Putting a green twist on the university tradition of Big Orange Friday, the first ever Big Green Friday on Friday, March 27, will celebrate UT’s sustainability achievements and showcase the campus community’s green pride.
The campus community is encouraged to wear green as a way to celebrate the earth and support the university’s efforts to Make Orange Green.
The Office of Sustainability, along with the Student Government Association Traditions Committee and Environment and Sustainability Committee, will host a Big Green Friday celebration from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the Johnson-Ward Pedestrian Walkway. Students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to stop by for giveaways, games, free food, and music.
Julianna Burchett, co-director of the Student Government Association Environment and Sustainability Committee, wants all students to be involved in Big Green Friday.
“It’s important that students understand that they do have an impact, even in the span of just one day,” Burchett said. “It’s a fun way to learn about what initiatives are happening on campus and ways to make small changes in their everyday lives that benefit not only themselves but also the health of the environment.”
Big Green Friday, which the Office of Sustainability plans to continue as an annual tradition, serves as a kickoff to UT’s ninth annual Earth Month. The month includes a number of highlights:
Sustainability Day of Service
Students will volunteer with agencies that promote environmental awareness, conservation, sustainability, and recycling from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 11.
Annual Earth Day Celebration
Several local food vendors, artisans, and environmental organizations will be on hand for the celebration, which also will include an e-waste recycling drive, “Recyclimpics” games, do-it-yourself workshops, and a green tailgate showcase. The event will be held from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, at the Humanities and Social Sciences Amphitheater.
Later that evening, the Humanities Amphitheater will host a bike-in movie night. The Lorax will be shown at 7:00 p.m.
“The Office of Sustainability is a firm believer in engaging the student, faculty, and staff population in sustainability-related programs, outings, and events on campus. Earth Month is an ideal time to hold such events because many people are already aware of Earth Day. We simply expand upon that awareness by conducting and promoting more than twenty events across campus throughout the month,” said Sustainability Manager Preston Jacobsen.
“There will be no lack of opportunities for the campus population to engage, learn, and ultimately become inspired to continue the work of making campus a more sustainable place to live, learn, and work,” he said.
A full list of events and volunteer opportunities is available on the Earth Month website.
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CONTACT:
Katherine Saxon (865-974-8365, ksaxon@utk.edu)