Northern Michigan University EcoReps, a student sustainability peer-to-peer educator program, is hosting Sustainability Week events on campus Monday, March 19-Saturday, March 24. NMU EcoReps aims to increase education and outreach in terms of social, economic and environmental sustainability through collaboration with other campus organizations.

An overview of Sustainability Week’s schedule of events follows. For more information, contact Georgia Harrison, co-president of EcoReps, at gharriso@nmu.edu.

Monday, March 19:

Turn Down the Lights, 4-8 p.m.: This kick-off event will serve as a visual representation of energy savings. It is intended to serve as a reminder to lessen consumption by
turning lights down after leaving a workspace. Corridor lights will be turned down in the following NMU buildings: Jamrich, LRC, WS, NSF, Whitman, McClintock, TFA, FRT, Services, Art and Design and some of Jacobetti, Hedgcock, Gries and Cohodas. NMU Facilities will track the amount of energy saved and present it the following week.

Recycled Art Display, 5-9 p.m.: Volunteers from NMU EcoReps, Arts Students’ League and the Students’ Art Gallery will construct a waterfall sculpture out of collected recyclable materials in Jamrich Hall’s main lobby.

Tuesday, March 20:

Gender Fair, Main Jamrich Lobby, 11a.m.-3 p.m.

The NMU Multicultural Education and Resource Center is hosting a gender fair. EcoReps will be there to discuss social sustainability related to gender issues, share personal experiences, advertise the rest of the week of events and hand out EcoReps applications.

Social Sustainability Panel Discussion, West Science Room 2904, 6:30 p.m.

This panel will feature three or four professors and community members who will cover social sustainability, with one or two student coordinators to facilitate the discussion. Presenters will be asked “What does social sustainability mean to you?” in terms of their careers, interests, and everyday life. Some questions will be prepared, but there will also be plenty of time for participants to ask questions.

Wednesday, March 21

Film Screening of “The True Cost,” Jamrich Hall Room 1318, 6:30 p.m.

“The True Cost” is a documentary about the clothes people wear, the people who make them and the impact it is having on the world. The price of clothing has been decreasing for decades while the human and environmental costs have grown dramatically. This documentary considers the question of who pays the price for clothing. Filmed in countries all over the world, “The True Cost” features interviews with many leading influencers, including Stella McCartney, Livia Firth and Vandana Shiva. It runs 92 minutes.

Thursday, March 22

Clothing Swap, First Floor’s Middle Lobby of Jamrich Hall, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

In an effort to reduce clothing waste, students, staff, faculty and community members will be able to drop off clothes that they are no longer using. Anyone will be able to trade and take home clothes.

NMU Costume Design and the Career Closet will bring a few clothing racks and starting stock. At the end of the day, professional clothing donations will go to the Career Closet and warm clothing will be given to Disability Services. Remaining clothing will be donated.

Friday, March 23

Fix-it Friday, Jamrich Hall Ticket Booth, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Two sewing machines and skilled volunteers will be available to do quick fixes on clothing, such as sewing a button back on or fixing a hole. This is an effort to promote a campus culture based on repairing, rather than throwing out. Order forms will be available for participants to describe their clothing, what needs to be fixed and an expected pick-up time. Any clothes not picked up by the end of the day will be donated.

Saturday, March 24

Earth Hour, 8:30-9:30 p.m.

This is an international, grassroots movement in which participants turn off all their lights and unplug all electronics for one hour in the name of energy conservation. It also closes out NMU’s related Turn Down the Lights campaign. For more information, visit https://www.earthhour.org/.