Blue Goes Green: ODU’s Annual Color Combination Week Blends Service and Environmentalism

April 10, 2013

There is a saying about fashion that "blue and green should never be seen."

Clearly, those fashionistas have never been to Old Dominion University in April. During Blue Goes Green Week, the two colors blend perfectly, as ODU's spirit of service combines with environmentalism for a series of community engagement events involving the entire campus.

"Blue and green are a perfect color combination for us," said Tami Park-Farinholt, coordinator of Old Dominion University's Center for Service and Civic Engagement. "We have such an engaged campus, and with April being the month of Earth Day, Blue Goes Green Week has evolved into one of our biggest service events of the entire year."

This year's Blue Goes Green Week, scheduled for April 21-26, features a dizzying array of activities with an environmental bent. Here is a list of the major activities planned.

• Sunday, April 21 - Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center 5K, 8 a.m., Kaufman Mall

Join the first Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center 5K at ODU to support local conservation, citizen science and the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center. Register online at: www.raceit.com/register/?event=19365. The event is sponsored by the Marine Biology Student Association and the Center for Service and Civic Engagement.

• Monday, April 22 - Climb Green at the SRC Climbing Wall, 4-11 p.m., Student Recreation Center climbing wall

Come to the SRC Climbing Wall wearing green in support of Mother Nature and receive a green treat. No sign ups needed, just come out and climb. All skill levels welcome. Sponsored by the Outdoor Adventure Program of ODU Recreation and Wellness.

• Monday, April 22 - Tuesday, April 23 - Clothing Swap, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Hampton/Newport News Room, Webb Center

One's trash is another's treasure! Swap out your new or gently used items with someone else's at the Go Green Clothing Swap. Items will be collected in the Center for Service and Civic Engagement office in Webb Center starting April 1. Each item donated gives you a token to collect one item at the swap on Monday and Tuesday. All items in good working order accepted. The Go Green Committee and Career Management Center are sponsors.

• Tuesday, April 23 - Go Green Vendor Fair, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kaufman Mall

Do you have what it takes to Go Green? Test your knowledge on the Go Green Obstacle Course and see goods and services offered by local agencies, nonprofits and vendors. Organic fare will be available to sample, and raffle prizes will be given out, including a spring subscription to ODU's Community Supported Agriculture co-op. Sponsored by ODU's Center for Service and Civic Engagement, the Office of Environmental Health and Safety and Aramark.

• Tuesday, April 23 - Research Poster Presentations, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Kaufman Mall

In conjunction with the Go Green Vendor Fair, learn about the sustainability research activities of ODU faculty, students and community organizations. Sponsored by the Go Green Committee.

• Wednesday, April 24 - Waterway Cleanup, 11 a.m. Elizabeth River shoreline, 2 p.m. Lafayette River shoreline

A crew of volunteers will bend their backs to clean up the waterway shorelines bordering the campus. To volunteer, visit: www.odu.edu/forms_admin/veiwform.php?formid=3878. Sponsored by ODU's Office of Environmental Health and Safety, the Student National Environmental Health Association, and the Center for Service and Civic Engagement.

• Thursday, April 25 - ODU Trash Audit, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kaufman Mall

How "clean" is ODU trash? Slap on some gloves and join in as a day's worth of ODU trash gets dumped on a parking lot. Volunteers will sort out the trash and evaluate how good the campus community really is at recycling. The event is sponsored by ODU's Recycling Center and the Center for Service and Civic Engagement.

• Thursday, April 25 - Recycle Life! Bone Marrow Drive, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Hampton/Newport News Room, Webb Center

"Get In the Game, Save a Life!" Explore sustainability in a new way by registering as a bone marrow donor. One cheek swab could be the key to saving one of the more than 6,000 people a day who may need life-saving bone marrow. Sponsored by ODU Athletics and ODU Football.

• Friday, April 26 - Electronics Recycling Day, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Recycling Center (861 W. 45th St.)

Recycle your techno-trash by dropping your unwanted electronics off at ODU. Sponsored by the Recycling Center and the Center for Service and Civic Engagement.

• Friday, April 26 - Operation Monarch Pride, Campus Cleanup and ODU Arbor Day Celebration, 2 p.m., Whitehurst Beach

ODU recently received Tree Campus USA designation. The culmination of Blue Goes Green Week will see a campus-wide cleanup and tree-planning event, followed by a cookout celebration on Whitehurst Beach. To volunteer, visit: http://ww2.studentaffairs.odu.edu/osal/community/gogreenarborday.shtml.

For more information about any Blue Goes Green Week event, and to find out how to get involved, contact the Center for Service and Civic Engagement at 683-6948 or volunteer@odu.edu.