Sustainability Week 2014: Eco-fashion, local food, campus bikes

Next week, April 7-10, will mark the first Sustainability Week on UAA's main campus. A partnership between the Office of Sustainability, Green Fee Board and Sustainability Club, the week will highlight and promote sustainability initiatives on campus, with the goal of getting more people involved.

Each day will center on one of four themes: reducing/reusing/recycling, local foods, clean energy and bikes. The weeklong celebration will be the largest yet planned by any of the three groups. In the past, the groups would typically host one or two standalone events around Earth Day. But Earth Day happens to fall on April 22, a time when campus isn't focused on much else besides finals. So, this year, they're trying something new.

"Having one week gives people more opportunities," said Hope Meyn, vice president of the Sustainability Club. "If there's just one event, people miss it if they have a class. Having a whole week though makes sure everyone on campus can be exposed to sustainability."

The larger spread this year also reflects an increase in student involvement. The Sustainability Club, which is spearheading two days (clean energy and local foods), is rapidly growing.

"Every week, we have a new face," said Kelsi Swenson, public relations coordinator for the Sustainability Club. Extra chairs have to be brought into the club meetings, but latecomers are often stuck with standing-room only spots.

Sustainability Week is a chance for students to share their passion with the larger community, and gather more support for accomplishing long-term goals.

"Just the fact that there are so many students who are really active this semester, this whole year actually, and very enthusiastic about sustainability... I'm hoping it'll be contagious," said Office of Sustainability Director Paula Williams.

Students are taking the lead on planning, but the week will offer opportunities for everyone to help forge a more sustainable community both on campus and throughout the state. A complete schedule will be available here before the weekend. In the meantime, check out a preview of what to expect below.

Reduce/Reuse/Recycle (Monday, April 7) A little creativity goes a long way toward reducing the amount of trash thrown in landfills. The third annual EcoChic Fashion Show (12-2 p.m. in the Student Union Cafeteria) will spotlight some of that creativity. Students will strut outfits made from trash-bound items and/or thrift store finds as a KRUA DJ spins fresh music. The happening draws a large crowd every year and offers many ideas for dressing sharp on a smaller budget.

Remembering one of the most successful designers from years past, Paula said, "She'd taken a tarp that had been over a boat and was going to the garbage and made this really amazing dress. It had a top that detached, and you could make it a short skirt or long skirt. There were a lot of amazing outfits that came out of it."

Registration for the show is still open. Click here to learn more.

People can also visit the Student Union from 10 a.m.-noon to learn other creative ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. A visitor from the Anchorage Museum will teach people how to make useful items from plastics and the Chronicles of Yarnia will host a yarn exchange.

Local Foods (Tuesday, April 8) Approximately 95 percent of all food consumed in Alaska is shipped in from elsewhere. Estimates say the state's food supply would only last about three to five days if something (like an earthquake or a tsunami) affected the current infrastructure.

"If that collapses, we wouldn't have a food supply for very long," Paula said. "It shows how important it is for Alaskans to support local farmers."

The usual free food options on campus (Daily Den, for example) will be upgraded to local-only during Sustainability Week, giving people a taste of how sourcing food from local growers could boost the campus dining scene.

Think it's impossible to eat Alaska grown in the winter? Saskia Esslinger, who ate nothing but local food for an entire year, will host a workshop (11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in the Lyla Richards Conference Room) on how to incorporate more local foods into your diet and support Alaska agriculture year-round.

Clean Energy (Wednesday, April 9) Small personal changes, such as turning the lights off when you leave a room or drinking out of a reusable water bottle, deliver a large punch for minimal effort. Calculate how big your carbon footprint is and get easy tips on how to reduce it.

Katie Marquette, communications director for Renewable Energy Alaska Project, will host a workshop (2:30-3:45 p.m. in the Student Union Leadership Lab) highlighting some of the easy changes people can make to reduce energy consumption.

Bikes (Thursday, April 10) The Green & Gold Bike Share program will make its debut during Sustainability Week. Launching on Monday with an initial 50 bikes, the program will offer people a new way to jet across campus. Use your WolfCard to borrow a bike, and then traverse through campus in only a few minutes, without the hassle of parking.

Stop by the Cuddy Quad from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Thursday, April 10, to take one of the bright yellow bikes out for a ride. For those whose skills are a little rusty, the day will also offer bike safety and maintenance workshops.

(Stay tuned for a larger story about the Bike Share program in the April 16 Seawolf Weekly.)

Beyond Sustainability Week If you'd like to become more involved in campus sustainability efforts, consider the following:

• The Green Fee Board meets every Thursday at 1 p.m. in the Student Union, Room 218. Meetings are open to the public and a great way to learn more about the program.
• The Sustainability Club meets every Tuesday this semester at 1 p.m. in Professional Studies Building, Room 103. Unable to attend? Contact the club at uaa_sustain@uaa.alaska.edu to discuss other ways to get involved.
• The Sustainability Action Board, which advises on campus-wide sustainability issues and strategies, occasionally has openings for student, staff and faculty representatives. Contact Paula Williams at pwilliams@uaa.alaska.edu if you're interested in joining the board.

Written by Michelle Saport, UAA Office of University Advancement