What is a Sustainability Slam?

Kathy Jennings | Thursday, October 10, 2013

Across the nation, Campus Sustainability Day will be celebrated Oct. 23. At Western Michigan University there will be two days of events to demonstrate the green activities happening at the school and the start a day early.

WMU President John Dunn, Kalamazoo Mayor Bobby Hopewell and other campus and community leaders will address the question "What does sustainability mean to me?" in a roundtable discussion. It will be followed by an open discussion and reception. The roundtable at 7 p.m. Oct. 22 in Schneider Hall opens the two days of events.

Other events will showcase community sustainability projects as well as efforts to promote sustainability. One is the student-produced video and discussion on the Living Building Challenge, which calls for the creation of buildings that operate cleanly and efficiently and meet a series of ambitious performance requirements, including net zero energy.

The video was created by two recent WMU graduates, Nicole Pascaretta, communication, and Giovanni Roberto, business, as part of their Lee Honors College thesis.

An event inspired by programs such as the Moth Radio hour, TED talks, and poetry slams takes place Oct. 22. It's the Sustainability Slam. Slammers have been asked to lay out their vision and make a call to action as they share what they believe makes for a sustainable community. (People have until Thursday, Oct. 17, to submit their sustainability slam proposals to be chosen for presentation, with the winner announced at the event.)

These are just a few of the events planned. A complete list is found here.

The Office of Sustainability is located near the corner of Howard Street and West Michigan Avenue. Its mission is to guide and assist the Western Michigan University community in fulfilling and growing its sustainability commitments.

Writer: Kathy Jennings, Second Wave Media
Source: Mark Schwerin, Western Michigan University