Many student groups are focused on various aspects of sustainability, including the Associated Students of UC Merced (ASUCM, the student government); the Sustainability Council; Engineers for a Sustainable World; the EcoRep program; and the Earth Club.
The Sustainability Commissioner for ASUCM leveraged relationships with campus administrators and student groups, convincing leaders to invest in providing reusable water bottles to every first-year student on campus and to install new hydration stations on campus to promote the use of reusable water bottles and water conservation. This created a huge buzz on campus around sustainability and is an ongoing initiative.
Each of these groups took an active part in creating, planning and implementing the first EcoFest at UC Merced in fall 2015. Students who participated could earn a version of the reusable water bottles provided to first-year students the year before. EcoFest was a huge success and continues each fall.
If you have any ideas on what might make a good activity at one of these events, please reach out to ASUCM any feedback is more than welcome!
