Green Week 2014 kicks off next week

The city of Oxford and the University of Mississippi host Green Week next week to teach the community about sustainability.

Last year at Green Week, UM Green Fund awarded money for H2otty Totty Hydration Stations to be built across campus. The hydration stations help students practice sustainability through decreasing the amount of plastic bottles used and wasted.

The city of Oxford and the University of Mississippi will hold different events next week in honor of sustainability.

Green Week is a community partnership looking to inform students, residents, and visitors about eco-friendly and sustainability practices. The week features different activities to engage participants of all ages.

First, on Jan. 22, the Sustainable Business Panel Discussion will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Oxford Conference Center. Panelists include Alex Rosenthal, the Sustainability Project Leader of International Paper, and Margot McNeeley, Executive Director of Project Green Fork.

Also on Jan. 22, Robert Nixon, the Rachel Carson Professor of English at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, will be giving a lecture. He will discuss the dramatic infusion of artistic efforts within emergencies. The lecture will begin at 7 p.m. in the Overby Center.

On Jan. 23, the Sustainability Fair will be held in the Ole Miss Union Plaza from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The fair will feature local food vendors, arts and crafts, giveaways, and contests.

The final event, the EcoFashion Gala, will be at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 23 in Bryant Hall. The

gala will show off sustainability within the clothing industry while displaying the creative, eco-friendly designs and artwork that students and local businesses have produced.

Walker BoBo, a freshman International Studies major, is most excited about attending the EcoFashion Gala and the Sustainability Fair. BoBo appreciates how Green Week is offering interesting ways to learn more about sustainability.

“Going green is not just about recycling, it is about saving our environment for future generations,” said BoBo, recognizing that many students only consider the basic ideas of environmentalism.

Sailer Perkins, the Sustainability Chair for Alpha Omicron Pi, shares this concern.

“The biggest problems Ole Miss faces is apathy and ignorance. People don't know what's going on. They don't know what they need to address. Apathy comes when they hear things about how to get involved but they don't do them,” said Perkins.

Perkins believes that Green Week will help resolve this problem, stating that all its activities will make sustainability practices “engaging and easily available to students, making it a popular, fun, and fashionable cause.”

Perkins also looks forward to modeling in the EcoFashion Gala and leading her sorority to be more environmentally conscious.

Ole Miss sororities and fraternities are currently participating in the Green Cup Challenge. One component to the competition is participation in Green Week.

“The Greek community has so much potential. They have a place to make changes, and I think they can be really guiding in sustainability practices,” said Perkins.

The Office of Sustainability will also continue to ask for donations to the UM Green Fund this week in order to continue funding environmental projects on campus.