Sustainable Res Life
February 6, 2015
Program Ideas
Need funding for an event? Just fill out an application! The Center for Sustainable Communities will be reviewing applications frequently, but it is best to apply at least two weeks ahead of your program.
Starting the Semester with a Bang What better way to say welcome back to school than a floor party? Maybe a floor BLACKOUT PARTY! Reserve a room, gather your residents, hit the lights, and you're good to go! You could borrow a blacklight or two, dress in neon and give each other highlighter tattoos; play throwback games like sardines or flashlight tag; or just pop in a movie. Keeping it dark saves energy, as does keeping everyone in the same room (fewer occupied rooms = fewer thermostats on high and fewer lights and appliances running). Consider inviting other floors to increase the sustainable benefits AND the fun!

Grow Green! Missing the green of spring and summer? Why not bring a bit of it into your room! Consider throwing a planting party with your floor. Head to the Co-op to find a fun array of heirloom seeds from Decorah's own Seed Savers Exchange. (You could also make the trip out to Seed Savers if you're feeling adventurous!) Soil, pots, and other planting supplies can be found in multiple locations around town. Grab your residents, find a study lounge (and lay out some paper towels to catch the dirt), and dig in! If your floor is full of crafty-types, consider decorating pots together too!
Sustainability Updates
We'd Still Love to Hear from You! That's right! We're still accepting responses for our New Year, New Newsletter survey. Don't miss out on the opportunity to influence the newsletter and to win that Co-op card! 

In case you missed it over January Term, our New Year's resolution is to bring you a new and improved newsletter that fits your needs as best as possible. So we're looking for your feedback! We would love it if you could take a few minutes of your time to complete a short survey regarding this newsletter. Your honest responses would be greatly appreciated! We will be re-vamping the newsletter based on your suggestions, and, as an added bonus to show our gratitude, those who complete the survey will be placed in a drawing to receive a $25 Co-op Gift Card! So submit your response today -we can't wait to hear from you!
Tips for a Greener Residence Hall
Hug Your Mug! It's cold outside, and there's nothing like warming up with your hot beverage of choice from Nordic Brew, Oneota, or Sunnyside. However, you may notice that as your coffee/tea/cocoa trips get more frequent, the number of cups you throw away starts to increase...and the number of Dining Dollars in your account starts to decrease. Fortunately, there's a simple solution -start carrying your favorite mug around with you! Not only does this reduce waste, but Dining Services also gives a discount to those who bring their own mug to any of their locations.

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This newsletter is provided by the Center for Sustainable Communities, which coordinates all sustainability initiatives at Luther College.  The mission of the Center is to promote sustainability and be a catalyst for change on campus and in the region.  For more information on sustainability initiatives at Luther and the outreach work of the Center for Sustainable Communities, please visit:  www.luther.edu/sustainability.

Upcoming Events
On Campus
Guest Lecturer: Dr. Lisa Rausch
Thursday, February 19th
7pm, Valders 206

Join us for a conversation with Dr. Lisa Rausch on reducing deforestation in the soy and cattle provinces of Brazil.

In Decorah
Poetry Slam
Friday, February 27th
8pm, Decorah Elks Lodge

Come for an evening of poetry and fun! Doors open at 7:30pm. Tickets are $3 for students.

Student Spotlight
Bridget Becker '18














Bridget is a first-year Nursing major from Atkins, IA working with Sustainability. During the warmer months, you'd find her out in the Luther College Gardens, but now she works with the nonprofit Iowa Food Hub packing boxes with locally grown foods and making them available to the community. What she enjoys most about her work with Sustainability is the opportunity to be a part of the larger community. Though she is not involved in anything music-related at Luther, one of her favorite things to do on campus is attend concerts and recitals.

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