University to mark Campus Sustainability Day with keynote, expo

9:51 a.m., Oct. 16, 2012--Campus Sustainability Day on Wednesday, Oct. 24, will be a daylong celebration that showcases sustainable actions, provides networking opportunities and encourages sustainability at all levels of involvement at the University of Delaware and college campuses across the country. All of the events are free and open to the public.

The day will begin with a no-waste breakfast and short presentation in the Gallery of the Perkins Student Center, from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Peter Krawchyk, the University architect and campus planner, will be present to discuss green initiatives in new buildings and infrastructure around campus.

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June 6-9: Food and culture series

The 20th annual June Lecture Series at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at UD in Wilmington will be held June 6-9. Titled 'June a la Carte,' this year's program focuses on great political documents, feminism, world politics and a Newark cuisine sampler.

• June 6-9: Food and culture series
• Through June 30: 'Saving White Clay Creek'
• July 22: WWE Heatwave Tour
• Through Sept. 16: Women of color in academia

McKay Jenkins, Tilghman Professor of English, will provide the keynote address, “What’s Gotten Into Us: Toxic Chemicals, Our Health, and the Environment,” from 11:15 a.m.-noon in 004 Kirkbride Hall.

Jenkins will discuss his research concerning synthetic chemicals in the environment and how they invade in people’s bodies. These are not just the toxins leaking out of industrial dumps, Jenkins notes, but they are the chemicals leaking into people from the products they use everyday.

Following the keynote address, there will be a “Green Expo on the Green” from noon-2 p.m. on The Green in front of Gore Hall. At the expo, groups from across campus will come together to exhibit their sustainability efforts. There will be sustainability themed giveaways, interactive sustainability exhibits, green artwork by students from the College School, and free ice cream samples from the UDairy Creamery. 

Campus Sustainability Day will conclude with live music hosted by Students 4 the Environment (S4E) at Laird Campus beginning at 6:30 p.m. Those who plan to attend can bring their own clothing pieces to tie-dye and can enjoy the evening under the stars with a cappella musical performances by the ChaiNamics, Deltones, the D Sharps, Vocal Point and Y Chromes.

S4E will also give out compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) so attendees can take a small step to living sustainability and reducing their energy consumption at home.

Alternately, the UD Food and Garden Policy Committee will host a hands-on composting demonstration workshop led by Jason Begany at the English Language Institute Garden from 5:15-6:15 p.m. Begany will run the composting demonstration at an active compost pile where he will discuss the evolution of composting in our society, the dos and don’ts of successful compost piles, and all the composting options for the home. The workshop will provide hot tea and coffee, which will be composted at the end of the event. The ELI Garden is located at 189 W. Main St.

Campus Sustainability Day is one of many initiatives organized by the UD Sustainability Task Force which is funded by the generous support of the UD community.

Photo by Kathy F. Atkinson