Campus Sustainability Updates - Sustainability Hub for Innovation & Environment

UPCOMING ECOREPS EVENTS 

Campus Clean Up - April 13 at 11 am - Meet at the OLA Pavillion (weather dependent) 

Recycling 101 Skillbuilder - April 18 from 5-6 pm  in Jamrich 1311 

Sharing Nature with Children - April 20 

Stay Pressed - April 24 from 12-4 pm  in the JXJ Atrium (across from 1100)

Stay Pressed - April 15 from 10-4 pm in the  JXJ Atrium (across from 1100)

No Meeting - Vote for E-Board members! - April 25 

Sewing Menstral Products - April 15 at 5 pm at the SHINE Building - RSVP Required to mikroger@nmu.edu

Sustainable Dining Day at Northern Lights Dining - April 28 from 11 am- 7 pm 

NMU LINCOLN COMMUNITY GARDEN WITH CONSERVATION CREW EVENTS 

Bog Walk + Indigenous Plant Hike - Thursday, 4.11 at 5:00pm - Meet at the OLA Pavillion

Filling Empty Lands, Hands, & Stomachs: The Lost Hisotry of the Orginal Community Garden Plan + Potato Starting Workshop - Monday, 4.15 at 6:00pm in Jamrich 2319

Compostable Bird Feeders + Birdhouse Workshop - Wednesday, 4.17 at 5:30pm in Jamrich 2319

Eco-Consciousness & Pollinators Talk + Seed Bomb Workshop - Friday, 4.19 at 5:30pm in TSB 3803

S-LOW GROWTH WORKSHOP SERIES 

Indigenous Food & Identity with Dr. Martin Reinhardt

Thursday, April 18 at 4pm at the Center of Native American Studies firesite (rain location in Whitman Commons)

UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY SUSTAINABILITY WEEK 

To learn more about the United Nations General Assembly Sustainability Week and the events offered, visit the United Nations website.

10TH ANNUAL ANDERTON’S EARTH WEEK 

Earth week is April 21-27, 2024! The EEGS department and Gamma Theta Upsilon (GTU) are offering many amazing events! All events are free and open to the public! See the full schedule here. If you would like to learn more about the importance of Anderton’s Earth Week, read this SHINE article. Below are some of the events offered! 

Sunday, 4.21 - 11:30 am-1 pm Outdoor Learning Area (OLA) Spring Cleaning 

Monday, 4.22 - Forest Bathing Walk at the Academic Mall at 2 pm & Documentary Screening: “BAD RIVER” with guest speaker Dr. Liz Arbuckle in Jamrich 1100 from 7-9 pm 

Tuesday, 4.23 - Renter-Friendly Composting Workshop in Jamrich 1320 from 4-6 pm & Food Systems Forum in Jamrich 3102 from 5-6 pm

Wednesday, 4.24 - Stay Pressed” Button-Making for Social/Environmental Justice in the Jamrich Atrium from 12-4 pm & Documentary Screening: “Scale of Hope” in Jamrich 1311 from 6:30-8 pm 

Thursday, 4.25 - Stay Pressed” Button-Making for Social/Environmental Justice in the Jamrich Atrium from 10-4 pm & Environment/Sustainability Trivia Night in Jamrich 1315 from 6:30-7:30 pm 

Friday, 4.26 - Earth Fest in the Jamrich Atrium from 11:30-2 pm 

Saturday, 4.27 - Pollinator Garden Work Party at the NMU Hoop House from 12-2 pm 

A MASTERCLASS ON REJECTING THE LINE 5 OIL TUNNEL

The Masterclass on Rejection the Line 5 Oil Tunnel takes place on April 24, 2024, from 5-6:30 pm. This panel will discuss how to stop the proposed Line 5 oil tunnel, giving the audience a clear picture, including the legal, engineering, cultural, and natural resources aspects, of why this project is a risky solution. Experts will also explain why we cannot afford to wait to shut down the existing dual pipelines. There are 30 minutes for a Q&A session!
The in-person location is at the Alluvion Theater in the Commongrounds building in Traverse City, MI (414 E Eighth St, Traverse City, MI 49686). There is also FREE LIVE ONLINE STREAMING ACCESS! 

Register here for in-person at Alluvion in Traverse City (seats going fast, so we recommend registering today).
Register here for the livestream option.

The speakers for this event include:

• Dan Bock, Assistant Attorney General, State of Michigan: Presented a stellar and widely acclaimed case in Cincinnati's federal court re Line 5 just weeks ago.
• Brian O’Mara, Geological Engineer and 30-Year Tunnel Expert: Has testified to critical engineering and technical/safety concerns with the tunnel design. 
• Frank Ettawageshik, Executive Director of the United Tribes of Michigan: An iconic and enduring voice in the tribal movement to shut down Line 5 and protect tribal sovereignty.
• Denise Keele, Executive Director Michigan Climate Action Network: Director of one of the nation's largest state-based climate networks and a leading voice in Line 5 activism.
• Sean McBrearty, Operations Director, Oil & Water Don’t Mix: A central voice and critical strategist in the effort to shut down Line 5.
• Ashley Rudzinski, Climate & Environment Program Director, Groundwork: A dedicated advocate for elevating freshwater and climate concerns for Line 5.

FOOD ORGANIZATION MEETING 

The next meeting will be on the first Thursday of school, August 29th. This meeting will be a great time to establish the purpose of this organization and create a plan for the organization going forward. 

SEA CHANGE EXPEDITION 

The Sea Change Expedition Program is looking for college-aged activist adventurers to sail, work, and educate on Lake Superior this summer. To learn more about this program, visit the Sea Change Expedition website. 

The 10th Annual Anderton’s Earth Week is hosted by the Earth, Environmental, and Geographical (EEGS) Department on April 21-27, 2024. NMU academic departments and student organizations will be offering a variety of collaborative events to honor Dr. John B. Anderton and practice environmental stewardship. Stay tuned for the Anderton’s Earth Week finalized calendar! The draft calendar is here. 

NMU’s Earth Week is named after the late Dr. John Anderton, a former Department Head of Earth, Environmental, and Geographical Sciences (EEGS) and a beloved professor. Students loved Dr. Anderton’s teaching style and his effective communication that helped them understand the natural world around them. Dr. Anderton was passionate about active outdoor learning, a practice that NMU faculty members have carried on. He was passionate about his home in the Upper Peninsula, and especially places like Presque Isle and Little Presque along the shores of Lake Superior. 

Dr. Anderton’s legacy lives on at NMU through experiential learning in the Marquette area and through the student’s participation in environmental activism. He embodied many of NMU’s values such as inclusion and the environment. 

Written by: Paige Whaley 

I love clothes. I’ve loved them ever since I was small, so small that I had to stand on my tipped toes in order to dig through the old cedar chest my mom kept our dress-up outfits in. As I grew up, clothes continued to be a means through which I expressed who I was. I thought of clothes as an art form, with every new outfit came a new opportunity to explore a different side of myself. 

When I turned 15 and began my freshman year of high school everything changed. I had found a new love, a love of the Earth, and a ferocious desire to protect it. I began to learn about fast fashion, I learned that many of the clothes that I loved were made unethically, and most contained microplastics, and I hated microplastics (I still do). I saw my maximalist closet as a gross representation of who I now was, a climate warrior. I donated many of my clothes and began my journey into minimalism. I created a capsule wardrobe and felt that I no longer needed fun clothes in order to validate who I was. In hindsight, I was miserable. Deep down I missed all of the colors, and layering, and how my old wardrobe allowed me to be a new person each day. What I needed to find was a balance.

Returning to my eclectic roots, I started to research sustainable fashion and ethical consumption. What I found was an entire community of treasure hunters. I found people who loved the Earth and clothing just as much as I did. These were individuals who had denounced fast fashion and began frequenting thrift stores. They were discovering beauty in the discarded, upcycling what others viewed as broken, and keeping clothes from entering into the landfill. I had found my people.

I am passionate about the slow fashion movement because it challenges us to question our habits and vote with our dollar. The events that I have held alongside my fellow Earth lovers and menders have been deeply inspiring. As the sustainable fashion intern for SHINE, being in the presence of people who care about our planet's wellbeing has brought me hope for a greener future. When we choose to shop secondhand or mend our garments instead of buying new, we are choosing to put the planet first. Through the collaborative events that I will continue to host, I hope to inspire others to embrace creativity, learn valuable mending and upcycling skills, and adopt sustainable practices in all areas of life.

Written by Miki Rogers (she/her) 

SHINE Sustainable Fashion Intern

About the Program

The Sustainability Fellows Program provides an opportunity for a faculty member to advance an initiative or research project related to sustainability on our campus or in our curriculum. The fellowship will be a one-year special appointment (beginning in the Fall semester). During that time the Fellow will assist with the administration of campuswide sustainability initiatives (including strategic planning and budgeting) and implementing activities that exemplify the principles of the Okanagan Charter. The SHINE team and AVP for Sustainability will assist the Fellow in advancing their proposed project, applying for external funding, and reporting progress to the campus community. Fellows will be expected to serve on the Sustainability Council and attend SHINE team meetings. 

Appointment

Fellows will have up to 12 credits of reassigned time per academic year, with replacement costs covered by SHINE. The fellowship is for 1-2 years (specify in application), and could continue during the summer (with summer salary) if desired/necessary. Fellows should also provide a proposed budget for any training, conference travel or other activities related to the implementation of the proposed project. 

Sustainability Fellows Application Process

Applicants must be tenured faculty or have continuing (NMUFA) or continuing contract status (AAUP). Applications should be submitted electronically before May 1, 2024, in full, as a single pdf document to the AVP for Sustainability jessitho@nmu.edu and must include: 

• A curriculum vitae 
• A letter addressed to the AVP for Sustainability describing (1) why the applicant is interested in the Fellow's program; (2) a description of a specific project that could be completed within the 1-2 year fellowship; (3) a proposed project timeline; and (4) a proposed budget that may include professional development costs. 
• A letter of support from your department head 
• Evidence that your dean also supports your application (copy of email communication is sufficient).

Applications will be evaluated based on overall fit with the current institutional needs and strength of the application.

The Sustainability Council brings together representatives from across campus to promote and align sustainability efforts as well as share observations, insights, experience, and expertise related to sustainability. The structure and function of the Council is intended to help ensure that NMU is effectively communicating and coordinating sustainability initiatives and programs across campus and in the community. 

The Sustainability Council is also designed to demonstrate NMU’s commitment to the 8 Key Principles for Action outlined in the Okanagan Charter:  

1. Use settings and whole system approaches
2. Ensure comprehensive and campus-wide approaches
3. Use participatory approaches and engage the voices of students and others
4. Develop transdisciplinary collaborations and cross-sector partnerships
5. Promote research, innovation, and evidence-informed action
6. Build on strengths
7. Value local and indigenous communities’ contexts and priorities
8. Act on an existing universal responsibility

Council Charge

The Sustainability Council exists to build a culture of sustainability at NMU. Members help coordinate and communicate sustainability-related projects and mobilize sustainability initiatives related to (1) curriculum and research, (2) campus operations, and (3) community engagement. 

Proposed Sub-Committees

• Curriculum & Research

• Campus Operations

• Community Partnerships

• Green Fund Review & Implementation

• Strategic Planning & Initiatives

   

Meeting Frequency

• Entire Council - meet at least twice per semester; a minimum of four meetings per academic year. 

• Subcommittees - meet at least twice per semester; a minimum of four meetings per academic year (in addition to the meeting of the entire council). 

   

Council Membership

Standing Members

• Assistant VP for Sustainability

• Associate VP for Engineering & Planning / Facilities

• Associate Director - Facilities, Building Services & Sustainability

• Director, Center for Native American Studies

• EcoReps Faculty Advisor

• Sustainability Fellow

Students (up to 15)

• SHINE interns

• EcoReps Executive Director or designee

• ASNMU President or designee

• Student Athletic Council / Green Athletics Working Group Chair or designee

• Environmental Sustainability Student Org Leaders (Conservation Crew, GTU, etc.) 

• Diversity Student Org Leaders (BSU, NASA, ASU, Q&A, Feminism for All, etc.)

NMU Faculty and Staff (up to 15)

Representatives from each of the employee unions (AAUP, NMUFA, AP, TOP, AFSCME) College deans and/or department heads

Community Members (up to 5)

• Regional Tribal Representatives KBIC, Sault, Hannahville, Bay Mills

• Climate Adaptation Task Force

• Environmental NGO representatives (Superior Watershed Partnership, Michigan Environmental Council, etc.)

• City and County municipal government representatives

Regular Invited Guests

• Vice President, People, Culture and WellBeing

• AVP for Diversity & Inclusion

• AVP for Wellbeing

• Department Head, Earth Environment and Geographical Sciences

• Chief Marketing Officer, or designee

Leadership: The Council shall elect a Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary by simple majority vote at the last meeting of the academic year. The officers will assume their duties on July 1. The elected leaders will work with the AVP for Sustainability to set the Council’s meeting dates and agenda for the following academic year. 

Terms of Appointment: Faculty/staff members appointed in the first year will have randomly staggered terms from 1-3 years. However, once first-year membership is established, non-student members will be eligible for an additional three-year term. Student members are appointed for one year with renewal possible for up to 3 years. 

After a two year long campaign by DivestNMU, on December 15th, 2023 the NMU
Board of Trustees voted unanimously to divest Northerns investments from the fossil fuel
industry. This means that by 2028, NMU’s endowment fund will cease to have investments
funding fossil fuels, which currently 6% is indirectly invested towards the industry as well as
increase their sustainability-related investments by up to 15%.

This monumental change is a step in the right direction towards climate action at NMU.
DivestNMU, a student organization, has been campaigning for the administration to divest their
endowment since October of 2021. Below is their statement on the passing of divestment:

“DivestNMU originated in October 2021 from a highly motivated group of students that
were a part of the EcoReps student organization. Sitting around a campfire on the shores of Lake
Superior, students came together with the goal of the university achieving divestment from fossil
fuel companies. With an initial campus wide petition and protest, DivestNMU gained momentum
drawing the attention of local news broadcasters, faculty, students, and the Board of Trustees.
The administration was very keen to work with us over the last two years and used our objectives
from our original proposal to create the university’s divestment strategy. This work could not
have been possible without the groups’ advisor and NMU professor Ryan Stock and the group of
students dedicated to campaigning for the university to eliminate its investments in the fossil fuel
industry. These students include alumni and current students Molly Miller, Hilde Eide, Julia
Hrynkiw, Zoe Tardy, Taylor Schmitt, Marley Wolff, Laura Whipple, Mackenzie Geary, Maggie
Bailey, and Kolibri Drobish. Students a part of DivestNMU wish to thank and applaud the NMU
administration for taking action in this notable step towards campus climate action.”

This past Friday, at Northern Climate Networks Climate @ Noon, DivestNMU past and
present members presented about how they were able to make this systemic change. From
research, outreach and education, to protesting and meeting with administration, there was a lot
of hard work and effort that went on behind the scenes of their campaign. If you weren’t able to
make it, but want to hear more about their story or learn about what divestment means for NMU
you can watch it here. In addition to that, if you want to read more about the December Board of
Trustees meeting, you can find Northern Today's article here.

Written by: Mackenzie Geary