Michigan Dining and Central Student Government are co-hosting an Earth Day celebration at two Central Campus locations from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.
The free public event — focusing on sustainability and engagement — will have activities at the Diag and Palmer Commons.
Event highlights at the Diag include:
• Activities sponsored by more than 20 groups, including games, moss graffiti, take-the-tap-water taste test, terracycling, trivia, seed bombing, tie-dye, visioning and music.
• Michigan Dining chefs will perform cooking demonstrations and pass out samples. Free donuts, apples and trinkets will be handed out to visitors.
• The Office of Campus Sustainability, environmental organizations and student groups will share information about efforts to go green. Representatives from the university’s campus farm will explain its sustainable operations and volunteer opportunities.
Event highlight at Palmer Commons include:
• A free showing of “Farmland” at 2:30 p.m. in Forum Hall. A panel discussion with farmers will follow. The documentary looks at farmers and ranchers in their 20s who are passionate about the evolving life passed down through generations.
“This event raises awareness of the wonderful things our Earth provides and celebrates these things, as well as identifies the problems our planet faces. We hope students will participate in more sustainable actions and take initiative around campus,” said Jayson Toweh, treasurer of the CSG Sustainability Commission.
Through Planet Blue, the university is engaging the community to meet 2025 goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transportation emissions and waste tonnage. Michigan Dining is working toward a goal of having 20 percent of food served on campus purchased from farms within a 250-mile radius.
Sustainability culture programs aim to educate the community, track behavior and report on progress over time. For example, a Sustainable Workplace Certification Program encourages staff and faculty to voluntarily participate in an informal inventory of their office practices and actions.
Earth Day, officially on April 22, is an annual recognition by 192 countries that demonstrate support for environmental protection. Ann Arbor has been a part of Earth Day since its inception. The university celebrates earlier this year, due to conflicting events scheduled for final exams on April 22.
