Annual Commons Unplugged week Nov. 3-9 celebrates sustainability

The sixth annual Commons Unplugged environmental awareness week, from Sunday, Nov. 3, to Saturday, Nov. 9, will celebrate sustainability, natural resource conservation and energy conservation through various events focusing on Vanderbilt’s first-year student population. These events are presented by The Martha Rivers Ingram Commons in partnership with the Sustainability and Environmental Management Office, the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt and Students Promoting Environmental Awareness and Responsibility.

All events are free and open to the Vanderbilt community.

Throughout the week, first-year students will compete in a residence hall energy conservation contest to earn points in the yearlong competition, the Commons Cup. The week will include three events that are open to the entire Vanderbilt community, and first-year students will earn Commons Cup points for attending: the Green Activity, the Green Forum and the Green Fair.

  • The Green Activity: Sunday, Nov. 3, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at The Commons Center MPR
    First-year students will participate in hands-on learning related to sustainability on campus.
  • The Green Forum: Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 3 to 4 p.m. at The Commons Center MPR
    Join us for a lecture featuring Vanderbilt sociology professor Zdravka Tzankova as she discusses how individual actions and individual consumer choices can make measurable positive differences when it comes to solving larger environmental problems.
  • The Green Fair: Thursday, Nov. 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. at The Commons Center Atrium
    Visit the Green Fair to meet with the organizations that make Vanderbilt and Nashville more sustainable.

If you or your group is interested in tabling at the Green Fair, contact Chelsea Hamilton, sustainability outreach coordinator, at chelsea.hamilton@vanderbilt.edu or 615-322-9022. The Green Fair will provide you with an opportunity to promote the sustainable activities, business practices and achievements of your student group, department or organization to the Vanderbilt community. Tabling display space will be provided in The Commons Center to participants at no charge. Electrical hookup will not be provided.

If you have questions about Commons Unplugged, contact Aimee Robinson at aimee.robinson@vanderbilt.edu.

Commons Unplugged event flyer