2023 Campus Sustainability List of Events

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The Office of Sustainability is hosting a series of events throughout October to celebrate Campus Sustainability Month. All events are free, and we encourage the campus community and the wider community to take advantage of these informative and fun demonstrations. If you have any questions or suggestions, please email me at melissa.covington@usm.edu.

Bra-Vo Donation Drive, October 1st - October 31st, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Office of Sustainability is hosting the annual Bra-Vo donation drive. Our staff will collect gently used, reusable bras to reduce the number of textiles in landfills. Boxes will be located on the 1st floor of every residence hall and for those not living on campus but wish to donate, please contact melissa.covington@usm.edu. Our office will collect the donations every Friday, and bras in good condition will be donated to women in need.

Project Green Challenge, October 1st - October 31st - Join individually, or as a team to help kick off the annual Project Green Challenge. Starting on October 1, PGC will inform, inspire, and hope to mobilize high school, college, and grad school students globally. This group aims to touch lives, shift mindsets, and equip students with knowledge, resources, and mentorship to lead the change on campuses and communities across the globe. You can register at https://projectgreenchallenge.com/login.

Pre-Inaugural and Homecoming Campus Cleanup, October 4th, 10 am – 11 am, Lofty Returns - Join the Office of Sustainability, Physical Plant staff, and students as they team up to conduct a campus-wide clean-up. Grabbers, gloves, and bags will be provided.

Learn the Label, October 10th, 11 am – 2 pm, Shoemaker Square - Join us as we educate how to properly recycle materials. We will explain terminologies such as ‘Wish’cycling and ‘Pre’cycling, the differences in plastics, and what we do and do not recycle on campus.

Garden Lunch and Learn, October 16th, 12 pm – 1 pm, Walker Science Community Garden - Join us behind Walker Science as the Horticulture Club presents the issues of food waste and food poverty.  While there, learn the basics of gardening and how important growing your own food helps you, your community, and the environment. Lunch is provided while it lasts. 

Social Justice Fair, October 25th, 11 am – 2 pm, Weathersby Lawn.  Organizations from campus and the wider community will be sharing their messages of respect, dignity, equality, and justice.  Discover volunteer opportunities, show your support, or simply get informed about social justice issues.

Single Use Scaries, October 27th, 11 am – 2 pm, Shoemaker Square, Swing by and let us teach you about why single-use items are so scarily unsustainable! Engage with displays of common single-use items and challenge yourself to swap your single-use items for sustainable ones.

Caught Green-Handed: Monday, October 30th,If you are “caught” recycling or exhibiting other sustainable behaviors, you will be awarded a swag bag and a coupon of your choice from Subway, T-Bones, or Papa John’s!