Luther College
EN-2: Student Orientation

Throughout orientation for new and transfer students there are many opportunities to learn about sustainability at Luther. Zero Waste Picnic: The Zero Waste Picnic (attended by all incoming students and their families) is one way students are introduced to sustainability. The goal is to generate as little waste as possible, while educating about composting and local food. A student-led Green Team creates signage and provides sustainability education at the event. Activities Fair: The activities fair provides an opportunity for students to learn about the ways they can get involved with the sustainability office and the student environmental groups on campus. Presentation on building more inclusive communities: This presentation by Dr. Maura Cullen takes place on an evening during orientation and explores race, gender, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class, religion, ability, and size discrimination in a lively and interactive format. Pay It Forward: The Center for Sustainable Communities coordinates service activities for all incoming students during orientation. Many service projects are sustainability-related. Staff from the Center speak with all first year students about sustainability and community before the service projects begin. Sustainability Scavenger Hunt: A scavenger hunt was made available to all incoming students. Students who completed the scavenger hunt received a free Klean Kanteen water bottle if they showed photos from their scavenger hunt to a member of the sustainability staff. Stops on the hunt included renewable energy features, sustainable transportation, local food and more. Information regarding all these events is included in the orientation booklet provided to all first-year students. The booklet itself is printed on locally manufactured paper (from Wisconsin), made using environmentally friendly practices and contains 10% recycled post consumer fiber. It is also printed with soy ink. All incoming students are invited to participate in Luther's Immersion Program and generally around 70 incoming students participate in these trips to the Boundary Waters, North Shore, Upper Iowa River and other places within the Driftless region.