MUM, AmeriCorps Volunteers Plan Green Graduation

All graduation-related activities this year are being assessed to see how they can be made more environmentally friendly.

Heading up the “green graduation” initiative are the five Green Iowa AmeriCorps volunteers who have been making the campus more sustainable the past eight months.

“We’ve met with organizers for each graduation event — the garden party, commencement, reception, and awards ceremony — to see what more can be done to reduce waste to landfill, support local foods, and save a lot of energy,” said alumna and AmeriCorps volunteer Alexandra Pomeroy. “The graduation celebration hosts guests from all over the world and is an excellent opportunity to showcase MIU’s sustainability practices.”

For example, this year’s commencement programs will be available online, and, for those who want a keepsake, printed on paper from sustainable forests.

In addition, compostable dinnerware will be used at the garden party and sent with the food scraps to be composted industrially. The plan also includes reusable silverware and tablecloths and eliminating plastic water bottles.

Volunteers are invited to help. Duties include picking up dropped commencement programs from the Dome after the ceremony; busing silverware before and after the garden party; changing the trash bags, recycling bins, and compost bags as they fill up; and assisting guests to ensure items are placed in appropriate bins.

Anyone willing to volunteer please email greeniowaMIU@gmail.com.

Jim Karpen is a writer by trade, with a special focus on technology. He has a Ph.D. in English and studied the impact of the computerization of language. In addition to writing for iPhone Life magazine, he has also been writing a column about the Internet for the Iowa Source since 1994. He also edits and publishes the MUM Review.