Numerous Events on Tap for Blue Goes Green Week, April 17-23
Blue Goes Green Week, Old Dominion University's annual celebration of environmental awareness, begins Sunday, April 17.
Sponsored by the Center for Service and Civic Engagement of ODU's Office of Student Activities and Leadership, Blue Goes Green Week features an array of interactive events, designed to demonstrate that being environmentally friendly can be simple, and fun.
"We love this week here at ODU," said Tami Park Farinholt, Center for Service and Civic Engagement coordinator. "The events are so varied, yet so fun. There's truly something for everyone, and the campus really gets engaged by Blue Goes Green Week."
Blue Goes Green Week kicks off Sunday with the Student Activities Council Day of Service. This year's project is a cleanup of the Elizabeth River near the campus, and will be followed by a kayak outing on the river. The event begins with a meeting of students in the U Center in Webb Center. For information, contact Amber Mills at amill069@odu.edu.
Monday, April 18, is Reading Day at the University Village Bookstore from 2-3 p.m. Local youth will gather to hear "green" stories read by volunteers, and do a "green" craft project. To volunteer, visit: http://studentaffairs.odu.edu/osal/community/gogreenreadingvols.shtml.
On Monday from 3-4 p.m., the grounds department and the Center for Service and Civic Engagement will conduct a "trash Audit." A day's worth of ODU garbage will be dumped out on Kaufman Mall, to sort out and see how well the campus community is doing with its recycling efforts. Volunteers are welcome.
On Tuesday, April 19, ODU volunteers will clean the shorelines of two adjacent campus waterways: the Elizabeth River shoreline at 12:30 p.m. and the Lafayette River shoreline at 3 p.m. Also, wetlands grass will be replanted near the Rogers Hall pier at 4 p.m. The event is sponsored by ODU's Office of Environmental Health and Safety, the Student National Environmental Health Association and the Center for Service and Civic Engagement. To volunteer, visit: http://studentaffairs.odu.edu/osal/community/gogreenrivercleanupvols.shtml.
On Wednesday, April 20, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., a blood drive will be held in the Hampton/Newport News Room of Webb Center. The drive is sponsored by the Center for Service and Civic Engagement and three campus Greek societies: Sigma Gamma Rho, Alphi Phi Omega and Alpha Kappa Psi. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged at www.givelife.org (use the sponsor code ODU).
Also, Wednesday has been designated as Recycling Day. Participants are encouraged to bring their recyclables to Kaufman Mall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to see how much ODU can recycle in a day. Recycling Day is sponsored by the Mace & Crown, EcoReps, the Student National Environmental Health Association and the Center for Service and Civic Engagement.
From 4-6 p.m. Wednesday, the Rectors' Room of Webb Center will play host to a taste-off between local and organic beer and wine. The event, sponsored by Aramark and the Student Affairs Go Green Committee, will offer samples of local and organic beverages, along with a discussion of which is better for the environment. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the OSAL office, 1071 Webb Center, by students or other ODU community members who are 21 or older. Each taster will receive a complimentary wine glass and beer tasting glass. All money from ticket sales will be donated to the Save the Children Foundation, for disaster relief in Japan. Participants can also bring wine corks to recycle with reCORK America.
Thursday, April 21, will see three events. The ODU Police Department annual bike auction will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the South Mall of Webb Center. Bikes will be auctioned off for as little as $10 (cash only). For more information, call 683-6528.
Also Thursday, the Experience America lecture series, sponsored by the English Language Center and Office of Intercultural Relations, will hold a talk, "The Land We Live In," from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in the Office of Intercultural Relations, on the second floor of Webb Center. The talk will focus on the economy, particularly stewardship of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, a Go Green vendor fair and obstacle course will be erected on Kaufman Mall. Participants can test their knowledge at the obstacle course, then stop by the vendor fair to network with local agencies and vendors, and enter to win raffle prizes. The event is sponsored by the Center for Service and Civic Engagement, Aramark and the Office of Environmental Health and Safety.
Friday, April 22, is ODU Electronics Recycling Day, from noon to 6 p.m. in the warehouse at 861 W 45th St. From 4-6 p.m. there will also be an open house to promote ODU's Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, on the North Cafeteria patio of Webb Center. The CSA @ ODU open house is sponsored by Aramark, Five Points Community Market and the Center for Service and Civic Engagement.
On Saturday, April 23, Recreation and Wellness, the Army ROTC, the ODU Police Department and the Center for Service and Civic Engagement are sponsoring the Monarch 5K and Adventure Race. The event kicks off at 8 a.m. with a ceremony in the residence hall quad. To register, visit: http://studentaffairs.odu.edu/recsports/EVENTS/5krun.shtml.