New York University
EN-3: Student Life

NYU currently has more than a dozen active student organizations directly involved in sustainability issues. The oldest, Earth Matters! (established 1989) is described below. Earth Matters! is the premier outreach club at NYU dedicated to issues of the environment and sustainability. They blend events on campus or workshops in the community with activist campaigns in coordination with national organizations. The group is open to all and everyone is welcome to attend meetings. CLUBS EarthMatters - NYU's premier campus-wide environmental club (see above) There are a number of national campaigns with NYU chapters functioning under or in partnership with EarthMatters Take Back the Tap - focused on implementing hydration systems and phasing out the sale of bottled water on campus Real Food Challenge - advocating for more sustainable and ethical food options in NYU's dining services Citizens Climate Lobby - educating students on campaigning for climate-related policies American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE) - ensuring the input of African Americans and other minorities into the discussions and developments of energy policies regulations, R&D technologies, and environmental issues Animal Welfare Collective - bring awareness to and advocating for animal rights Community Agriculture Project - educating on urban agriculture and tending to the community garden in Washington Square Village Oxfam America at NYU - raising awareness of sustainable solutions to poverty, hunger, and global inequality Share Meals at NYU - eliminating food insecurity and social isolation at NYU SproutUp - providing free, youth-led environmental education program to 1st and 2nd grade students in NYC Stern Net Impact - a mission-driven community of students passionate about using their business background to generate positive social change Two Birds One Stone - delivering hot, edible food that is leftover from NYU dining halls to homeless shelters around NYC Decarbonize NYU - a sub-campaign of NYU Divest working to align NYU’s climate mitigation initiatives with the imperatives of Climate and Environmental Justice, and to extend NYU’s ambition beyond emissions reductions towards the just transition to 100% renewable energy New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) - NYWEA is an organization of water quality professionals founded in 1929 to serve the public interest by promoting sustainable water quality management through science, education, and training Nutrition Without Borders - a student-led organization dedicated to multidisciplinary involvement in domestic and global #nutrition issues SCHOOL-SPECIFIC STUDENT GROUPS Environmental Law Society - for NYU Law students interested in protecting the environment, exploring nature, promoting environmental justice, pursuing environmental law and more Gallatin Greening Committee - convening Gallatin students and faculty interested in supporting sustainability initiatives at Gallatin School of Individualized Study Stern Social Impact & Sustainability Association - NYU Stern School of Business MBA students dedicated to using the power of business to create a more socially and environmentally sustainable world. Tandon Sustainability Solutions Committee (part of Tandon's Undergraduate Student Council) Wagner Alliance for Climate Change and Environment - NYU community members advocating for the inclusion of emerging issues in key courses and curricula at Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service Wagner Food Policy Alliance - (WFPA) is a coalition of individuals and organizations across the NYU community who are working towards a just and sustainable food system

NYU has several ways for students to gain experience in organic agriculture and sustainable food systems. The primary way is through the Community Agriculture Club. This is a student run club that is focused on learning the theory and practice of urban agriculture. The club grows seasonal fruits and vegetables in cold-frames in Washington Square Village and hosts agriculture related events, including talks, sustainable cooking parties, community service days, film screenings and more Students can also get involved via the Urban Farm Lab which is the first urban agriculture project in the City of New York on a Landmarked site. The Lab is run by the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development's Food Studies program and the Silver Towers Tenants Association (NYU Faculty Housing). The Lab was originally funded by an NYU Office of Sustainability Green Grant. The Lab grows food in a series of small, intensive cold frame boxes on a lawn near the Washington Square Village Apartments.

Two Birds One Stone is a student-run enterprise that collects food waste from NYU dining halls and brings it to a local homeless shelter. The goals of the initiative are to: - Reduce the amount of food that is wasted each night at NYU dining halls and redistribute this food so that the hungry and homeless populations may access healthy, nutritious meals. - Raise the awareness with NYU dining hall staff and management as to the amount of excess food that is prepared each night so that measures may be put in place to limit the amount of food that goes to waste. - Facilitate community involvement and empower students to take action against food injustice, environmental degradation and poverty. - Educate the NYU community on food, poverty and environmental issues. - Foster the sense that NYU is truly “in and of the city” by building partnership and ties to New York City community based organizations and populations.

The Leonard N. Stern School of Business offers the following social impact initiatives to help students develop socially, environmentally, and fiscally responsible skills. Experiential Learning Seminar: Social Impact Consulting This course provides Stern undergraduate students with an opportunity to apply lessons learned in the Social Impact Core Curriculum. It is structured as an experiential learning laboratory involving consulting-based projects and collaboration among students, faculty and nonprofit organizations. First Year Impact (FYI) The First Year Impact (FYI) program provides a forum for reflection and personal discovery through service and discussion. It augments the Social Impact Core, and is one of two opportunities available to Stern freshmen who are enrolled in Business and Society. Social Impact Council Working closely with Matt Statler, Richman Family Director of Business Ethics and Social Impact Programming, the Social Impact Council is a working committee comprised of concerned and involved undergraduate students who fulfill a crucial, on the ground advisory role for the Undergraduate College's Social Impact administration. Social Solutions Project Lab The Social Solutions Project Lab provides a small group of freshmen who have an interest in social entrepreneurship with an opportunity to research and develop business ideas that can create triple-bottom line value. It augments the Social Impact Core and is one of two opportunities available to Stern freshmen who are enrolled in Business and Society.

NYU's Office of Sustainability hosts a speaker series called "Educating for Sustainability". This is a semi-annual lecture series that invites environmental scholars and leaders to address the NYU community, with students as one of the primary intended audiences. Previous Lectures include: - Spring 2019: Fear of a Black Planet: Scientific Racism and the Making of the Anthropocene featuring: Cynthia Malone - Fall 2018: Pragmatic Actions and Policies for Sustainability with Rodrigo Zeidan - Spring 2018: The Future of Ocean Conservation with Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson - Fall 2017: A Queer Response to Climate Change—What Would Walt Whitman Do? with Peterson Toscano - Spring 2017: What We Waste with Robin Nagle & Dr. Cassandra Thiel - Fall 2016: Naomi Klein, Author of "This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate" In addition to this series, Earth Week at NYU features exciting programs, volunteer opportunities and events as part of the month long celebration of NYU’s commitment to sustainability.

Every year the NYU Office of Sustainability hosts Zero Waste Week which include a Zero Waste Art exhibition where students are invited to submit artwork that provide a visual commentary on waste and/or uses recycled materials. This exhibition is put on in the Kimmel Center for University Life and its intended audience is students.

The Hiking Club club offers a non-competitive social activity that is versatile enough to accommodate all ages and fitness levels with treks on nearby hiking trails and beaches in and outside the city. The Hiking Club holds six to eight outings a year with most walks averaging two hours plus travel time. The club visits parks, preserves, and beaches where city-bound members can have a healthy workout while exploring refreshing natural environments. Members are also encouraged to participate in charity walks during the year.

NYU offers two floors of sustainability-themed housing that is open to all upper class students. This community looks well beyond reduce, reuse, recycle, and consider sustainability in terms of the environment, social and political movements, economic philosophies, and self-exploration. Potential opportunities for engagement include documentaries and discussions about sustainability, a sustainable food panel, an East Village community gardens tour, a trip to the farmer’s market, a bike repair workshop, and more.

NYU's Office of Sustainability employees between 5 and 10 student employees every year. These students fill Sustainability Assistant positions which include roles in the realms of student/community engagement, event coordination, communications/outreach and program management.

In conjunction with other on-campus groups, the Office of Sustainability assists with the "Green Grad Pledge" as a part of the Graduation Pledge Alliance where graduates pledge to contribute positively to the environmental sustainability of their future workplace and community.