Sustainability | Today at �鶹��Ƶ | �鶹��Ƶ

Season of shadows and light: �鶹��Ƶ community celebrates Samhain

hzaken — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 21:48:14 +0000

Approximately 50 community members gathered in a candle-lit McBride Gathering Space to celebrate Samhain, an ancient Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter. Hosted by the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life and the Office of Sustainability, the university’s first Samhain celebration invited participants to explore Earth-based spiritual traditions through seasonal activities, reflection, and community.

Traditionally observed beginning at sunset on Oct. 31, Samhain marks a seasonal transition and holds significance for many Pagan and other Earth-based spiritual communities.

The celebration transformed McBride Gathering Space and the Sacred Space into a welcoming setting for the occasion. Students participated in a variety of activities, including painting small pumpkins, creating seasonal simmer pots with fruits and spices, exploring tarot and oracle cards, and writing messages honoring ancestors. “Scrappy” fall-themed foods to help prevent food waste on campus, and s’mores from �鶹��Ƶ Outdoors offered another opportunity to gather and enjoy the season.

The program opened with an educational presentation by Multifaith Interns Alana Moss Caldwell and Priyal Sanartha, who introduced the history and significance of Samhain. Hillary Zaken, director of Multifaith Programming and Engagement, and Multifaith Intern Aeiris Faloni also shared reflections on the meaning of the holiday. Faloni then led a brief meditation, inviting participants to pause and reflect on the changing season.

Organized by the Earth-Based Spirituality branch of the Truitt Center, the celebration builds on growing opportunities for students to explore Pagan traditions and other forms of nontraditional spirituality at �鶹��Ƶ.

“Over the past few years, we have seen an increasing number of community members interested in celebrating and learning about earth-based traditions,” said Zaken, “So we are meeting students where they are, and ensuring that they have a vibrant and diverse community where they belong. Events like Samhain provide opportunities for students to learn about Earth-based traditions while participating in hands-on activities.”

For Aeiris Faloni, the growing interest in Earth-based spirituality reflects a desire among students to find community and explore spiritual practices outside more traditional religious structures.

“Samhain celebration gave us an incredible opportunity to create community – facilitating deep conversations about the things we wish for ourselves, the stories of those who came before us, and the ways we can support each other now,” said Faloni. “It also gave us a chance to gauge interest in an upcoming new student organization, FERN (Folk, Earth-Based Religions and Nontraditional Spiritualities), which will hopefully be officially hosting events in the spring semester!”

Students at the Truitt Center’s Samhain celebration

The Truitt Center’s multifaith celebrations create opportunities for the �鶹��Ƶ community to learn about religious, spiritual and cultural traditions through experiences that combine education, participation and celebration. Members of the Multifaith Intern cohort develop and lead many of these programs, helping create spaces where students can encounter traditions beyond their own.

Through its first Samhain celebration, the Truitt Center invited students to consider the meaning of seasonal transitions, the importance of community, and the many ways people find connection with the natural world. As the season turns toward winter, the gathering offered an opportunity to slow down and reflect.

“Samhain marks a time when the veil between the world of the living and deceased is thin, and many take it as an opportunity to honor those who came before us and those who surround us now,” Faloni explained. “We embraced this topic at the Truitt Center’s celebration, allowing space for folks to write messages to loved ones, and wishes for themselves as we head into the season of winter.”

Students at the Truitt Center’s Samhain celebration

The Month in Photos: October 2026

Avery Craine Powell — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 16:34:48 +0000

October brought the sights and sounds of fall to �鶹��Ƶ, with a month full of celebrations, traditions and opportunities for connection. From welcoming alumni back to campus for Homecoming & Reunion Weekend, launching the new School of Engineering, to the changing colors of autumn, the �鶹��Ƶ community embraced all that the season had to offer.

Take a look back at some of the memorable moments from October through the lenses of staff in the Office of University Communications.

‘Everybody’

�鶹��Ƶ Performing Arts presented “Everybody,”��a modern adaptation of the 15th-century morality play Everyman, one of the first recorded plays in the English language.

�鶹��Ƶ Performing Arts dress rehearsal of “everybody” at Scott Theater on October 1, 2026

A transformational education

An opening celebration for the Roberts Academy, the university’s new elementary school for children with dyslexia, featured a special student performance on Oct. 2, and a ribbon-cutting with Marjorie and Hal Roberts, whose generosity helped establish the school in 2025.

The Roberts Academy at �鶹��Ƶ is the fourth private school established by the couple, joining Vanderbilt University, Mercer University, and Florida Southern College in a network of programs committed to the advancement of education for children with dyslexia and related conditions.

From left: Tait Arend, Ann Bullock, �鶹��Ƶ President Connie Ledoux Book, Marjorie Roberts and Hal Roberts cut a ribbon on Oct. 2, 2026, to formally open the Roberts Academy at �鶹��Ƶ.

Tiny shelf concert

�鶹��Ƶ’s Musical Theatre department hosted a “Tiny Shelf Concert on Oct. 2 in Belk Library.

Students from �鶹��Ƶ’s Music Theatre department perform in Belk Library lobby on Friday, Oct. 2 for the fall Tiny Shelf Concert.

The ‘biggest’ Rock the Block yet

The Office of Alumni��Engagement��and��the��Student Union Board collaborated once again to��host��the Homecoming concert with DJ Diesel (Shaquille O’Neal) bringing approximately 5,000 attendees to the annual Rock the Block concert on Oct. 9.

Rock the Block featuring DJ Diesel (aka Shaquille O’Neal) at Young Commons on October 9, 2026

Rock the Block featuring DJ Diesel (aka Shaquille O’Neal) at Young Commons on Oct.�� 9, 2026

Learning everywhere

Assistant Professor of Management Jose Cerecedo Lopez teaches a class outside near the Koury Business Center.

Outdoor class with Jose Cerecedo Lopez on Oct. 9, 2026

Engineering excellence

Dozens of university leaders, faculty, staff and students were joined on Oct. 30, 2026, by the CEO of the world’s leading accrediting body for engineering education programs, as well as North Carolina’s secretary of commerce, for a morning of reflection on the rise of �鶹��Ƶ’s new School of Engineering and Computing.

Engineering & Computing Launch Event at Founders Hall on Oct. 30, 2026

Pumpkin playfulness

The �鶹��Ƶ Community Garden Club and the Garden Studio course hosted the 18th annual��Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 30, uniting students, organizations, faculty, staff and��community members with fall festivities, including��live music, fun crafting activities and food at the �鶹��Ƶ Community Garden.

�鶹��Ƶ Pumpkin Festival at the �鶹��Ƶ Community Garden on Oct. 30, 2026.

Annual �鶹��Ƶ Pumpkin Festival offers warm welcomes and smiles

Avery Craine Powell — Mon, 02 Nov 2026 15:49:18 +0000

The �鶹��Ƶ Community Garden Club and the Garden Studio course hosted the 18th annual Pumpkin Festival on Oct. 30, uniting students, organizations, faculty, staff and��community members with fall festivities, including��live music, fun crafting activities and food at the �鶹��Ƶ Community Garden.

Participants were met with stew and chili options with apple cider to match. Tables lined the garden, hosted by different organizations at �鶹��Ƶ, including WSOE, Milk Club and �鶹��Ƶ Dining.��

Claire Moorhead, vice-president of Phoenix Free, was tabling a tie-dye activity for the festival. It was her second year tabling for the event, and she noted the positive effect it has on campus.��

“The main goal is just to spread joy and happiness,” she said. “It’s so nice, it’s so sweet, but on a personal level, the point of any tabling event for Phoenix Free is just kind of get the name out. If there’s anybody ever struggling, just knowing that there’s a place on campus for them.”��

�鶹��Ƶ Pumpkin Festival at the �鶹��Ƶ Community Gardens on Oct. 30

Michael Strickland, director of the Center for Environmental Studies and assistant teaching professor of English and environmental studies,��teaches the Garden Studio class. He helped start the garden in 2006 and the festival in 2008, watching it grow throughout the years.��Students from his garden studio class work to maintain the garden and create vital aspects of the garden.��For the festival, his students tabled a food section featuring Brunswick stew, a traditional North Carolinian harvest stew.��

“It’s the end of the season; you just throw everything in a pot,” he said. “Typically in North Carolina, you can throw alligator, turtle, possum, whatever you got. We don’t do that here, but we throw all the different fall vegetables in there.”��

Sophia Barnes, an eco-rep for Loy Center with the Office of Sustainability��tabled a��craft-making activity. Barnes promoted sustainability by offering thrifted cloth, string, and recycled newspaper to make little ghost figures. ��

�鶹��Ƶ Pumpkin Festival at the �鶹��Ƶ Community Gardens on Oct. 30

For Barnes, events like the Pumpkin Festival make sustainability and their goals all the more enjoyable. ��

“I think that it’s a really good vibe with all of the sustainable clubs together at once,” she said. “I like when we do events like this and we have Garden Club and Farm Club and the Office of Sustainability, and we can all kind of collaborate.”��

Barnes’ table also offered thrifted Halloween costumes that were free to take, offering a sustainable alternative to costume hunting.��

For attendees, they explored free activities, crafts, food items and desserts. Pumpkin carving, however, was the most popular activity. Three large tables were filled with students carving unique designs.��

One attendee,��Eadaoin Bourgerie ’30, was carving a pumpkin into a jack-o’-lantern.��

“I just really wanted to carve a pumpkin, so gotta so I got to get into the holiday spirit,” she said. “I like all the little treats and stuff, and it’s also just really homely here.”��

�鶹��Ƶ Pumpkin Festival at the �鶹��Ƶ Community Garden on Oct. 30, 2026.

�鶹��Ƶ Pumpkin Festival at the �鶹��Ƶ Community Gardens on October 30, 2026

�鶹��Ƶ Pumpkin Festival the the Community Gardens on October 30, 2026

Under the oaks, maples and magnolias: Exploring �鶹��Ƶ’s trees

Kate Blair — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 13:27:17 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ’s campus boasts an inventory of over 6,000 adult trees across 125 different species, with capacity for an additional 125 pot-in-pot trees planted in a nursery housed on Loy Farm. This inventory is managed by arborists Wendy Williams and Benjamin Conner, who work to balance a growing campus with tree health.

Having first started as a gardener at �鶹��Ƶ in 1993, Williams has over 33 years of experience managing �鶹��Ƶ’s natural landscape, and was amed the first full-time arborist in 2006.

“I love all types of plants, but here at �鶹��Ƶ, I do feel the trees are the most special part of living or working on �鶹��Ƶ’s campus. It’s a privilege to be able to work with these beauties,” Williams said.

When asked about her job, Williams shared that she and Conner are “first and foremost responsible for assessing the health and condition of the trees. [They] then mitigate the issues that are in-house responsibilities. This could be removing dead or dying branches or pruning to train young trees to develop a good branching structure. [They] also prune for building clearance or to allow for vehicular or pedestrian traffic.”

Alongside these landscaping responsibilities, the arborists also maintain a few hundred identification labels that display a trees’ common name, scientific name and family. These efforts support �鶹��Ƶ’s botanical garden and its ArbNet Accreditation.

Conner is the newest addition to �鶹��Ƶ’s landscaping and grounds crew, serving as �鶹��Ƶ’s second arborist on campus. On Oct. 9, Conner helped guide the semesterly Campus Tree Walk with �鶹��Ƶ’s Botanical Garden Coordinator, Philip Perez. This tour covers a 1.25-mile walk around the core of �鶹��Ƶ’s campus, where community members can interact with well over 100 different species of trees. This campus walk introduces students, faculty and staff to a variety of trees ranging from the Paperbark Maple to the Tricolor European Beech, to the 14 different oak species represented in Historic neighborhood’s “Under the Oaks.”

Community members looking at a China Fur (October, 2026)

Of these oak trees, Conner and Perez paid special attention to the White Oak growing behind Alamance. This tree has been on campus since the school was founded and is the inspiration for the iconic oak leaf on �鶹��Ƶ’s flag. Having survived the 1923 fire, the tree underwent a specialized process known as “tree surgery,” where concrete was poured into the open wound of the tree caused by the fire to preserve its structural integrity. Having grown over this concrete wound, this oak tree continues to thrive on campus and produce the acorns littered across the bricks.

White Oak branches behind Alamance (October, 2026)

Campus tree walks are typically held each semester and are an opportunity for both the arborists and �鶹��Ƶ community members to learn more about the trees on campus.

“(Giving tours with the Office of Sustainbility) makes me focus once or twice a year on gathering tree facts,” Williams said. “Every year, I uncover things I never knew. I love sharing my enthusiasm for trees and meeting fellow tree huggers!”

NatureRx program wins national award

Evan Small — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 14:24:50 +0000

The Residential College Society awarded the Nature Rx program “Stargazing for Mental Health” with the national program of the year award at their annual conference, hosted at Vanderbilt University. The RCS seeks to integrate co-curricular and curricular experiences within a residential environment and works to promote programming that helps students connect all facets of their university experience.

“Stargazing for Mental Health” is an event held each semester as part of �鶹��Ƶ’s NatureRx program, and is a collaboration between Counseling Services, the Office of Sustainability, and the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education. NatureRx focuses on the mental, emotional and social benefits that can be gained through a more mindful and intentional connection with the natural world. Since its inception at �鶹��Ƶ, NatureRx has engaged thousands of students, staff, and faculty through monthly events, workshops, class lectures, and other forms of programming.

The ‘Stargazing’ program partners with Danieley Neighborhood, Historic Neighborhood, the Physics Department, and the Astronomy Club to introduce students to a different way to engage with the outdoors. Over 100 students attend the event each semester and are able to learn about light pollution, engage in mindfulness activities, and explore the night sky.

This award highlights the RCS annual conference theme: “Radical Collaboration: The Role of Residential Colleges in 21st Century Higher Education.” This collaborative program engages students from across campus and helps them build skills for their wellness journeys.

Solar energy center begins operations with support from �鶹��Ƶ

Kelly Harer — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 14:15:59 +0000

�鶹��Ƶ and eight other colleges and universities in North Carolina and Pennsylvania have collaborated to bring a western Kentucky solar energy center online.

A subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC developed the Sebree Solar Energy Center in Henderson County, Kentucky; the project became operational on August 7, 2026. The 150-megawatt solar facility will help meet the region’s growing electricity demand, generating the equivalent of enough energy annually to power more than 20,000 homes. Sebree Solar II will also contribute more than $15.5 million in new tax revenue over the life of the facility, money that could be used to enhance schools, roads and other essential services.

Coordinated by ERM Coho, the higher education consortium supporting the project with a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) includes Davidson College, Dickinson College, �鶹��Ƶ, Haverford College, Lafayette College, Lehigh University, Muhlenberg College, Swarthmore College and Wake Forest University.

Participating in the project will help �鶹��Ƶ achieve its target of carbon neutrality by 2037. Carbon neutrality was initially established as an institutional goal in 2007 and is part of the Boldly �鶹��Ƶ strategic plan and Sustainability Master Plan.

“The Sebree Solar II Energy Center builds on our long-term presence in Henderson County and reflects continued investment in the region,” said Lester Morales, senior project manager of development at NextEra Energy Resources. “Projects like this support local economies and contribute to meeting growing energy needs.”

A portion of the Sebree Solar II Energy Center during construction.

While electricity generated by the Sebree Solar II Energy Center cannot be transmitted directly to the consortium campuses because geographic distance prevents the direct transmission of the electricity, the benefits of investing in new additional renewable energy will still be realized by the schools with no upfront capital costs. �鶹��Ƶ will receive renewable energy credits expected to equal 100 percent of the electricity used by its campus, which can be used to account for greenhouse gas emissions related to purchased electricity.

“�鶹��Ƶ is proud to be a part of this consortium and facilitating the addition of solar energy to the grid,” said Elaine Durr, senior director of sustainability at �鶹��Ƶ. “This project specifically addresses the facilities goal and energy source strategy in the Sustainability Master Plan and will provide �鶹��Ƶ students with unique opportunities to learn about the renewable energy industry.”

The nine colleges and universities involved in the project will also receive access to data from the Sebree Solar II Energy Center for classroom use, as well as campus speaking engagements, opportunities for site visits and student internships.

�鶹��Ƶ �鶹��Ƶ

�鶹��Ƶ is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture. At �鶹��Ƶ, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff. More than 70 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business administration, business analytics, accounting, education, higher education, clinical mental health counseling, physician assistant studies and physical therapy. www.elon.edu

�鶹��Ƶ NextEra Energy Resources

NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, together with its affiliated entities, (“NextEra Energy Resources”) is America’s largest energy infrastructure developer and builder. The company develops, builds and operates long-term contracted power generation, battery storage and electric and gas transmission. NextEra Energy Resources also delivers integrated electric, gas supply and technology solutions to utilities, load-serving entities and businesses across the United States. As of year-end 2025, the company had approximately 37,505 megawatts of net generating capacity in operation. NextEra Energy Resources is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE). For more information, visit��

�鶹��Ƶ ERM Coho

ERM Coho is a global climate adviser dedicated to helping clients navigate complexity and take ambitious steps on their climate journey. We provide deep market insight, analytical problem-solving, and change management expertise so that clients can switch to renewable energy and make other large-scale climate and water resiliency investments with confidence and internal alignment. To learn more about how ERM Coho can help organizations get ahead of their climate goals, visit��.

�鶹��Ƶ staff attend Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education conference

Kate Blair — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 20:00:16 +0000

Three �鶹��Ƶ employees recently attended the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education’s annual Conference and Expo to connect and exchange ideas with colleagues from around the world.

From Oct. 4-6, Elaine Durr, senior director of sustainability; Kelly Harer, associate director of sustainability for education and outreach; and Jameka Pinnix, associate director of student bias education and response, participated in AASHE’s annual Conference and Expo in Baltimore, Maryland.

During this conference, Durr was recognized as an AASHE Fellows Award winner, an honor that celebrates mid-career individuals who are significantly contributing to the advancement of sustainability in higher education.

“AASHE’s annual conference is an incredible opportunity to exchange resources and ideas with colleagues across the globe who are working to make their own institutions more sustainable,” noted Harer. “Between the Conference & Expo and the resources provided throughout the year, AASHE is a great resource for any student, faculty or staff interested in sustainability in higher education, and I highly recommend folks take advantage of this wonderful resource!”

Jameka Pinnix in front of her “Bias Beneath the Surface” presentation

Pinnix and Harer co-presented “Bias Beneath the Surface: Building a More Equitable Sustainability Movement”, which helped participants learn how to identify bias in sustainability efforts at their own institutions. Through guided reflection, facilitated conversations, and vision boarding, participants were encouraged to identify actions and efforts to interrupt bias.

Pinnix shared why presenting at AASHE was meaningful to her, explaining that the presentation “brought together two areas I care deeply about: bias education and sustainability. Creating more equitable and sustainable communities requires us to be intentional about who is included, whose voices are heard, and who benefits.”

This engagement with AASHE highlights how sustainability extends beyond environmental initiatives to include equity, representation, and the importance of ensuring that sustainability efforts benefit communities beyond higher education.

Kelly Harer facilitating vision boarding during “Bias Beneath the Surface” workshop

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) is an organization that empowers institutions, faculty, staff and students to drive sustainability efforts in higher education. AASHE offers a variety of opportunities to connect, including conferences, weekly newsletters, professional toolkits, and networking, as well as universal standards and rating systems. By defining sustainability metrics for higher education institutions and providing access to resources, AASHE equips institutions and future leaders to advance sustainable initiatives in higher education.

For �鶹��Ƶ students, faculty and staff, AASHE is a great resource to understand sustainability efforts at �鶹��Ƶ and beyond.�� All �鶹��Ƶ students, faculty and staff can create an AASHE account using their �鶹��Ƶ email address. With several free key resources, AASHE aims to inform and connect key players in the future of sustainability. These resources include a Campus Sustainability Hub, which provides toolkits on topics ranging from research to campus grounds and community engagement, as well as the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), a self-reporting framework that helps colleges and universities assess their overall sustainability performance.

STARS is a ranking system open to all higher education institutions, and the criteria for these ratings are transparent and easily accessible. Community members across �鶹��Ƶ’s campus and higher education are able to compare sustainability efforts and successes while also learning from other institutions through this transparent framework. In March of 2026, �鶹��Ƶ received its’ eighth STARS silver rating.

�鶹��Ƶ prepares to celebrate Campus Sustainability Week

Kate Blair — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 13:22:02 +0000

The Office of Sustainability has planned a wide variety of events for Campus Sustainability Week (Oct. 19-23) to raise awareness and inspire sustainable behavior change across campus.

Campus Sustainability Week is a campus-wide initiative that celebrates, educates, and examines the sustainable habits that shape how the �鶹��Ƶ community interacts with the environment. The week is an opportunity to learn about existing behaviors of students, faculty and staff while also critically examining how �鶹��Ƶ as a community can inspire sustainable changes across campus.

Campus Sustainability Week also includes a competition with prizes including Phoenix Cash, hammocks and more! Attend as many events as possible during this week for a chance to win! More information can be found on the Campus Sustainability Week website!

Schedule of Events

Monday, October 19

4 – 6 p.m. | Pop Up Swap Shop (Downstairs Moseley)
Bring your gently used clothing to swap for something new-to-you. No clothing to bring? No problem! You can commit to a sustainable habit to earn free clothing.

Pop Up Swap Shop runs in downstairs Moseley every Monday (4-6 p.m.), Thursday (5-6 p.m.) and Friday (4-6 p.m.) during the Fall 2026 semester.

Tuesday, October 20

9:40-10:20 a.m. | Scrappy Sips at College Coffee (Phi Beta Kappa Plaza)
Celebrate Campus Sustainability Week with a sweet twist on food waste! Stop by the Office of Sustainability’s table at College Coffee to enjoy scrappy-apple syrup and spice up your coffee or tea while exploring how food scraps can be repurposed!

7-8 p.m. | Campus Sustainability Week Keynote: A Stronger, Safer, More Resilient North Carolina with Kathie Dello (McKinnon Hall, Moseley Center)��
North Carolina is preparing for a future shaped by stronger storms, increased flooding, extreme heat and other natural hazards. Drawing on her experience as both North Carolina’s former state climatologist and her current role as the assistant secretary for resilience at the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, Kathie Dello will explain how resilience moves beyond disaster response to reduce risk before disasters occur, especially in the wake of the three damaging hurricanes that hit North Carolina in less than a decade. She will highlight the state’s resilience work through the Flood Resiliency Blueprint, and community-based programs that help local governments identify vulnerabilities and invest in long-term solutions. She will also discuss how partnerships with universities and local leaders contribute to stronger, safer communities across North Carolina.

Co-sponsored by the Office of Sustainability, the Environmental Studies Department, and the Kernodle Center for Civic Life.

Wednesday, October 21

12-2 p.m. | Fall Faves: Recipes to Reduce Food Waste (McEwen Dining Hall)
Join �鶹��Ƶ Dining and the Office of Sustainability to learn how to turn food scraps into cozy autumn treats! Learn what produce is in season right now in NC, and how buying in season is better for the environment and yourself!

2-4 p.m. | Scraps to Simmer Pots: A Second Life for Fall Food Waste! (Medallion Plaza)
Learn how to use the whole pumpkin and discover creative ways to reduce fall food waste! Make your own autumnal simmer pot packet using dehydrated fall food scraps to take home and fill your space with a cozy fall scent.

4-6 p.m. | The Sustainable Home Lab (Mill Point Commons)��
The Sustainable Home Lab is a hands-on workshop where students can create their��own DIY household cleaning and laundry products while exploring practical ways to reduce��waste and make more sustainable choices at home.

9-10 p.m. | S’mores with Outdoors (Beck Pool Patio)��
Join �鶹��Ƶ Outdoors and the Eco-Reps for a special Campus Sustainability Week S’mores with Outdoors!

Thursday, October 22

4:30-6:30 p.m. | Season of Shadows and Light: A Samhain Celebration (McBride Gathering Space)
Samhain marks the close of the harvest season and the transition into winter, the darker half of the year. Rooted in Celtic and Gaelic traditions, Samhain is widely observed across contemporary earth-based practices as a time when the boundary between the living and the spirit world is understood to be especially thin. It offers an opportunity for reflection, remembrance, release of old habits and attachments, and honoring ancestors and the unseen. All are welcome!

Sponsored by the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life

5-6 p.m. | Pop Up Swap Shop (Downstairs Moseley)��
Bring your gently used clothing to swap for something new-to-you. No clothing to bring? No problem! You can commit to a sustainable habit to earn free clothing.

The Pop Up Swap Shop runs in downstairs Moseley every Monday (4-6 p.m.), Thursday (5-6 p.m.) and Friday (4-6 p.m.) during the Fall 2026 semester.

10 p.m. to 12 a.m. | Paint 1010 with SUB (Winter Garden)��
Join SUB and Eco-Reps at paint 1010 to have a chill night of painting your own tote bag! Bring a friend, a snack and even come in your pjs if you want! We supply all materials needed.

Friday, October 23

12-1 p.m. | Fall into Waste Reduction: Upcycling Jars (Medallion Plaza)��
Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. This hierarchy helps us understand the best ways to reduce waste. Join us to upcycle jars and scraps into beautiful fall decorations to keep these items out of the landfill!

2-4 p.m. | Forest Bathing at Loy Farm (Loy Farm)
Forest bathing refers to the practice of immersing ourselves in nature or ‘bathing’ (metaphorically) in the environment of the forest, taking it in through our different senses. Visiting Scholar Wong Soon Fen from the National University of Singapore will lead us in a forest (nature) bathing practice at Loy Farm.

Co-sponsored by the Office of Sustainability, Outdoor Leadership Education, HealthEU, and the Faculty Fellows for Sustainability and Wellness & Wellbeing.

4-6 p.m. | Danieley Fall Fest (Daniel Commons Patio)��
Stop by Eco-Rep Maeve’s table at Danieley Fall Fest to learn how to make your own sustainable cleaning spray and learn about environmentally-friendly practices for your own home!

4-6 p.m. PM | Pop Up Swap Shop (Downstairs Moseley)��
Bring your gently used clothing to swap for something new-to-you. No clothing to bring? No problem! You can commit to a sustainable habit to earn free clothing. We’re here to encourage pursuing hobbies sustainably! Donate in exchange for clothes OR recycled yarn from our Autumn Swap Shop!

5-6 p.m. | Yoga in Nature (Center for the Arts Patio)��
Take a break from the busy week to step outside, relax, and reset with Yoga Club and the Office of Sustainability. We’ll do a rejuvenating yoga flow and learn about the physical and mental health benefits of spending time outside. Yoga mats provided.

Emma Moesswilde blends seasonal changes into COR 1100 course

Kate Blair — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 15:03:15 +0000

Cooler weather, falling leaves and cloudier skies lend itself to conversations on change, both in seasons and the understanding of nature. Assistant Professor of History Emma Moesswilde has been engaging in conversation about seasons all semester with her first-year COR 1100 class.

This section of COR 1100 “examines the global experience through the lens of seasons, a meteorological and cultural phenomenon which has shaped how humans interact with each other and the natural world over many centuries.” With a professional background in environmental history and continued research into seasonal variation, Moesswilde has incorporated complex discussions of how we understand seasonal change into �鶹��Ƶ coursework to “develop skills of communication and metacognition,” particularly for first-years.

Assistant Professor of History Emma Moesswilde

Class conversations range from discussing physical climate variations to understanding what exactly a season is. Professor Moesswilde remarks that it is particularly enjoyable

“Students are able to observe seasonal change in real time (from the squished caterpillars on the sidewalk, to the changing menus in the dining hall, holiday celebrations at Numen Lumen, and the specific back-to-school energy they experienced during move-in) as they experience the environmental and cultural realities of autumn at �鶹��Ƶ,” said Moesswilde.

By frequently holding class outside, students experience environmental changes over time while being provided with a class environment that encourages deep reflection on seasonal change and its connection to individual and global issues.

In conversations with students, Moesswilde is also able to think through her own research questions in real time. As an environmental historian, she focuses on the relationships between people and the natural world throughout human history. To better understand the publications she is actively working on, Moesswilde has fostered a lively, engaging classroom environment that prompts students to reflect deeply on today’s climate. In particular, she remarks that

“In today’s climate crisis, seasonal disruption (hotter summers, unseasonable precipitation, more extreme hurricane seasons) is also one of the most immediate ways that people feel and understand the consequences of climate change,” she said.

By thinking through these ideas in the classroom, students have been provided a space to process and discuss real world experiences (such as apparent seasonal changes on campus) in the context of larger social issues while also giving Moesswilde the ability to process the real-world implications of her own research.

Sustainability-related courses and research connect to the Academics Goal in �鶹��Ƶ’s Sustainability Master Plan 2025.�� Learn more about the Sustainability Master Plan 2025.

Across courses and countries: How �鶹��Ƶ students experience sustainability across the globe

Kate Blair — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 17:32:54 +0000

With over 78% of students participating in study abroad before they graduate, �鶹��Ƶ sustainability inherently incorporates global sustainable practices. Whether that be through direct study abroad programs that target sustainable behavior or exposure to different practices across cultures, �鶹��Ƶ community interactions with sustainability don’t stop at the borders of campus. Students, faculty and staff interact with campus in a multitude of ways and differing practices across the world shape how the �鶹��Ƶ community understands local sustainability.

The��Boldly �鶹��Ƶ Strategic Plan includes an institutional goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2037. Study abroad travel represented roughly 22% of �鶹��Ƶ’s 2025 greenhouse gas emissions. Boldly �鶹��Ƶ also includes a priority to expand access to global education opportunities, which means study abroad emissions are not a source of emissions that will be actively reduced.��As a result, the Office of Sustainability and the Global Education Center (GEC) created a Carbon Neutral Global Engagement Initiative starting in fall of 2020. This initiative includes the purchase of verified carbon offsets on an annual basis to counteract the carbon impact of global engagement travels.

Studying away more sustainably also requires intentional actions taken by �鶹��Ƶ community members to consider environmental stewardship while abroad. The Office of Sustainability and Global Education Center have curated a list of actions students, faculty and staff can take before departure, while they’re away, and when they return home. Across courses and countries, there are many actions that can be taken to support reducing one’s environmental footprint while abroad. Similarly, learning how different countries and cultures approach sustainability can have a bigger impact than any one initiative on its own.

When abroad, regardless of interests, interacting with sustainability is as easy as walking down a new road or talking to community members about their daily practices. Students across Italy, Germany and New Zealand have had direct and indirect interactions with differing sustainable practices.

Italy: Anna Keller, ’28��

While studying in Italy in spring of 2026, Anna Keller ’28, a Teaching Fellow, noticed sustainability through both city infrastructure and everyday life. In Florence, Keller experienced accessible and affordable public transportation throughout her travels as well as access to a diverse waste-sorting container system. Whether it be “residio non differenziabile (residual waste), organico (food waste), carta e cartone (paper and cardboard), imballagi e contenitori (packaging and containers) and vetro (glass),” Italy provided an urban landscape that naturally incorporates environmentally conscious waste management strategies.

Waste management on the streets of Naples (Anna Keller, 2026)

Within this urban setting, Keller also learned to appreciate the small parts of daily life that reflected the city’s efforts to incorporate sustainability into the daily norm. The abundance of parks, gardens and green spaces provides opportunities to connect with nature daily, while compostable grocery bags normalize small acts of widespread environmental stewardship.

Cultural differences also provided another perspective on sustainability as a way of life rather than a separate initiative. Keller observed families that grew their own food, raised animals, produced olive oil and made products such as soap, bread and chapstick themselves, all of which are “just their philosophy of living”. A global study away experience laid the foundation for Keller, among other community members involved in this trip, to deepen their understanding of sustainability while learning from a diverse array of communities.

Germany: Caroline Halso ’27��

While living in Germany in Spring of 2026, Caroline Halso ’27 experienced drastic shifts in daily sustainability practices. Due to their recycling system, Halso described having to re-learn how to recycle as they have seven different bins. These bins included thin plastic recycling as well as a series of bins to sort glass based on color. This waste disposal system in Germany makes recycling an easy personal habit for Germans and contributes overall to their environmentally responsible behaviors.

Similar to Keller’s experience in Italy, Halso also discussed the impacts of city-wide incentives to bring reusable bags when shopping and be conscious of individual plastic consumption. As Germany does not allow thin plastic bags, there is no other option but to bring reusable tote bags to stores. To further incentivize reducing plastic waste, grocery stores also offer a system where you can return plastic bottles for 15 cents. At the end of her study away experience, Halso returned all collected bottles in exchange for 5 euros off her groceries.

Caroline Halso recycling plastic bottles in exchange for euros (2026)

Outside of cultural differences, one act of intentional sustainability Halso remarked on in her travels abroad is her programs’ “flow market.” While this is not a system put in place by Germany, the program offered a system where, at the beginning of a semester, household goods such as coat hangers, towels, sunscreen and other products are available to all students. Following the end of the semester, people traveling abroad could then return unused items for future students, faculty and staff in the program to continue to use. This circular system eliminates overconsumption and excess waste between travel-away programs while also providing support for community members finding their footing in a new country.

New Zealand: Kate Ponder ’28��

For Winter Term 2026, Kate Ponder traveled away with one of �鶹��Ƶ’s New Zealand: Critically Engaged Ecotourism courses that focus directly on environmental stewardship and sustainability. This course allowed students to have a study abroad opportunity directly connected to sustainable experiences.

Kate Ponder ’28 on �鶹��Ƶ’s New Zealand: Critically Engaged Ecotourist 2026 Winter Term abroad program

In New Zealand, there is something called the Tiaki Promise, which is a community-based commitment to care for the land, both now and for future generations. Ponder explains that under this promise “there are five key principles: protect nature, keep New Zealand clean, be prepared, drive carefully and show respect.” This community commitment reflects a broader social culture of environmental stewardship employed on the daily by New Zealand.��Under this broader culture, Ponder reflected on small actions that were encouraged for all residents, permanent or temporary in their travels.

“Every hostel had signs on the bathroom mirrors reminding guests to be mindful of their water usage and to limit unnecessary consumption,” said Ponder. “In most of the hostels we stayed at, we brought and prepared our own food, which helped reduce the food waste that often comes with hotel buffets. Everyone was also responsible for providing and reusing their own towels, meaning fewer loads of laundry were needed to maintain the rooms for new guests.”

Under the Tiaki promise, this Winter Term course also had open discussions around the dissonance between the class focus on ecotourism and the fact that flying from the United States to New Zealand creates a significant carbon footprint in the process. Differing from student experiences in places like Italy or Germany, this global education experience intentionally prompted community conversations of sustainability.

“Sustainability was interwoven into every activity and discussion throughout the trip,” Ponder said. “Our class spent time cutting down and removing invasive species to allow native plants to thrive. During all of our excursions, from zip-lining, to whitewater rafting, to a guided tour with the Otago Peninsula Eco Restoration Alliance (OPERA), the guides took time to inform our group about the different sustainability initiatives they had in place and how part of the cost we paid for each activity was dedicated to supporting those initiatives.”

Whether traveling abroad in Europe or Oceania with courses that do or do not intentionally discuss environmentalism, global sustainability across cultural environmental differences provides the �鶹��Ƶ community an opportunity to understand, reflect and learn more about sustainable actions.

Global travel directly connects to the Transportation Goal in �鶹��Ƶ’s Sustainability Master Plan 2025. ��Learn more about the Sustainability Master Plan 2025.