Ecology comes alive at Sustainabilty Day

A few weeks ago a collaboration of various Xavier groups across campus encouraged students
to go green and partake in Sustainability Week.
These groups included
the Xavier University Sustainability Committee, Brueggeman Center for Dialogue, Center for Faith and Justice, Women's Center, Mission & Identity, the Biology Department, the English Department, the Theology Department and the Xavier Chapter of the Youth Empowerment Network.
This year's Sustainability Week consisted
of 12 events over the span of nine days with the theme of "Silent Spring of 50," reminiscent of ecologist and environmental
activist Rachel Carson. Carson is known for her book Silent Spring and for her research regarding
the dangers of pesticides.
Eventsduring Sustainability Week included a showing of the documentary Living Downstream, which is about Sandra Steingraber, an ecologist who battled cancer, which sparked her interest in environmental justice; a visit to the NEXUS garden located on campus where members of the Xavier community can grow their own plants and vegetables; speakers
from Proctor and Gamble discussing global materials recovery and a tour of the restoration project at the former Fernald Nuclear site.
On Sustainability Day, Oct. 8, keynote
speaker Sandra Steingraber addressed the issue of fracking and how fracking in New York can affect life in Ohio.
On top of Sustainability Week, Xavier's Sustainability Committee announced
mini-grants that are available for students who have developed creative projects that can increase
sustainability on campus.
The funded activities
must match Xavier's Campus Action Plan. Applications are due by 5 p.m. on Nov. 2 to Ann Dougherty. The award amount ranges from $500 to $5,000.