South Quad serves around 8,000 meals every day. There are more than ten food stations. Burgers, stir fry, a deli counter, a grill; the options are essentially endless, and people move through them quickly. Over the past year, I spent a lot of time in that dining hall and witnessed whole slices of pizza tossed away, half-eaten burgers pushed aside, … Read More
Missing your home cooked meals? Wishing you could make that protein-packed breakfast you love? Sick of eating tofu for every meal? I know the feeling, because this was my freshman year. As a vegetarian, I was constantly bombarded by social media telling me I wasn’t eating enough protein and I wish someone had been there to cut through the noise. … Read More
The hidden process behind your campus dining meals — and why it matters more than you think. Every time you swipe into the dining hall, your choices are just getting started. Behind the scenes though, an intricate web of decisions has already unfolded about what food will be on your plate. This is part of the procurement process. Is the … Read More
In 2016, the University of Michigan set an ambitious goal to achieve zero waste at home football games and divert 90% of game day waste from the landfill. The Zero Waste Stadium Program launched in the 2017 season as a collaboration among Athletics, the Office of Campus Sustainability, U-M Waste Management Services, campus sustainability partners, volunteers, and stadium concessions. Now … Read More
Campus and Community Connected Every fall and winter term, students from around the world return to Ann Arbor, and the streets bustle with noise as students, staff, faculty, tourists, and families enjoy the downtown restaurants and businesses. Ann Arbor is known for its bike-friendly and walkable environment, with a diverse selection of businesses, restaurants, and shops to discover. From cozy … Read More
New school year, new tips! We’ve refreshed the information below for the 2024-2025 school year. Welcome Wolverines! Over the next month or two, thousands of new students, both undergraduate and graduate, will be preparing to start their first semester at the University of Michigan. Picking classes, completing required orientation materials, figuring out financial aid and housing, moving, meeting new classmates … Read More
Since 2019, in addition to running the Planet Blue Ambassador program, I have had the opportunity, challenge, and joy of co-advising the Student Sustainability Coalition (SSC). For those of you less familiar with the multitude of sustainability programs at the University of Michigan, SSC is a group of undergraduate and graduate students who aim to amplify the student voice on … Read More
“Sustainable,” “eco-friendly,” “green,” “better for the planet,” “biodegradable”—these are all words I know we have heard companies use. With this new era of consumers wanting to buy more eco-friendly products (people like us), many companies are shifting their focus to sustainability. However, in many cases, this can lead to stretched truths and even blatant lies in advertising. I know us … Read More
Are you looking for more environmentally friendly actions to incorporate into your routines? These sustainable actions may take a bit more effort than those listed in Part One, based on our personal experiences, but they won’t be as much of an investment as buying an electric car or switching out your water heater, for example! Here is a list of … Read More
Wondering what students from across campus did this summer to advance sustainability efforts at U-M and beyond? Check out Part 1 of our Summer Internship Spotlights below featuring the work of 6 students in support of our collective mission to transition to a more just and sustainable future. Name: Kenzie Nitz Year/major at U-M: Senior / Organizational Studies (M) & … Read More
