SLUsh Week @ OWU: Tree House, Peace & Justice, and Etc.!

Check out the possibilities for campus living in on of OWU’s Student Living Units.

“The Small Living Units are looking for new members for next year! If you’re interested in environmentalism, gender and sexuality issues, peace and justice, language, religion, or general diversity, the SLUs are perfect for you! Check out all the events next week (Feb 5-9) for a chance to meet all the houses and find YOUR place in the SLUniverse!
SLUsh KICKOFF EVENT!
Monday, Feb 5th 7-8pm in the Benes Rms.
Explore the SLUniverse and get to meet all the different houses! There will be different activities at each table, and if you visit each house you can enter a raffle to win a prize basket!OPEN HOUSES:

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH

Interfaith House (5-7pm) @ 118A Rowland Ave

Citizens of the World House (6-8pm) @ 88 Oak Hill Ave:
CoW’s, Cheese, Cards, and Crafts

https://www.facebook.com/events/401638533625550/

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7TH

Cupcakes and Valentines with the Sexuality and Gender Equality House
(5-7pm) @ 118B RowlandAve
https://www.facebook.com/events/808592395993977/?ti=cl

House of Spiritual Athletes (6-8 pm) @ 110B Rowland Ave

Get to Gnome the Tree House (6-8pm) @ 110A Rowland Ave
https://www.facebook.com/events/163814351008963/

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH

Out of This World Shrinky Dinks with Peace and Justice House!
(6:30-8pm) @ 94B Rowland Ave
https://www.facebook.com/events/573646919638205/

House of Linguistic Diversity (8-9pm) @ 94A Rowland Ave

OWU’s New Hyper-Local Salad Bar @ Smith Dining Hall

OWU’s Dining Services in Smith Hall now provides hyper-local produce from MTSO’s Seminary Hill Farm, an organic farm just a few miles south of campus.

OWU’s Dining Services in Smith Hall now provides hyper-local produce from MTSO’s Seminary Hill Farm, an organic farm just a few miles south of campus. Seminary Hill Farm emphasizes making fresh organic produce available to everyone in the community and works with the Yellow Bird FoodShed to provide fresh produce to members. The farm also teaches students in MTSO’s ministry program to value ecosystems and practice sustainable living.

Seminary Hill produce is now available as part of campus salad bars and will be used in other dishes served by Chartwells during the Fall Semester of 2017. Recipes from Seminary Hill Farm were featured during Farm Fresh Week (September 11th through 15th). Student Ellen Sizer (’18) has been the driving force behind this new culinary addition to campus and describes her motivations and progress:

This project was inspired by the continuous and hard work I have put in to make OWU’s campus more vegan and vegetarian (“veg”) friendly. I have been meeting with representatives for OWU’s food service provider Chartwells on a bi-weekly basis for the last year to discuss ways in which I can turn my ambitions into a reality. Through this collaboration with Chartwells I was able to implement small changes in the menu here at OWU. There are more tofu options, an abundance of soymilk, and tofurky has been added to the rotation in weekly dishes. The proposed Local Food Sourced Salad Bar, to be located in the Smith Dining Hall, is an ambitious next step in accommodating the needs of veg students and promoting local foods. The local Seminary Hill Farm will supply salad and vegetables for the salad bar: this is the foundation for the “local” theme of the salad bar. Much of the food in the salad bar will be vegetarian and vegan. I also envision the proposed salad bar as a location to offer and promote local veg food. However, I do not think only vegetarians and vegans will use the salad bar, and then it is not necessary to advertise the salad bar as vegetarian and vegan. Ultimately, the proposed salad bar will be appetizing and healthy and appealing to all students. In other words, I propose a stealth expansion of local and vegan and vegetarian food on campus through the Local Food Sourced Salad Bar.

I held a discussion/tasting on April 22nd, 2017 with Tadd Peterson and Noelle Deehr from Seminary Hill Farm, as well as Chartwells staff, and Del Sroufe who is co-owner at Wellness Forum Foods. For this tasting, I also invited some students with similar ambitions such as mine to make OWU more vegan and vegetarian friendly. The food was received well and Chartwells was impressed.

Delaware, Ohio area Sustainability Events & Activities

Just about every month the Sustainable Delaware organization publishes a list of environmental, sustainable and related events and activities in and around Delaware, Ohio.

Just about every month the Sustainable Delaware organization publishes a list of environmental, sustainable and related events and activities in and around Delaware, Ohio. The newsletter is posted here, under the Sustainability in Delaware tab above.

Sustainable Delaware is always happy to have OWU student, staff or faculty involvement. Check their web pages for more information.

Environmental Studies at OWU Update Summer 2017

An update on OWU’s Environmental Studies Program as the summer of 2017 starts.

An update on OWU’s Environmental Studies Program as the summer of 2017 starts.

This is a followup to a 2015-2016 update and 2016-2017 update posted on the OWU Environment & Sustainability Blog.

First of all, the Environmental Studies Program is no longer a thin after our proposal for an expanded Environment and Sustainability Program was voted into existence at the May 2017 faculty meeting. The proposal was compiled by a group of faculty, Laurie Anderson, Ellen Arnold, Amy Downing, Chris Fink, and John Krygier, drawing from 5 years of efforts. Additional work on the Environmental Science major was done by Bart Martin.

Information about the program has been added to the OWU web pages:


Our proposed OWU Campus Sustainability Plan created by students, staff and faculty over the last few years is just about in its final form and should be heading to the administration this summer.

Sustainability_Plan_OWU_March_2017

Student Emily Howald has spent the year gathering feedback and making adjustments to the plan. The Sustainability Task Force (STF), initiated in 2008, has overseen the development of the plan. Contact Nathan Amador and let him know if you want to be added to the STF mailing list. The STF is open to all.


Student Emily Howald and faculty member John Krygier wrote a paper which is to be published as a chapter in the book Sustainable Communities Design Handbook edited by OWU Alumni Woody Clark (OWU 1967). The book should be published by Elsevier in 2018. The chapter is an overview of OWU’s approach to sustainability, called “Scrappy Sustainability at Ohio Wesleyan University.” Clark was recently presented with an OWU Alumni Distinguish Achievement Award.


The 2017 May Move Out was another success. Students donated tons of items to Goodwill as they moved off campus last month. The event, first held in 2012, is at this point relatively easy to manage and does not cost the University any money (the cost of additional storage pods for donations is offset by the need for fewer trash dumpsters).


Our reusable carryout food container program is also relatively stable after some ups and downs over the last year. We have added drop off locations for the containers, increased their size, and decreased the size of the paper, throw-away containers (thus an incentive to use the reusable containers). Students Izzy Sommerdorf and Sarah Hanes have developed a proposal for making the program even easier for students, and our campus food service, Chartwells, is evaluating their proposal.


Sustainable food on campus has moved forward on several fronts. Our campus food service has recently worked out an agreement to purchase local produce from the Seminary Hill Farm, just south of campus, beginning this fall. This outcome is based on the efforts of student Ellen Sizer.

Student Emily Howald is working on a proposal for quarter-credit OWU Activity courses focused on gardening. Students would work with a skilled gardener in a course held during the first half of the fall semester, and second half of the spring semester, to maintain our campus community garden.

Students Maddie Coalmer and Larynn Cutshaw generated a proposal to plant perennial crops (asparagus, mint, raspberries), which require minimal maintenance, on a few out-of-the-way locations on campus.


Another successful Green Week was held at the end of the 2017 spring semester:


We have expanded the number of hydration stations on campus with a half-dozen new stations being installed this summer. Most of the new hydration stations are in or around athletic facilities on campus. Athletes have tended to be one of the more significant users of bottled water. Student Dominic Orsini wrote a grant and received funding for promotional water bottles. These will be used to promote the new hydration stations to athletes when they move on campus late this summer.


Nathan Amador will take a group of 12 students to Costa Rica as part of a Travel Learning course. This will be the second time the class will travel to Costa Rica. The students will learn environmental data collection and analysis methods, then implement those methods while in Costa Rica over the semester break (January 2018). Amador and the students are working with Amy Work (OWU ’04) and her Geoporter organization. More info on Amy’s efforts are here.


Again, thanks for all the efforts on what has been a great cross-disciplinary collaboration between faculty, students, staff and alumni over the past five years.

May Move Out 2017 is Happening!

As you move off campus please drop off any usable stuff in the May Move Out pods near all of the dorms. All donations go to our local Goodwill. Recycling is also available at the pods.

May Move Out 2017

As you move off campus please drop off any usable stuff in the May Move Out pods near all of the dorms. All donations go to our local Goodwill. Recycling is also available at the pods.

Monday, May 8: noon – 8pm
Tuesday, May 9: noon – 8pm
Wednesday, May 10: 9am – 1pm
Sunday, May 14: 9am-1pm

 

 

OWU’s Green Week 2017

OWU’s Green Week 2017 is a sheer delight of greenish fun all week long.

WHAT’S YOUR ECOSPHERE?

COME LEARN ABOUT HOW ENVIRONMENTALISM RELATES TO YOU IN EVERY ASPECT OF YOUR LIFE!

There will be tons of fun giveaways, lots of activities, and a tabling event every day!

DAY 1: ENVIRONMENTALISM IN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE
(Monday April 17th)

Reduce Reuse Recycle Tabling: 11-1, HWCC
https://goo.gl/n2VZgT

DIY Green Cleaning Product Seminar: 5-7pm, Milligan Hub
https://goo.gl/LDF71p

DAY 2: GREEN@OWU
(Tuesday April 18th)

Petting Zoo on the Jay: 11-1, The JayWalk
https://goo.gl/5SakqB

OWU Beekeeper Tabling: 11-1, HWCC
https://goo.gl/0noS9q

Green@OWU Tabling: 11-1, HWCC

Green@OWU at Science Research Symposium
4-7:30 pm, Science Center Atrium

DAY 3: GREEN IN OHIO
(Wedneday April 19th)

Don’t Frack Ohio Tabling: 11-1, HWCC

Buckeye Environmental Network Talk: 4:30-6pm, House of Peace and Justice (94B rowland ave)
https://goo.gl/qMxTDI

DAY 4: US ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
(Thursday April 20th)

Environmental Policy Tabling: 11-1, HWCC
https://goo.gl/vdquyN

“Trees in Trouble” Screening and Directors Talk: 7pm, Science Center 163
https://goo.gl/s9aArJ

DAY 5: ENVIRONMENTALISM AROUND THE WORLD
(Friday April 21st)

Environmentalism in Other Countries Tabling: 11-1, HWCC

Scrappy Sustainability Talk: 12-1pm, SCSC 161
https://goo.gl/7SeQt9

Campus Wide Trash Cleanup: 4pm, the Fountain/Jaywalk
https://goo.gl/qqeyWh

DAY 6: EARTH DAY!
(Saturday April 22nd)

OWU Marches on Science: 10-2 in DC and Columbus!
https://goo.gl/forms/VDFFHXBazyHepVvy1 to sign up!

EARTH DAY CONCERT! 6-9, the Amphitheatre by HamWil
https://goo.gl/0W0WTf

OWU’s Mini May Mooove Out, March 22, 2017!

Bring your unwanted stuff and donate to Goodwill during our Mini May Mooove Out event on campus Wednesday, March 22 2017.

Bring your unwanted stuff and donate to Goodwill during our Mini May Mooove Out event on campus Wednesday, March 22 2017. Learn about our big May Move Out effort during the move-out week on campus, May 8 to May 14, 2017.

May Mooooove Out 2017

Monday, May 8: noon – 8pm
Tuesday, May 9: noon – 8pm
Wednesday, May 10: 9am – 1pm
Sunday, May 14: 9am-1pm

More info: https://maymoveout.owu.edu

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Sustainable Gardening: New OWU .25 Credit Activity Course 2nd Module Spring 2017

OWU students and faculty have initiated an effort to offer sustainability themed quarter credit activity courses beginning in the 2nd module for the spring semester of 2017.

This Activity Course has been postponed to the Fall of 2017! Contact Emily Howald for more information.

garden-course-logo

OWU students and faculty have initiated an effort to offer sustainability themed quarter credit activity courses beginning in the 2nd module for the spring semester of 2017. Instead of yoga or bowling (which are both great) you can instead get active digging in the dirt.

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The class is run by staff from the very nearby Seminar Hill Farm, a leading regional organic farm. The class is one part of a strategy to make our campus garden sustainable and productive.

The class meets M and W from 2:30-3:30 in the garden near the old observatory on campus. Please contact Emily Howald for more information. Watch for the course as an option in the near future on Self-Service.

Free Farm to Table Meal @ OWU, Thursday February 16, 2017

Experience a free, farm to table meal using many fresh, locally grown ingredients, Thursday February 16, 2017.

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Experience a free, farm to table meal using many fresh, locally grown ingredients.

Join us for a free Cooking Outreach class, hosted by the Student Health Center at Stuy and the OWU Cooking Matters program. Featured talks by folks from our local Seminary Hill Farm.

Time: 7-9 pm
When: Thurs. February 16, 2017
Where: Stuy Kitchen/Milligan Hub

**FREE**
This class is limited to the first 25 responders.
Please RSVP to Olivia Minervino (owminerv@owu.edu) by Feb. 9!

Funding courtesy of an anonymous donor through the Ohio College Health
Association (OCHA)

OWU Environmental Studies & Sustainability Progress, Spring 2017

Established and ongoing efforts in environment and sustainability by Ohio Wesleyan students, staff and faculty and off-campus collaborators active during the 2016-17 academic year.

Established and ongoing efforts in environment and sustainability by Ohio Wesleyan students, staff and faculty and off-campus collaborators active during the 2016-17 academic year. 

A PDF of this document is available here.
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OWU Sustainability Plan: As a liberal arts institution, Ohio Wesleyan University must be a leader in progressive sustainability initiatives through educational, technical, and social means. The proposed Ohio Wesleyan Sustainability Plan (click for PDF) is intended to invigorate and expand a culture of sustainability that has a positive impact on the environment. Draft of the OWU Sustainability Plan, created by faculty, staff and students, is complete and being revised and vetted. Students in our Sustainability Practicum are currently arranging to move the proposed plan through OWU’s administrative network during the spring of 2017.
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May Move Out: A student-initiated project in collaboration with Goodwill, to defer usable materials from the trash as students move off campus in May. We defer 10 tons of reusable furniture, appliances, clothes, bikes, etc. on average, each May. Students are currently meeting with OWU’s Buildings & Grounds and Residential Life staff to plan for and promote the 2017 May Move Out. Ohio Wesleyan’s May Move Out program was awarded the 2015 Recycling Award from the Keep Delaware County Beautiful Coalition.

Reusable Food Containers in Hamilton Williams Campus Center: A student project initiated in the Fall of 2015 is being expanded during the spring of 2017. A new dishwasher was installed in our campus center in part to provide adequate washing of the containers. Students and campus food service staff are working to improve and expand the program during the Spring of 2017.

Environmental Science Major: A proposal for an Environmental Science major (in addition to our 39 year old Environmental Studies major) will be brought before OWU committees and faculty for consideration and approval during the Spring of 2017.

Environmental Studies Minor in Food Studies: A Food Studies Minor (developed from the Food Course Connection) is in place (a collaboration between Health and Human Kinetics [HHK] and Environmental Studies). Two more minors, Sustainability and Climate Science are being developed.

Living Green Infrastructure Proposal: Students and staff are working on a proposal for a Living Green residence hall option. 1) Develop structural sustainability. 2) Allow students to live more sustainably by reducing their water, energy, and material waste. 3) Include workshop/classroom area for sustainable learning (repair, self-production). 4) Trained RA’s to be sustainable life assistants.

Delaware Foodshed Farm and Food Collaboration: Building on the Food Studies Minor and student interest in gardens, farming and food, OWU faculty in Environmental Studies and HHK are developing a collaboration between Stratford Ecological Center farms and the Methodist School of Ohio farms. Initial efforts will focus on student internships and engagement of OWU in a regional food network. With financial support for staff (donations or grants) campus gardens will be developed. Efforts will focus on the practice of ecologically sound farming, food production, regional food networks and social outreach (building on the existing Cooking Matters Program, organized by Dr. Chris Fink) to engage students and community members in growing food.

Environmental and Sustainability Internships: Eight to ten internships are being offered on a regular basis at Stratford Ecological Center and the City of Delaware. Foci include environmental education, marketing, farming, and sustainability. Additional internships will be available at the Seminary Hill Farm (Methodist Theological School of Ohio) Fall 2017.

Global Environmental Change Collaboration & Travel Learning Course: OWU collaboration with Amy Work (OWU ‘04) and her organization GeoPorter in Bahia Ballena-Uvita, Costa Rica. Learning and using environmental assessment methods in Delaware, Ohio (Fall 2017) and during a travel learning course trip (Dr. Nathan Amador’s Geography 347) to coastal Costa Rica (January 2018). Goal: to understand how local environmental data is collected and relates to regional and global climate and environmental change.

Chimney Swift Towers: A collaboration between students and OWU Alumni Dick Tuttle (OWU 1973) to build a chimney swift tower on the residential side of campus. Plans have been drawn up and cost estimates provided by a contractor. Funds will be provided by Tuttle. We anticipate construction during the spring or summer of 2017 pending approval from B&G and OWU’s Administration.

Campus Wildlife Habitat Enhancements: Student efforts continue to install and maintain bird houses, feeders and solitary bee houses on campus.

Green Week 2017: Building on a successful week of events in 2016, students are organizing another week of events for the spring of 2017 (the week prior to Earth Day).

Delaware Run Assessment and Restoration: Ongoing project focused on restoring Delaware Run between Sandusky St. and Henry St. Emerging collaboration with stream restoration specialists who propose restoration of the stream and adjacent riparian zone in return for state of Ohio stream credits. Currently waiting on the establishment of an official Ohio stream banking and credit procedure.

Bottled Water Sales Reduction: Student-led efforts to drive down bottled water purchases on campus, including the installation of hydration stations and promotion of reusable water bottles. Bottled water sales have dropped significantly in the last three years. We continue to install hydration stations (filtered water) at key locations as an alternative to bottled water.