The Green Umbrella and various other sustainability groups and local businesses will be at the Free Speech Zone by Parks Library from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22^nd for National Campus Sustainability Day.

Tables and displays will be set up to help inform students about how to practice sustainability and get involved. This is the sixth year The Green Umbrella, a student organization that advocates sustainability, has hosted the event.

“What we are doing with this event is basically an opportunity for any campus and community organization. Also we have invited businesses that support sustainability to come to our even to promote themselves and [shows] ways for people to get involved,” Merry Rankin, ISU director of sustainability, said.

There will be prizes and free coffee given to students that bring their own coffee mug. SHOP (Students Helping Our Peers) will also provide free bike tune ups. It is encouraged that students bring non-perishable food items for the SHOP Student Food Bank.

“Sustainability is living in such a way that you can meet your current needs without compromising the needs of future,” Jordan Muell, president of The Green Umbrella said.

Sustainability has three primary pieces: eco sustainability, economic sustainability and social sustainability. Eco sustainability is caring for the environment while economic sustainability is spending in a way that is both efficient and not excessive. Social sustainability is building and working together in a community and doing things such as voting.

When all three pieces are balanced, true sustainability is reached.

“I think sustainability affects all of us,” said Rankin. “The reality is we are all on the roller coaster now.”

Based on previous years, Muell predicts around 300 people will attend the event.

“We want to get people excited like we are about sustainability,” said Muell.

The National Campus Sustainability Day will happen rain or shine, but in the event of unpleasant weather, activities will take place in the overhang of Parks Library.

Rankin encourages students to ask themselves, “What can I personally do?” An easy way to get involved is to attend National Campus Sustainability Day.

“We can all be doing something now,” said Rankin.

Campus groups and local businesses involved in National Campus Sustainability Day include:

• ActivUS
• Bras for the Cause
• Conservation Club
• Divine Eyewear
• Enactus
• Enterprise CarShare
• Government of the Student Body
• Greeks Go Green
• GreenHouse Group
• ISU Bike Share
• ISU BioBus
• ISU Dining
• ISU Student Organic Farm
• National Association for Interpretation
• NextGen Climate
• 100th Green Butterfly Club
• Outdoor Recreation Services
• Oxfam America ISU
• Prairie Rivers of Iowa
• Random Goods
• St. Jude’s Up ’til Dawn
• SNU (Students for the New Urbanism)
• Soil and Water Conservation Club
• Sustainable Agriculture Student Association
• Team PrISUm
• The Green Umbrella
• The SHOP (Students Helping Our Peers)
• Wheatsfield Cooperative
• Worldly Goods