Engagement and Events

The Wesleyan Sustainability Office is leading many efforts to engage students, employees, and the Middletown community around sustainability issues. Sustainability Office projects in the 2012-13 school year included:

Water Station Design Competition

Water Station Design Competition Participants

Team Wishing Well (from left): Nina Gerona '15, Jen Kleindienst (Sustainability Coordinator), Bruce Strickland (Machine Shop), Tavo True-Alcala '15, Dave Strickland (Machine Shop), Brent Packer '15, and Madeleine O'Brien '16

 

The Sustainability Office, Center for the Arts' Feet to the Fire Initiative, the Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship, and the College of the Environment co-sponsored a student competition to design a mobile water station in the 2012-3 academic year, to be used at Reunion & Commencement, Homecoming/Family Weekend, and other outdoor events. Teams collaborated with faculty, staff, alumni, and the Wesleyan Machine Shop to ensure that designs were buildable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing.  A judging panel chose the winning team's design, The Wishing Well, which debuted at R&C 2013.  Team members freshman Mads O’Brien and sophomores Nina Gerona, Brent Packer, and Tavo True-Alcalá were honored with a $1,000 prize at an award ceremony on May 8, 2013. 



Earth Month 2013

Wesleyan celebrated Earth Month in 2013, with events hosted by student groups, academic departments, the Sustainability Office, and community organizations.  View the full schedule to learn more!

 Earth Fest 2013

Earth Fest
April 21, 2013

Waste Audit

Foss Hill Waste Audit

Foss Hill Waste Audit
April 26, 2013
 Sustainability Office Interns and volunteers completed the first residential waste audit during Earth Month.  The audit revealed that 69% of what ended up in trash bins is recyclable, compostable, or reusable.  In the fall, the SAGES Recycling Subcommittee and Sustainability Office will brainstorm ideas for increasing waste diversion and reducing waste on campus.

Sustainable Reunion & Commencement

Wesleyan's first-ever sustainable Reunion & Commencement included waste sorting stations at the All-College picnic, which diverted approximately 87% of waste from the incinerator through food donation, composting, and recycling.  The Wishing Well water stations debuted at R&C, providing water in recyclable cups and reusable bottles to all R&C guests.  Approximately 500 reusable bottles, left under chairs at R&C, have been washed and will be reused at R&C and other future events.

Read the Hartford Business Journal's coverage of Wesleyan's sustainable commencement efforts.

The Wishing Well debuts at R&C 2013

The Wishing Well at Commencement
May 26, 2013