Green Mountain College
EN-3: Student Life

Green Mountain College offers many opportunities for students to get involved in sustainability outside of the classroom. A number of student clubs and organizations focus on some aspect of sustainability. All of these clubs are student governed: Student Campus Greening Fund: SCGF consists of student representatives who manage a $30,000-$40,000 grant fund for sustainability projects. The money comes from the student activities fee, which all students pay each semester as part of their tuition. SCGF solicits written grant proposals, hears oral defenses of grant requests, and ultimately decides whether or not to approve projects. Bike Shop: The Bike Shop club maintains a bike shop on campus that is free to students, staff, and faculty. People can get their brakes fixed, have tires repaired, or request more extensive repairs with discounted materials purchased from a wholesaler. The bike shop also maintains the bikeshare program on campus and rents out bike trailers so that students can go shopping or take long trips using bikes. Slow Foods Chapter: Slow Food is an international organization, founded in Italy, whose goal is to preserve traditional food knowledge, educate people on the importance of healthy, good food created from sustainable sources, and to nurture the community of people around the world who are passionate about sustainable, healthy food. The club holds bi-weekly meetings with communal cooking and the sharing of knowledge regarding cooking methods, history, and ideas for projects involving both the club and the entire campus. Forestry Club: The Green Mountain College Forestry Club is open to all GMC students with an interest in forestry, ecology, botany, wildlife management, outdoor recreation, conservation, and all other aspects of natural resource management. Activities are designed to supplement students’ study of forestry and also to encourage all students to develop practical forestry skills whether for vocational or non-vocational pursuits. In addition, the Club is dedicated to community service activities that promote a greater understanding of forestry and foster appreciation for ecosystems. The Forestry Club pursues working relationships with educational programs such as the Ecological Exposition, an educational field day for middle school students, and Envirothon, a nationwide natural resources management competition for high school students. Club Activism: The mission of Club Activism is to promote awareness and education regarding local and global sustainability issues to both the Green Mountain College campus and local communities through educational documentaries, non-violent direct actions, and awareness-raising events. UNICEF Club: Part of the U.S. fund for UNICEF, the Student Campaign for Child Survival, this club focuses on fundraising to help children from around the world and engages the community in international issues. Coalition for Students of Color The Coalition for Students of Color strives to be a center for the social and academic support of individuals who identify as students of color – Black/African American, Asian, Latino, Hispanic, Native American, etc. at GMC. It is a celebration of the growing diversity on campus; a means of uniting in order to productively share elements of culture, institute greater representation, and combat the negative concepts, misinformation, and ignorance – in both dominant culture and subculture – pertaining to our community. The Coalition for Students of Color is open to anyone on campus including those who want to serve as allies. D.R.E.A.M Club D.R.E.A.M. stands for Directing through Recreation, Education, Adventure, and Mentoring. It is a youth-based Village Mentoring organization. It builds communities of families and college students that empower children from affordable housing neighborhoods to recognize their options, make informed decisions, and achieve their dreams. The club provides Poultney underprivileged youth with near-peer role models and membership is open to the entire Green Mountain College community. Creative Composters: A Food Recovery Network Chapter As a club, we strive to purpose the best possible use out of the food prepared in our dining hall. Focusing on projects and programs that satisfy the Vermont Food Recovery Hierarchy, we encourage students to take only what food they need, and attempt to feed people with what safe leftovers are unavoidable. Through the national Food Recovery Network, we train our volunteers in food safety, and create partnerships with local organizations to donate the food to feed those in need. International Cultural Center The organization works to ensure a positive Green Mountain College experience for all students by promoting multiculturalism on campus and in the community of Poultney. ICC encourages ongoing dialogue on issues of cultural exchange between students, staff and faculty and brings diverse perspectives and experiences to campus. Students representing over 20 countries have participated in ICC. Membership is open to the entire Green Mountain college community. Students for justice in Palestine Students for Justice in Palestine at Green Mountain College (SJP@GMC) is a diverse group of students organized on democratic principles to raise awareness about the human rights violations committed by Israel against the Palestinian people. This club is focused on building solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for human rights, justice, freedom, self-determination and the right of return. We seek to educate our community on the Palestinian struggle and get them involved in our work for justice. Through this work we uphold the right of return for Palestinian refugees everywhere and an end to Zionism, settler colonialism, racism, and apartheid in occupied Palestine. Individuals of all backgrounds are welcome. PRIDE Green Mountain college Pride club strives to create a safe environment for LGBTQ students and student allies. From within this environment we will facilitate community and educational discussions as well as educational activism outreaches to the wider community. The club consists of regular meetings where members can bring topics they'd live to discuss or a project they'd like to pursue relating to the club mission. We also host additional community events. Marginalized Student Union: The Marginalized Student Union (MSU) is committed to providing the Green Mountain College community with cross-cultural experiences by fostering inclusion and respect for all. The MSU also enhances and enriches the experience of the entire student body by providing opportunities to engage and educate the campus as a whole on issues such as race, gender, and sexual orientation. This Union of students seeks to provide a platform upon which to promote ideals of unity under intersectional oppression in a world which is inherently oppressive. This Union aims to serve as an action group as well as an organizational asset, acting as an umbrella under which members of such campus groups as Pride Club, Activism, Interculture Club, Students for Justice in Palestine, and the Coalition for Students of Color might be able to easily communicate and collaborate. Though this is a Union for marginalized students, we gladly welcome and encourage participation from any who would be our willing allies and accomplices. Jammin' Oats Jammin’ Oats will prepare and serve a wholesome, vegan oatmeal sundaes in the Farmhouse. Moreover, Jammin’ Oats will also encourage student singers, musicians, comedians, and poets to perform while students enjoy their breakfast, thereby combining nourishing, complimentary breakfast with the creative expression of an open mic. Animal Welfare and Appreciation Animal studies is a recently recognized field in which animals are studied in a variety of cross-disciplinary ways. It is necessary to understand our interactions with animals in order to appreciate them and understand their role in the environment. This club is intended to bring awareness to this upcoming field and to increase interest in the developing Animal Studies minor. Students who could really benefit from this club are students who are studying Animal Studies, Law & Policy, Biology, Agriculture, Sociology, and many other fields. We will begin to develop an understanding of this field by discussing topics, viewing films, and attending related conferences. Membership is open to all students on campus.

The College's Cerridwen Farm began as a half-acre garden in 1997. Since that time, it has grown to over 15 acres and has become an integral part of the college curriculum, food system, and waste management system. The Farm involves students in nearly every aspect of day-to-day operations. The vegetable production systems are powered by draft animal, human, electric truck and tractor power. The hay fields are managed with rotational grazing systems that include goats, cows, chickens and pigs. Products produced on the farm are vegetables, seedlings, medicinal herbs, meat and eggs. Campus food waste is composted on-site, and renewable energy is integrated into various aspects of the farm including a solar-powered garage and solar heated high tunnel. Meat production, season extension structures, and a commercial food-processing facility enable food from the farm to be served in the dining hall all year. The farm hosts on going student and faculty projects that are an integral part of the curriculum for well over a dozen classes. For example, the summer farm intensive class hosts over 15 students and 5 student employees each summer. They work to produce all the farm products, run the CSA and sell at the local Farmers’ Market. The farm also runs an Electronic Benefits Program for local community members that are in need of food assistance; this benefit is extended to the local Farmers’ Market. Many staff, faculty, students, and community members own CSA shares and are fed by this CSA for five months out of the year plus weekly food donations are given to families in need.

The GMC Coffeehouse is student governed, the GMC is managed by as a cooperative by six work studies and is advised by the Director of Student Involvement. Decisions are made through consensus and day to day operational duties are split between members.The key values of the GMC coffeehouse are "invigorating, engaging local." The GMC Coffeehouse provides sustainable and local foods to the student body including organic coffee and locally produced, eggs,and cheese to the GMC community. Events and activities support local artists and community members and provide opportunities for the members of Green Mountain College and Poultney to build social capital. Events have included open mics, poetry readings, games nights, trivia, and discussions on what sustainability means. Students develop skills in sourcing local food and providing it to customers at a reasonable price, providing economic support for students through campus employment, and creating a vibrant social hub. GMC Bike & Ski Shop The bike shop serves the Green Mountain College Community along with the local public. The shop has a strong relationship with Johnson & Son Bikeworks as an occasional supplier and fellow bicycle advocate. The shop also maintains the Green MAP and Adventure Education Program’s fleet of mountain bikes, which are used for Wilderness Challenge, the Fall Block, and year-round programming opportunities. The shop hopes to support a community in which individuals develop the skills and knowledge to become self-sufficient cyclists and skiers,seeking a higher sense of craftsmanship.The Bike & Ski shop promotes environmental and financial sustainability through supporting the use of human powered transportation and offering free repairs and advise to keep equipment usable longer and out of the landfill.

The Student Campus Greening Fund (SCGF) is a student-run program designed to help put greening initiatives into action that increase awareness about sustainability and decrease the school’s ecological impact. Every GMC student contributes to the fund through a $30 allocation from the college activities fee each year. Students design projects and submit proposals, and awards are based on a student vote. During the 2016-2107 academic year the Student Campus Greening Fund had seven student committee members. The committee met weekly, voted to approve over $17,500 in funding for 27 student projects. Projects included supporting community service initiatives. gardens featuring native plantings, food production and restoration, and waste reduction activities.

Every year, the College has routine sustainability events, such as a sustainability themed speaker for Convocation held in September, a sustainability themed speaker for the Benson Lecture series held during Earth Week, a conglomeration of active Earth Week events, and a sustainability themed Earth Fair that is held in collaboration between the College and the Town of Poultney. In addition to formal educational venues, the College sponsors regular events and competitions around sustainability themes. In recent years, events that have become traditions include a week long energy efficiency challenge called Do it in the Dark, a week-long event called Carry Your Trash Week (AKA "Trek Ur Trash"), and an invasive species eradication effort on campus. Additionally, the College has hosted community conversations for members of the college community on topics such as the new Sustainability 2020 strategic plan calling for authentic sustainability and the controversial slaughter of the farm oxen, Bill and Lou that made national headlines. SUSTAINABILITY SPEAKER SERIES August 31, 2017 Convocation: Lauret Savot Lauret is an African American woman of mixed Euro-American heritage and a professor of environmental studies and geology at Mount Holyoke College, where she explores the intertwining of natural and cultural histories. She writes about the stories we tell of the origins of the American land and those we tell of ourselves on this land. Her books include Trace, The Colors of Nature: Culture, Identity, and the Natural World, Bedrock: Writers on the Wonders of Geology, and Living with the Changing California Coast. April 18, 2017 Paul Baker Hernandez Paul comes to us from Nicaragua where he founded Echoes of Silence, a "network of artists with broken nails" who support community health, education, ecological and cultural projects, and with whom he continues to write irreverent songs about cellphones, dictators, Starbucks, and more. April 12, 2017 Dr. Amy Seidl Dr. Amy Seidl is Interim Associate Director and Lecturer in Environmental Studies at the University of Vermont. Dr. Seidl is the author of two books on climate change, Early Spring: Waking to a Warming World (2009) and Finding Higher Ground: Adaptation in the Age of Warming (2011), both from Beacon Press. February 27, 2017 Derick Ebert Derick Ebert is Baltimore's former and first­ever Youth Poet Laureate. Through the non­profit Dewmore Baltimore, in which he is a board member and educator, he has performed and held poetry workshops across Baltimore. Spoken Word poet Derick Ebert performed his social justice themed poetry and afterwards facilitated a poetry workshop for all who attended. February 17, 2017 Michael Caduto During the presentation, Michael introduced participants to the great circles of life—the basis for a balanced, sustainable existence with Earth. Michael shared stories from traditional cultures found throughout the world—including Africa, Europe, North America, Central America and more. February 15, 2017 Melinda Hemmelgarn Melinda Hemmelgarn, a.k.a. the Food Sleuth®, is an award­winning writer, speaker, and nationally syndicated radio host, with more than 35 years’ experience in clinical, academic, and public health nutrition. Wednesday, December 15 Ramona Africa Ramona Africa is the sole adult survivor of the May13, 1985 massacre of 11 members of the MOVE organization orchestrated by the FBI and the City of Philadelphia. After surviving the bombing, she was charged with conspiracy, riot, and multiple counts of simple and aggravated assault, and imprisoned for seven years.Ramona talked about her experience, the work of MOVE and fight to free Mumia Abu­Jamal and other political prisoners. November 17, 2017 Remi Kanazi Remi Kanazi's poetry presents an unflinching look at the lives of Palestinians under occupation and as refugees scattered across the globe. He captures the Palestinian people's stubborn refusal to be erased, gives voice to the ongoing struggle for liberation, and explores the meaning of international solidarity. November 15, 2016 Vanessa Gray Vanessa Gray is from Aamjiwnaang First Nation near Sarnia, Ontario’s “Chemical Valley,” . Gray co­founded Aamjiwnaang&Sarnia Against Pipelines and is facing charges for non­violent direct action against the Enbridge Line 9 Pipeline. November 7, 2016 Liz Charlebois Presentation“A Look at Abenaki Art and Culture” Liz is the education director at Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner, N.H. October 19, 2016 Liz Calabrese Liz Calabrese, licensed architect and LEED accredited professional, presented “Biophilic Design: Design for Human Flourishing.” Biophilia is the inherent human inclination to affiliate with nature that, even in the modern world, is critical to ourphysical and mental health and well­being. September 17, 2016 Ted Levin GMC’s Animal Conservation and Care program hosted talk and book signing by Ted Levin, nature writer, photographer, VPR commentator and author of America's Snake: The Rise and Fall of the Timber Rattlesnake, a rare and endangered species in Vermont. October 17, 2016 George Lakey George Lakey, author and life­long activist, facilitated an interactive conversation from, sharing details about his new book, Viking Economics, as well as his lifetime of activism, which spans the civil rights movement working with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), his work founding Men Against Patriarchy as part of the Gay Liberation Movement and his more recent work creating the Earth Quaker Action Team. October 4, 2016 Grace Gershuny Organic pioneer, educator and consultant Grace Gershuny was be a guest presenter highlighting her new book, Organic Revolutionary: A Memoir of the Movement for Real Food, Planetary Healing, and Human Liberation. Grace encourages farmers to convert to organic methods as quickly as possible as the most immediate route to reversing the increase in greenhouse gas emissions that endangers communities everywhere. September 15, 2016 Richard Heinberg His talk “The Case for Resilience” explored community resilience as a key strategy for responding to the 21st century’s sustainability crises. The presentation will began with an update on major global trends including climate, energy, food, water, population, and debt, showing their linkages in terms of reinforcing or balancing feedbacks. September 6, 2016 Convocation: Rocky Robbins Robbins’ address was titled “Education for the Well Being for the Land and the People.” Robbins teaches multicultural counseling, behavior disorders and personality assessment at the university. His research interests include native spirituality and psychology; grand-parenting; assessment; group interventions; and developing American Indian treatment models and techniques based on traditional ideas and practices. Saturday, May 4, 2016 John Holdren Dr. John P. Holdren, senior advisor to President Barak Obama on science and technology issues, was Green Mountain College’s guest speaker at the College’s 179th commencement exercises. Holdren is President Obama’s Science and Technology Advisor and the Senate confirmed director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. He is also the chairof the Arctic Executive Steering Committee, cochair of the National Oceans Council, cochair of the Council on Climate Preparedness and Resilience, and cochair of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). Prior to joining the Obama administration, Holdren was The Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy and Director of the Program on Science, Technology, and Public Policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, as well as professor in Harvard's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences and director of the independent, nonprofit Woods Hole Research Center. April 12, 2016 Dr. Jonathan Spiro Dr. Jonathan Spiro, dean of humanities and social sciences at Castleton University, delivered the presentation “The Triumph of Nature: Scientific Racism in America”. Dr. Spiro is recognized as one of the leading authorities on the eugenics movement; reviewers have stated that his book on the subject, Defending the Master Race, is a “brilliant,” “chilling,” and “near miraculous feat of scholarship” that “should be mandatory reading for all Americans.” Friday, April 8, 2016 Rocky Robbins Dr. Rockey Robbins, a Choctaw/Cherokee and a professor of educational psychology at the University of Oklahoma. His work focuses on building a connection between psychology and Native approaches to healing. His talk was titled "A Native American Perspective on the Use of Story as Pedagogy: Lifting the Alienating Veil Through ‘Eneecho’ and ‘the Pause’" Thursday, April 7, 2016 Barry Eastbrook Estabrook is a three-time James Beard Award-winning author, investigative journalist, and blogger for Politics Of the Plate. His presentation focused on his work in sustainable agriculture that includes topics he has written about in the books Pig Tales: An Omnivore’s Guide to Sustainable Meat, a deep examination of pork farming;. is 2011 book Tomatoland: How Modern Industrial Agriculture Destroyed Our Most Alluring Fruit, describes how modern industrial agriculture has ruined the tomato in terms of the taste of the product and how it is raised. Thursday, March 3, 2016 Doug Blodgett Doug Blodgett presented on his research of the endangered rattlesnake and the challenges it faces as well as the life history of this original Vermont native animal at the very northern end of its range in the continental US. Wednesday February 17, 2016 Phillip Howard Phil Howard is an associate professor in the Department of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University where he focuses on “mapping” trends that help illustrate the rapid evolution of food systems. His presentation was titled “Is Food Diversity an Illusion?” Thursday, September 17, 2015 Jennifer Chiodo The visiting scholar for the College’s Sustainable MBA program September 16-19 was Jennifer Chiodo, principal of Cx Associates in Burlington, Vt. Jennifer provides collaborative consultation for the design and delivery of high-performance buildings to organizations committed to developing buildings with a positive impact on occupants, the community and the environment. She is a licensed electrical engineer and a LEED Accredited Professional, and is a member of the board of directors at Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR). Thursday, September 10 & Friday, September 11, 2015 Sandra Postel The 2015 visiting scholar for the College’s Master’s of Science in Environmental Studies (MSES) and Master’s of Science in Resilient and Sustainable Communities (MRSC) residencies from September 9-12 was Sandra Postel, founder of the Global Water Policy Project. Sandra lectures, writes, and consults on international water issues and in 2010 she was appointed Freshwater Fellow of the National Geographic Society, where she serves as lead water expert for the Society’s freshwater initiative. September 8, 2015 Jan Reynolds Reynolds, who lives in Stowe, was born on a Vermont dairy farm. She became a nationally ranked cross-country ski racer in high school and college, and raced biathlon for the U.S. National Team. She is a prize-winning photojournalist whose intrepid adventures have taken her to every continent, photographing and recording vanishing cultures to preserve their unique heritage for future generations. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, National Geographic, Esquire, Vogue, People, and several ski and outdoor magazines. Her Vanishing Cultures series (seven books) for children published by Harcourt Brace Jovanovich won the prestigious Parents’ Choice Award. Reynolds uses the series to teach children about sustainability and what it means for our world. The event was free and open to the public. May 16, 2015 Mindy Lubber Mindy Lubber spoke at GMC's 178th commencement ceremony. She is one of the world’s most influential leaders in harnessing capitalism for positive environmental outcomes. Lubber is the president of Ceres, the leading U.S. coalition of investors and environmental leaders working to improve corporate environmental, social and governance practices. Ceres has succeeded in persuading more than 1000 companies to sign its “Climate Declaration” urging Congress to adopt new laws to combat global warming. She also directs the Investor Network on Climate Risk (INCR), an alliance of more than 100 institutional investors representing over $10 trillion in assets. In 2010, she was honored by the United Nations and the Foundation for Social Change as one of the “World’s Top Leaders of Change.” March 26, 2015 Dr. Charles Hadlock Hadlock, a mathematics professor and former dean at Bentley University in Waltham, Mass, has devoted his career to help understand and manage environmental risks. Dr. He is an internationally acclaimed expert on managing environmental risk, will speak March 26 in the Gorge at 7 p.m. He has worked with the EPA to develop regulations for hazardous and radioactive materials, as well as with the City of New York to improve hazardous materials controls in the wake of the September 11 tragedy. Two of his books address environmental issues and risks: Mathematical Modeling in the Environment and Six Sources of Collapse.The insights gained help us better understand environmental and evolutionary processes and, separately, be more effective in negotiating changes in societal behavior. March 24, 2015 Suleiman Halasah Suleiman Halasah, acting associate director at the Arava Institute Center for Transboundary Water Management, presented on greywater technology. Halash also provided an overview of the Arava Institute and discuss about how Green Mountain College students can get involved (including study abroad opportunities and internships). Suleiman is currently pursuing his PhD at Ben Gurion University in solar desalination. An expert on greywater management, he has helped communities across Israel, the West Bank and Jordan steward their scarce water resources. March 20, 2015 Rafe Martin Rafe shared an evening of stories that open doorways into the ancient path of myth and spiritual awareness. HIs presentation “Tales for the Many Beings” included stories from the Buddhist tradition and Western traditions. Martin is the author of 20 books that have been translated into many languages including Swedish, French, Xhosa, Afrikaans, Korean, Japanese and Portuguese. As an author and storyteller, he has appeared in thousands of schools, libraries, festivals and conferences in nearly every U.S. state. February 17, 2015 Natasha Bowens Author and food activist Natasha Bowens presented “The Color of Food: Stories of Race, Resilience and Farming”. She met with MSFS students during their residency February 14-19. Bowen is a writer, activist and an urban farmer who believes food justice is central to many issues facing minority and low-income communities. She left her job in youth advocacy in Washington D.C. to travel the country in search of organic and urban farms sprouting up in food-insecure communities. She is the author of the forthcoming book The Color of Food. February 16, 2015 Bill McKibben Renowned Vermont author and activist Bill McKibben gave a public talk and was on campus to meet with members of the very first Master of Science in Resilient and Sustainable Communities (MMRSC) program during their inaugural residency. Bill is the author of The End of Nature, regarded as the first book for a general audience about climate change. He is founder of 350.org, the first planet-wide, grassroots climate change movement. January 21, 2015 Michael Twitty Food writer and culinary historian Michael Twitty spoke from his experiences growing up in the South, and through the marvelous dishes he creates in the kitchen. His campus visit was a highlight of GMC’s Martin Luther King Day observances. After preparing a campus meal replicating early African-American cuisine on Wednesday evening, Twitty delivered the annual Voices Plenary address in Ackley Hall. November 6th, 2014 William MacLay Bill Maclay, founder and president of Maclay Architects, gave a public talk "From Net Zero Buildings to Net Zero Campuses, Communities, and Planet". His appearance was sponsored by the College’s Renewable Energy & Ecological Design (REED) Program. Maclay explored the inspirations and technologies that make net zero buildings a reality today. He also shared his experience pioneering the net zero concept beyond a single building, but a broader campus and community-wide approach for those forward thinking institutions, towns, and states that have fully embraced the sustainability imperative. October 27th, 2014 Bill McKibben Bill McKibben, author, educator, environmentalist, and founder of 350.org, delivered a public talk "Life on the Border: Vermont, New York and the Future" in Ackley Auditorium. McKibben is the author of the book Wandering Home, 2014’s summer reading for first-year students in the college's Images of Nature classes. The book examines McKibben's current (Vermont) and former (New York's Adirondack region) homes and reflects on the hopeful signs he finds in both places. In Vermont he visits with friends trying to sustain traditional ways of living on the land and inventing new ones. After crossing Lake Champlain in a rowboat, he backpacks south for ten days through the Adirondack woods, contemplating the questions that he began to raise in his book The End of Nature: What constitutes the natural? How much human intervention can a place stand before it loses its essence? What does it mean for a place to be truly wild? The Schumann Distinguished Scholar in Environmental Studies at Middlebury College and a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, McKibben was the 2013 winner of the Gandhi Prize and the Thomas Merton Prize, and holds honorary degrees from 18 colleges and universities. Foreign Policy named him to their inaugural list of the world's 100 most important global thinkers, and the Boston Globe calls him "probably America's most important environmentalist." September 18th, 2014 Yola Carlough Yola Carlough is a senior associate in community development for the B Corporation. She has also served as director of sustainability at Burt's Bees and social mission director at Ben & Jerry’s. Her talk was titled "B-Corps - The Power of Business to Solve Social and Environmental Problems". While on campus as a scholar in residence, she also participated in a panel discussion on exploring "Legal & Ethical Challenges and Opportunities for the Sustainable Business Professional". September 11th, 2014 Bernd Heinrich Dr. Heinrich is a faculty member at UC Berkeley and the University of Vermont, where he is currently Professor Emeritus. His rich body of research has dealt primarily with understanding how behavioral and physiological adaptations of animals allow them to negotiate their physical environment. He has published 18 books, many of which translate his science for the popular audience. THOMAS L. BENSON LECTURE SERIES The Benson Lecture Series, named in honor of former Green Mountain College President Thomas L. Benson, aims to bring visionary speakers of national and international significance to the College campus. Benson was president from 1994-2002 and was the architect of the College’s environmental liberal arts mission. April 27, 2017 Eddie Glaude, Jr An Uncommon Faith: W.E. B. Du Bois and African American Religion Dr. Glaude is the William S. Tod Professor of Religion and African American Studies and the Chair, Center for African American Studies, at Princeton University. He is the author of several books, including “Democracy in Black: How Race Still Enslaves the American Soul,” “Exodus! Religion, Race, and Nation in Early 19th Century Black America,” “In a Shade of Blue:Pragmatism and the Politics of Black America,” and editor of “Is it Nation Time? Contemporary Essays on Black Power and Black Nationalism.” April 20, 2015 Dan Fagin Professor Fagin discussed his 2014 Pulitzer Prize winning book: Toms River: a Story of Science and Salvation. Dan Fagin is director of the Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program at New York University and one of the best investigative journalists working today. His Pulitzer Prize citation refers to Toms River as "a book that deftly combines investigative reporting and historical research to probe a New Jersey seashore town’s cluster of childhood cancers linked to water and air pollution." April 25th, 2014 Jonathan Lash Dr. Lash is the President of Hampshire College and is an internationally recognized expert on practical solutions to global sustainability, climate change, and development challenges. From 1993 to 2011, he was president of World Resources Institute (WRI), a Washington-based environmental think tank focusing on issues ranging from low carbon development to sustainable transportation. He also co-chaired the President's Council on Sustainable Development, a group of government, business, labor, civil rights, and environmental leaders appointed by Bill Clinton that developed visionary recommendations for strategies to promote sustainable development. Prior to WRI, Lash was Vermont Secretary of Natural Resources. CONFERENCES April 21, 2017 North Country Climate Conference The third conference in a series of conferences and action events that aims to make the North Country of New York and Vermont a model for climate solutions. Keynote speaker Pamela Boyce Simms shared a talk on “Relocalization of Production & Evolutionary Culture Design in an “America First” World.” Pamela Boyce Simms is an evolutionary culture designer who convenes the Mid-Atlantic Transition Hub ─a six-state network of environmental activists. April 7, 2017, April 1, 2016 Making a Difference, Making a Living At the heart of the Making a Difference and Making a Living Conference is the the essential question: Can I pursue a career in which I make a positive difference in the world AND make a comfortable living? Successful entrepreneurs and alumni from various professions presented the personal journey they have taken toward engaging in satisfying and meaningful work.

November 18th, 2017 Carrie Newcomer Renown Folk Singer-Songwriter Carrie Newcomer Live in Concert Nov. 18 Performing songs from her most recent album The Beautiful Not Yet and previous albums – Free to all! November 17, 2017 Open Mic Night - Hosted by the Reverie Bring community together through music. November 14, 2017 New Hampshire Indian Museum Demonstration Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, Education and Cultural Center, connects people of today with 20,000 years of ongoing Native American cultural expression. The Museum embraces cultural diversity and encourages responsible environmental action based on respect for nature. Through these exhibitions and programs, the Museum seeks to challenge and inspire all of us to improve the quality of our lives and our world. Experience MKIM and its stories by exploring North American regions and their artifacts. October 23, 2017 Sing Diversity Sing Diversity is a two hour Songwriting Workshop. During the workshop students will write and record an original song that reflect their experience diversity, inclusion, and inequity in a college setting or on a state or national level . Students do not need to have any previous experience. The workshop is open to all students, faculty etc. Students will receive a fully produced song and Micro Doc. October 21, 2017 Collaborative Music Project A ‘battle of the bands’ style music event in which random people were given only seven short days to come up with a performance. October 21, 2017 Welsh Harvest Festival Green Mountain College annually pays tribute to the distinctive Welsh culture of Poultney and its surrounding communities. Food, music, craft fair, and other activities to celebrate the harvest season. October 17, 2017 Nel Noddings teaching controversial topics Noddings is Lee Jacks Professor of Education, Emerita, at Stanford University. Her books include Education and Democracy in the 21st Century, When School Reform Goes Wrong, The Challenge to Care in Schools, Educating Citizens for Global Awareness, Educating for Intelligent Belief or Unbelief, and Educating Moral People. Her book Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral Education is one of the most influential texts in ethics and feminist theory in the 20th century. In our often polarized American political climate, it’s more relevant than ever to consider how to encourage critical reflection, empathy, and the ability to converse across divides in both K-12 and higher education settings. This lecture is free and open to the public, and is part of Green Mountain College’s mission to advance social sustainability in our communities. October 14, 2017 Green Mountain College Community 5K Ocotober 12, 2017 Daughters of the Corn The Daughters of Corn will bring dancers from Women in Action, and the La Paz project to the U.S. to perform traditional dances while educating audiences about Nicaragua’s culture and current affairs. The full performance includes 14 cultural dances performed in beautiful costumes and dresses as well as short video showings about the group’s work in Nicaragua. While on campus, the group will also be available for dance workshops, classroom visits, and roundtable discussions. Please contact Rev. Shirley Oskamp, Campus Chaplain, to make arrangements for the group to visit a class or group while they are on campus. October 10, 2017 American Red Cross Blood Drive September 9-10, 2017 Theater of the Oppressed NYC Workshop and Scene Creation The Workshop: Participants will be introduced to Forum Theatre, and then create their own short scenes around community issues. Time can also be included to discuss how to facilitate TO games. September 10, 2017 Theater of the Oppressed NYC Performance and Community Conversation Theatre of the Oppressed NYC partners with communities facing discrimination to inspire transformative action through theatre. August 30, 2017,September 9-10, 2017 Safer Zone Training Opportunities to learn about gender and sexual, LGBTQ identities and issues. April 19, 2017 Andrew Stanbridge Andrew Stanbridge presented “Aftermath: The Secret War in Laos” and “Never Ending Stories: a Photographer’s Work from the Syria and Rohingya Conflicts.” Andrew Stanbridge is a Portland, Oregon based photographer who concentrates on global humanitarian conflict and environmental stories. He shared photographs and stories with students and faculty in an effort to raise awareness of the tragedies that have taken place in Laos and Syria. April 3-7, 2017 Pride Week Students and staff celebrated LGBTQ+ Pride Week with a clothing drive to support transgender youth, a safe sex workshop, a presentation on the history of the LGBTQ+ movement, and a community discussion on diversity and inclusion. March 24, 2017 Oshun Performance Manhattan-based vocalists Niambi Sala and Thandiwe performed soul and hip-hop to spread the essence of Oshun and her deity sisters. They sing to empower women and people through cultural pride and self-respect. March 15, 2017 Community Meal The College’s club Creative Composters offered a free community meal that featured food that had been recovered from pre-consumer waste. March 1, 2017 I am Not Your Negro Documentary I am Not Your Negro is a documentary that was written and inspired by the late James Baldwin and directed by Raoul Peck. It discusses the effects that the assassinations of Medgar Evers, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. had on the Civil Rights movement. It will also link the Civil Rights movement with the current #blacklivesmatter movement. February 27, 2017 Spoken Word Performance and Poetry Workshop Spoken Word poet Derick Ebert performed his social justice themed poetry at Green Mountain College and afterwards he facilitated a poetry workshop for all who attended. February 17, 2017 Michael Caduto Popular author, master storyteller and musician Michael Caduto introduced participants to the great circles of life—the basis for a balanced, sustainable existence with Earth. Michael shared stories from traditional cultures found throughout the world—including Africa, Europe, North America, Central America and more. February 7, 2017 The Hunting Ground Student Life is conducted a documentary screening of The Hunting Ground and a discussion on sexual assaults on college campuses. The Hunting Ground is an exposé of rape crimes on U.S. college campuses, their institutional cover­ups, and the devastating toll they take on students and their families. February 3, 2017 InterVarsity Trip to Boston in Support of Black History Month GMC's InterVarsity chapter traveled to Boston to challenge their beliefs and step outside their comfort zone by "pressing in", and explore the black culture (through spoken word, breakout sessions on race/gender & more, student testimonies, key note speaker and music). January 28, 2017 Ballet Folklorico Performance Calpulli Mexican Dance Company performed an interactive performance that explored Mexican traditions via dance and music. Dancers guided the audience using costumes, rhythms, and stories to share about the country’s rich traditions. January 16-20, 2017 Martin Luther King Day Celebration and Educational Week The week was kicked off with a community meal served at the Poultney Methodist Church. Faculty and students held workshops focused on con-violent communications, feminism, and race, MLK’s spiritual foundations, and deconstructing privilege. Films were shown throughout the week that helped to spark discussion on race, oppression, power, and activism. December 14, 2016 Fair Trade Tea Time Students relaxed and conversed with a cup of Fair Trade tea and learned more about the world of Fair Trade and how their purchases can stand for fair wages and conditions for farmers. December 1, 2016 Janice Perry: Not Just Another Pretty Face Comedian laughed us through her vibrant retrospective of social criticism and political satire touching on subjects from Marilyn Monroe through a few Gulf Wars, high fashion, erotica, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Robert Mapplethorpe's naked men and censorship. Janice's visit was aimed at giving more visibility and representation for women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQA+ community. November 19 and 20, 2016 Wellness Weekend A school­wide weekend devoted to wellness of all kinds. This two ­day event included vendors, guest practitioners and workshop leaders. Topics of interest included herbalism, reiki, massage, natural beauty products, allergen ­safe cooking, culinary therapy, yoga and more. November 15, 2016 Thanks and Giving Day Thanks & Giving Day is a student ­led initiative providing an opportunity for the campus community to give back to the town of Poultney. Over 220 free community meals were served, and 221 people collectively contributed 293 community service hours for projects in and around Poultney. November 11, 2016 Screening of “Dakota 38” Documentary and Discussion "Dakota 38" is a documentary remembering and honoring 38 Native Americans executed on December 26, 1862. Community discussion followed. November 10, 2016 Screening of “Champlain: The Lake Between” Documentary screening and discussion featuring commentary from local tribal leaders, historians and anthropologists, this documentary looks at local history of indigenous peoples since before European colonization. November 6, 2016 Indigenous Literature Open Mic A night of open mic and appreciation of indigenous artists. This was an opportunity to read, hear and honor works written by Indigenous persons. October 25, 2016 Documentary Screening of "Salam Neighbor" and Panel Discussion “Salam Neighbor” is an award­-winning film and campaign to connect the world to the plight of refugees. The audience was immersed in the life of a Syrian refugee through the journey of Zach Ingrasci and Chris Temple, the first filmmakers allowed to be registered and given a tent inside of a refugee camp. A panel discussion with special guests will followed the film. October 19, 2016 Liz Calabrese Liz Calabrese, licensed architect and LEED accredited professional, presented “Biophilic Design: Design for Human Flourishing.” Biophilia is the inherent human inclination to affiliate with nature that, even in the modern world, is critical to our physical and mental health and well­being. October 4, 2016 Grace Gershuny Organic Farming for the Planet Organic pioneer, educator and consultant Grace Gershuny shared lessons she learned from her experience as an author of the National Organic Program regulations. Grace has written extensively about soil and compost, and currently teaches in the College’s MS program in Sustainable Food Systems. October 1, 2016 Safe(R) Zone Training Students and staff interested in being a visible ally for queer and LGBT members of the Green Mountain College community had the opportunity to attend Safe(R) Zone Training, which provided participants with the knowledge and information necessary to help those in search of more information of topics of gender and sexuality. September 24, 2016 Collaborative Music Project Student organized music performance where student musicians meet new students and create music productions together as a way of building social capital in the GMC community. September 18, 2016 Bread and Puppet Theater The Bread and Puppet Theater is a politically radical puppet theater, active since the 1960s, currently based in Glover, Vermont. Its founder and director is Peter Schumann. September 17, 2016 Creative Sign­ Making Event to Stop the Dakota Access Pipeline Students gathered to create art pieces and banners to express solidarity with the water and land protectors at Standing Rock and encourage the Army Corps of Engineers to reconsider the construction of a pipeline that poses a threat the the health and safety of the Standing Rock Sioux and their land. September 6, 2016 The Unity Project All members of the Green Mountain College community were invited to participate in a community art installation entitled “The Unity Project,” which celebrated the diversity and intersectionality of the college community. 4/30/2016 Trans Wellness Speaker - Speaker Toni Maviki spoke to from personal experience to GMC students and staff her experience as a transgender female and her experience as an advocate for others in the trans community. 4/29/2016 The Modern Renaissance The Modern Renaissance is an event created by the Coalition for Students of Color to celebrate the history, arts, culture, identity, and personal stories from minority student population at Green Mountain College. It is inspired by the Harlem Renaissance, which was a literary, artistic, and intellectual movement that aroused a new Black-American cultural identity. It was an effort of self expression, self determination, and a moment in history that transformed the “social disillusion to race pride” (History.com). It included visual arts, music, and performing arts. 3/31/2016 Food Chain: Documentary Screening In observance of Food Justice Week, join this discussion on farmworker’s rights and what we as students and activists can do. The event features a screening of the documentary “Food Chains.” 3/1/2016 Cultural Appropriation Workshop This workshop helped students wrestle with the question of cultural appreciation specifically centered around one of GMC’s beloved traditions the Shakti Tribal Dance group. 2/20/16 Pico Ski Day Students with a variety of skiing skills traveled to Pico ski mountain to ski & ride and experience one of Vermont's popular industries . Students with more experience lent a hand to those who were just trying it out. This event help to build social capital between peers and gave students and opportunity to connect with the state. 1/23/16 Interpretive Hike of the Natural Areas Students got the opportunity to learn about the natural areas in the winter. GMC AmeriCorps Land Manager talked about the flora and fauna on campus and answered questions about the land and management practices. 1/2016 Martin Luther King day celebrations & Educational Week The week was kicked off with a community breakfast served at the Poultney Methodist Church. Faculty & students held workshops focused on non-violent communications, feminism & race, MLK’s spiritual foundations, and deconstructing privilege. Films were shown throughout the week that helped to spark discussion on race, oppression, power, and activism. 12/14/15 - Interfaith Gathering The president of the spirituality club along with Shirley Oskamp the colleges chaplin gathered GMC students, faculty, and staff to share food and conversation on their perspectives of religion, spirituality, and tradition. 11/3/15 A Taste of Fair Trade Event This event allowed students the opportunity to sample Fair Trade teas, chocolate, and coffee while learning more about what Fairtrade means for communities around the globe. 10/25/15 Global Bizarre and Trashion Show This event was put on by the Intercultural Center (ICC) and the Sustainability office. Student prepared dishes from the places they felt tied to and talked about the significance of each dish. The sustainability office sponsored a fashion show where students created the best outfit possible using discarded items. 10/14/15 Whaleback Winery Tour/ Tasting Students traveled to the Whaleback Winery to learn about the local wine industy. 5/11/15 Chaga Tea Tasting Chaga tea tasting and presentation on wildcrafting and homeopathic medicine. Chaga (Inonotus Obliquus) is a wild mushroom, that grows on birch trees in extremely cold regions of northern latitudes, where temperatures fall below 30F for the 2-3 months per year required to sustain maximum growth and potency. Chaga Mushroom is “wild harvested” and cannot be commercially cultivated. 5/4/15 Fair Trade Chocolate and Coffee Tasting Tasting of fair trade chocolate and coffee with a presentation on fair trade certification, benefits, and stories of growers producing the products. 5/2/15 Musical Odessey featuring Amy McTear A multimedia, musical odyssey and workshop, using voice, music, cultural and archetypal wisdom, tools, techniques and meditations for selfdiscovery. Participants were invited to distinguish their true voice from conditioned voices, explore common stumbling blocks and take steps in the direction of what matters to them most. The goal was for the audience to leave feeling focused, inspired, with a sense of purpose and greater clarity of their particular path, as well as with tools, meditations and daily exercises for tuning into their One True Voice. 4/11/15 Darkmatter Darkmatter is a Trans South Asian art and activist collaboration comprised of Janani Balasubramanian and Alok Vaid-Menon. Using poetry and polemic, Darkmatter is committed to an art practice of gender self-determination, racial justice and movement building. Darkmatter has performed and facilitated workshops across the country and world. 3/21/15 Vermont Institute for Natural Science Field Trip Founded in 1972, The Vermont Institute of Natural Science (VINS) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization based out of the VINS Nature Center in Quechee, Vermont. VINS' mission is to motivate individuals and communities to care for the environment 12/5/2014 Art Exhibit: Uncovering Rutland Students visited Rutland, Vermont and documented various aspects of the city in a photo exhibit. Some students focused on social sustainability (viewing poverty issues and public art) and others focused on renewable energy, since Rutland is becoming the "solar city." 10/24/14 Bread and Puppet Theater Two shows were presented: “A Thing Done In A Seeing Place” and “The Lubberland National Dance Company Presents The Bombing Instead of Negotiating Dance”.The Bread and Puppet Theater is a politically radical puppet theater, active since the 1960s, currently based in Glover, Vermont. Its founder and director is Peter Schumann. 2/16/16, 9/27/14, 2/7/14, 9/28/13 Collaborative Music Project Student organized music performance where student musicians meet new students and create music productions together as a way of building social capital in the GMC Community.

The Green Mountain Adventure Programming Office (GreenMAP) provides recreational and instructional outdoor programs for all ability levels. GreenMAP trips are generally free, student-led outings open to the entire Green Mountain College community. Many of the trips require no prior experience. Student Leaders are trained in trip planning, group management, outdoor ethics, and leadership in the activities they lead. In-house trainings prepare students for nationally recognized certification programs which many trip leaders complete. GreenMAP activities include rock & ice climbing, whitewater and coastal kayaking, canoeing, backpacking, snowshoeing, and backcountry and telemark skiing. Ice climbing, mountaineering, backpacking, tele-ski, rock climbing, and paddling equipment can be rented at any time for only $1 per day. For entering students, GreenMap offers The Wilderness Challenge. This activity provides an excellent way for incoming students to meet new friends and learn more about the Green Mountain Community. The trips are led by trained student and staff leaders from the GreenMap Program. The trips take place in the mountains and waters that surround the college and make New England famous. With programs like backpacking, rock climbing, canoeing, sea kayaking & yoga, there is a "challenge" for every level of experience and interest.

All undergraduate GMC students must complete the 37-credit Environmental Liberal Arts (ELA) curriculum which addresses 23 sustainability-related learning outcomes. The 9-credit first-year portion of this program explicitly focuses on ecological and social dimensions of sustainability in the two-course sequence, Images of Nature and Voices of Community. Through Images of Nature, students are introduced to the Green Mountain College Environmental Liberal Arts Education program and our beautiful bioregion. As a first-year cohort, students explore some of the ways in which we make sense of the human and ecological systems which surround us. Students choose their class section from various topics, while all students experience a few common texts that consider our place in the world. The course begins to develop college writing through essays and journaling while frequent field trips help root students in their new home while they test ideas from classroom readings. The common read for the 2017 year was Lauret Savoy's Trace: Memory, History, Race, and the American Landscape. This text was required reading for all first year students and coincided with Laret's visit to Green Mountain College as the 2017 Convocation speaker.

One program on campus related to this credit is the Sustainable Living Floor. The Sustainable Floor is a floor of a residence hall designed as an intentional community where students living there aim to live sustainability in all aspects of their lives. Residents cook a community dinner every night with as many sustainable ingredients as they can get, they practice aggressive recycle and reuse strategies, and piloted a vermiculture bin for compost. They have also run their own sustainability competitions. . For example, in 2016, they had participated in a week-long zero waste initiative on their floor.

Multiple student worker positions at aim to improve the triple bottom line at GMC: to enhance the social, economic and environmental impact of sustainability initiatives on campus and beyond, while also helping students gain marketable skills for the green economy. All student workers are offered training on incorporating sustainability initiatives of the College into their student employment and are encouraged to collaborate between departments on projects that enhance campus sustainability in a holistic manner. Positions explicitly focused on the advancing the triple bottom line include Farmhands, Tour Guides, Resident Assistants, GreenMAP employees, Coffee House workers, Natural Areas Crew, and Waste Diversion Specialists. Special management positions are also available in most departments to student workers who want to improve their leadership and management skills. Past accomplishments include the following: - Researching and pricing options to create a certified composting facility to accept food scraps from the Town - Calculating a cost-benefit analysis of installing three-bin waste stations across campus - Carrying-out floor activities for annual energy-reduction challenge, Do it in the Dark - Decreasing paperwork & utilizing electronic mailings - Hosting Wild & Scenic Film Festival - Improving Farm Chore system to increase productivity and improve efficiency - Raising awareness about waste reduction through outreach efforts

GMC fosters many co-curricular sustainability programs and initiatives. The Annual Earth Fair is just one example. The Poultney Earth Fair is a completely grassroots event organized by a joint college and town committee intention of educating children and their families about the environment. The theme of the event changes every year. A description of the most recent Earth Fairs is below: 10th Annual Earth Fair (April 12, 2017) The 10th Annual Poultney Earth Fair welcomed hundreds of people from the local region to celebrate the environment and community. Poultney High School hosted the Earth Fair and selected the relevant theme of “Roots of the Past, Seeds for the Future..” There over 65 exhibitors that prepared stimulating and fun interactive demonstrations and activities to showcase what individuals can do to enrich their communities. Even though this event is only a couple of hours, the Earth Fair creates long lasting impressions for people who attend. One exhibit or one person’s presentation can change someone's perception (in a positive way) and inspire them to make environmentally friendlier actions.