Campus Celebrates Green Dragon Week

Climate justice activist Arielle King
Climate justice activist Arielle King
Neahwa Park Clean Up Team
Green Dragon Week
Volunteering
Green Dragon Week
SDC
SDC
SDC
17 Tables
17 Tables
Red Thirft Shop
Green Dragon Week
Green Dragon Week
Green Dragon Week

Red may be SUNY Oneonta’s official color but, one week out of the year, students, faculty and staff “go green” to celebrate the Earth and showcase the campus’ commitment to sustainability.

Coordinated by the university’s Office of Sustainability, this year’s Green Dragon Week celebration was packed with Earth Day-themed events and activities, service opportunities and even some good news: In recognition of its sustainability achievements, SUNY Oneonta has earned a STARS Silver rating from the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE.)

Going Green

Climate justice activist Arielle King
Climate justice activist Arielle King

The week kicked off at Alumni Field House with the annual Cornell-Gladstone-Hanlon-Kaufmann Lecture in Environmental Education and Communication, which was free and open to the public. Climate justice activist Arielle King gave a lecture titled “The Power & Strength of Youth in Climate Action.”

“Sustainability is one of our core values, and we work hard to infuse it into all aspects of campus life, from classes we offer to the food we eat to the facilities we renovate and build,” said Sustainability Coordinator Rachel Kornhauser. “Green Dragon Week is a way to embody all that in a fun, accessible way for all.”

Other events and activities included a campus tree walk, Sustainable Development Goal Fair complete with a Red Closet pop-up thrift sale, “Youth v. Gov” documentary screening and discussion, Green Dragon Recognition ceremony for sustainability-minded students, a campus-wide scavenger hunt, and a cleanup at the City of Oneonta’s Neahwa Park downtown. Twenty five students came out to help pick up trash in the park, and, when they were done, each received a smoothie from Feel Good Smoothie.

Neahwa Park clean up
Neahwa Park clean up
Neahwa Park clean up smoothies

Youth in Climate Action

“Green Dragon Week is a great way for all students to get involved with campus sustainability,” said Kali Ticehurst, a senior Environmental Sustainability major from Newburgh, NY, who is interning in the university’s Office of Sustainability and helped organize the park cleanup. “I get to be involved with it every day, so it's really exciting to see my peers feel excited about it, too, with the push that Earth Day gives.”

On Thursday, a “Life After Graduation Series: Sustainability Careers” virtual event spotlighted recent SUNY Oneonta graduates who are pursuing or have started careers or graduate programs related to sustainability. The featured alumni included Gabrielle Mastrantuono, a Class of 2020 Environmental Sustainability graduate working as an Environmental Health and Safety Associate at Amogy; Onilee Wilson, a Class of 2019 Fashion and Textiles working as an Environment and Social Responsibility Analyst for The Children’s Place; and Daniel Walsh, a Class of 2004 Business Economics graduate and Director of Sustainability and Environmental Markets at Pivot Bio.

“It's really inspiring to connect with alumni in sustainability because it is such an intersectional field with so many opportunities,” Ticehurst said. “It's so great to see all of the possibilities.”

17 Tables: Sustainable Development Goal Fair
17 Tables: Sustainable Development Goal Fair
17 Tables: Sustainable Development Goal Fair
17 Tables: Sustainable Development Goal Fair
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