News Archive

A comprehensive archive of all news articles written about or referencing our office.


News and Updates for 2024

Fall Harvest Festival

Thank you all for attending this year's annual Fall Harvest Festival. We are extremely grateful to our friends from the Earth Science Club, Innovation Hub, Buley Library, Wellness Center, Hunnebee Project, and Lights Out CT. And thank you to Ben & Jerry’s New Haven, Neil’s Donuts, and Cafe George for the catering.
Keep an eye out next October so you can join the fun!

Fall Harvest Festival

New Swap Shop Location

Our reuse office supply store has found its new home in Engleman C108! For the 2024 Fall semester, the Swap Shop is open to staff and faculty from 12:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Stop by before buying new or leave donations with us to help reduce waste. Curious if we have something? Email us at sustainability@southernct.edu and we'll let you know.

Cartoon owl wearing a shirt that says Swap Shop

Beaver Brook Turnout

The Beaver Brook clean-ups held 1/26, 2/2, and 2/9 were a great success. Our group from the Office of Sustainability, Friends of Beaver Pond Park, and West River Watershed were thrilled to see such a turn out, big thank you to all who joined us! We did great work during these events and hope to continue in the future. Keep an eye out for upcoming events this spring!

A group of people in a forrest, clean and collected garbage with garbage bags

Newhallville fREshSTARTs and Food Recovery Partnership

The Office of Sustainability is glad to support Newhallville fREshSTARTs through our food recovery program, providing meals for their up-and-coming fREsh-taurant; a community kitchen. fREshSTARTs, like us, hopes to support its community and plant the seeds for a bigger and brighter future, all while saving waste. This is a mission we at SCSUs Office of Sustainability can proudly stand behind. To learn more about Newhallville fREshSTARTs, check out some recent news coverage by Patch News and the New Haven Independent

A group of four people


News and Updates for Fall 2023

Fall Work Party at Massaro Community Farms

Join us every Friday for a visit to our neighbors at Massaro Community Farms! We will help the crew wrap up the end of the season: harvesting fall produce, winterizing rows and beds, and touring the farm to learn more about organic farming methods. If you are interested, connect with our office to coordinate carpool options: sustainability@southernct.edu

We will be outdoors, so dress in warm clothing with closed toe shoes and expect to leave with some soil on clothes and shoes. Tranportation is not guaranteed, but please reach out and we can discuss any carpool plans. *Poor weather will affect these sessions; please confirm with us if inclement weather is forecasted. OwlConnect link

Where: 41 Ford Road, Woodrbidge, CT 06525

When: 

  • Friday, November 3 from 10:00am to 12:00pm
  • Friday, November 10 from 10:00am to 12:00pm
  • Friday, November 17 from 10:00am to 12:00pm"
Students and faculty working in a garden

Fall Harvest Festival

Our end of the season celebration on October 26th was a success! It was great to see so many old and new faces enjoying the garden, pumpkin carving/painting, getting their face painted, learning about other organizations, and of course enjoying the food. We are grateful for the donations we received for the food pantry. See you again next year!

Fall festival themed baked goods

Accomplishments


2022 April 27 in News at Southern
Sustainable Southern’ Takes Home State Awards

Southern takes home two GreenerGov Awards commemorating their inspiring initiative to a more sustainable campus.


2021 May 24 in News at Southern
University’s First Sustainability Fellow Making a Difference

As Derek Faulkner joins the Office of Sustainability as their first sustainability fellow, we discuss the importance of awareness, outreach, and project-oriented goals in the name of environmental benefit.


2019 May 20 in News at Southern
Southern Declares A Climate Emergency

Southern officially recognizes a climate emergency, following continued efforts to reduce carbon footprint and negative environmental impact.


2013 July 17 by Luther Turmelle in New Haven Register
New Southern Connecticut State University parking garage includes electric vehicle charging stations

SCSU implements easily accessible charging stations in Wintergreen Parking Garage for electric vehicles on campus.

Events


2023 November 1 by Lexi White and Brianna Wallen in SCSU News
Fall Harvest Festival held in the university garden space

SCSU students speak about their time in one of many annual Fall Harvest Festivals, enjoying the food, games, and activities in celebration of the fall season.
   

Beaver Brook


2024 February 20 in News at Southern
Community Collaboration Aims to Restore Beaverbrook Area in New Haven

Derek Faulkner and Stephanie FitzGerald recount their efforts in starting up Beaver Brook cleanups and the importance of community engagement.


2024 February 7 in SCSU News
Community Cleans Beaver Pond

Volunteers at Beaver Brook explain the importance of protecting the ecosystem, especially trees, from invasive plants.


2024 January 31 in SCSU News
Photos- Beaver Brook cleanup

A collection of photos from the ongoing Beaver Brook Clean-up project.


2024 January 31 by Brian Slattery in the New Haven Independent
Volunteers Take Out The Trash At Beaver Brook

A group of volunteers spent their time cleaning up the neglected Beaver Brook, one of many events made to refurbish the area. Volunteers wonder how to tackle the root of the problem.


2024 January 29 by Allan Appel in the New Haven Independent
Volunteers ‘Edit’ Out Invasive Vines

Community and SCSU Student volunteers tackle de-vining and removing litter in the Beaver Brook area in their first clean-up event. Volunteers recount what a clean green space in their community means to them.


2019 November 14 by Amanda Cavato in SCSU News
Beaver Pond cleanup

GEMS Club (geography, environment, and marine sciences) works to clean up the Beaver Pond area to give life back to the close-to-campus greenspace. 
   

Food Recovery


2024 Feb 14 by Renee Chmiel in The Charger Blog
Undergraduate Student’s New Nonprofit Launches University-Supported ‘fREsh-taurant’

Marcus T. Harvin recounts the importance of food rescue and education in rebuilding a community, and how that inspired the creation of fREshSTARTs.


2024 Feb 5 by Lisa Reisman in the New Haven Independent
fREsh-taurant Community Kitchen Launches

Newhallville fREsh-START reports on the opening of their fREsh-taurant, a food recovery provided community meal program open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at Pitts Chapel Unified Free Will Baptists Church.


2024 January 22 by Ellyn Santiago in Patch
Feed People, Plant Seeds: Newhallville Fresh Starts fREsh-taurant Born

SCSU’s Office of Sustainability reaches out to Newhallville fREsh STARTs in hopes of supporting their community kitchen in the making through the Food Recovery Program. Marcus Harvin recounts his hopes for greater community outreach


2023 November 1 by Solé Scott in SCSUNews
Food recovery event is held on campus

Office of Sustainability intern Chris Kowalski is interviewed on the ins and outs of the Food Recovery Program, along with some student volunteers.


2016 September 20 by Adrianna Rochester in SCSU News
Office of Sustainability tackles food waste

The Office of Sustainability covers our many efforts to tackle food waste and what students can do to assist.
   

Campus Sustainability


2022 March 17 in News at Southern
School of Business Walks the Sustainability Talk

The Office of Sustainability’s reuse stores stock and refurbish MBA Recruiter Mark Zampino's office, a testament to the instinct to repurpose ingrained in our school.


2019 September 18 by Jackson LaMar in SCSU News
New trash cans promote sustainability on campus

New bins are introduced to the Adanti Student Center to separate trash and food waste for composting to create electricity, mulch, and gas in the pursuit of a zero-waste dining hall.


2016 October 13 in News at Southern
Urban Oasis Provides Wildlife Habitat on Campus

Southern joins the city-wide Urban Oasis partnership to create a pollinator-friendly greenspace to give birds, bees and bugs a hospitable home.
  

Sustainability During the Pandemic


2021 February 17 by Abby Epstein, Valeria Araujo, Gabriela Cuapio, and Kiara Smith in SCSU News
University’s sustainability through the pandemic

The Office of Sustainability recounts the difficulties of remaining sustainable during the COVID-19 Pandemic when single-use products and social distancing become a priority.


2020 April 22 in SCSU News
Celebrating Earth Day 2020 and a Very ‘Sustainable’ Year

In light of COVID, the world sees major environmental restoration. The Office of Sustainability highlights its sustainability efforts up to this point and encourages continued action in celebration of Earth Day.


2020 March 24, 2020 in News at Southern
Campus Closure Means Food Donations to Local Agencies

As campus closes due to COVID, the Office of Sustainability’s food recovery program saves and donates hundreds of pounds of unserved food.