In recent years, Oakland University’s sustainability trajectory has been reimagined by several passionate environmentalists, weaving environmental consciousness throughout campus life.
“There have been a lot of different groups on campus doing sustainability work, but they were all siloed,” says Sarah Griffith, CAS ’18, a member of OU’s sustainability committee. “Now, we’re bringing everyone together.”
Conscious that environmental activism stems from multiple facets, including institutional and individual choices, the committee acknowledges that individual choices, although smaller, can be impactful, especially when an institution elevates individual opportunities.
“Not everyone will want to do the extra work — they just won’t,” explains Mozhgon Rajaee, associate professor of public health. “Let’s say you go to a restaurant and have leftovers. You either bring your own containers or use plastic or styrofoam containers. You have to remember to bring those, and then you have to awkwardly leave them on the table or figure out something to do with them while you eat. That puts the burden on you.”
Today, most restaurants have single-use, disposable takeaway containers, but any single-use items pollute the environment. In fact, even a simple plastic bag takes roughly 1,000 years to degrade in a landfill, according to biologicaldiversity.org. “If there’s already better systems in place, the burden isn’t all on you,” Rajaee adds. “It’s on the restaurant, in this case, or the institution. That accountability matters.”
There is immense work to be done to stop the damage of commonplace pollution, but it can start with partnerships between institutions and individuals. “We’re part of a system that makes sustainability difficult,” Rajaee says. “As individuals, we have to consume fewer resources, but we also need to hold institutions accountable so more people have the tools to be sustainable too.”
Collective work from students, staff and faculty has introduced new initiatives and spread further awareness about sustainability on campus, uniting passion projects. For instance, OU’s dining halls offer reusable carryout containers, elevating individual sustainability without placing the burden on individuals. Additionally, straws have been made available only by request, and food is sourced more locally. “Sustainability should be ingrained in everything we do,” says Oakland Center (OC) Director Chris Reed.
While members of the sustainability team have the opportunity to specialize in efforts through smaller committees, such as dining, the team also meets monthly to coordinate and brainstorm cross-disciplinary responses. As director of the OC, Reed has had the opportunity to join several dining-related efforts, but he was also involved in the OC's new living wall, a sprawling indoor plant wall. “It’s exciting watching our efforts literally and figuratively grow,” Reed says.
Additional sustainability projects have spanned from creating a pollinator garden to increased recycling availability to public transportation promotion. If you have an idea too big for just yourself, or if you’d like to join an existing project, reach out to Rajaee ([email protected]) or Reed ([email protected]) with your interest. Visit OU’s sustainability goals to learn more about current projects and donations. “We’re relying on each other for these projects,” Rajaee says. “When passionate people come together, we move the needle.”
March 6, 2023
By Emily Morris
