on Wednesday, green initiative awareness on Thursday and Local Community Day on Friday.
The “Save a Watt Challenge,” in which several campus buildings compete to see which departments can save the most energy in a day, is set for Wednesday to highlight energy conservation.
Chancellor Dan Jones and Oxford Mayor George “Pat” Patterson are to deliver the State of the Community address at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Off Square Books to provide an update on the university and city’s joint sustainability efforts, including plans related to transportation, community service and the Green Business Alliance. Patterson and Jones also will announce the 2010 Sustainability Leadership Awards to honor individuals, groups and businesses that have made exemplary contributions to sustainability efforts in the Lafayette-Oxford-University community.
“There are so many activities going on during Green Week, students and local residents can easily find some way they can contribute to their community and the environment,” said Sarah Gehring, a UM sophomore dietetics major from Hernando and green student intern. “Hopefully, they will continue to do so after the week is over.”
For more information, visit http://www.olemiss.edu/green.