BIG RAPIDS – The Big Rapids community, along with students, faculty and staff at Ferris State University, will have the opportunity to discuss the importance of sustainability through reducing, reusing, recycling and respecting resources from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Ferris’ Interdisciplinary Resource Center, Room 120, on Wednesday, Jan. 30.
FSU Catering and Gordon Food Service will prepare organic hors d’ oeuvres and beverages for the event’s opening, giving participants the chance to network and socialize before the interactive discussion panel moderated by Scott Herron, associate professor of Biology, and Denise Mitten, associate professor of Recreation, Leisure Services and Wellness.
Participating in the hour-long interactive discussion panel are Big Rapids Mayor Mark Warba, Big Rapids City Commissioner Lynn Anderson, Chris Luchies of Recycle! of Mecosta County, Ferris student Megan Truskoski of Ferris Recyclers, Stan Vallier of FSU Dining Services and Michael Hughes, associate vice president for Physical Plant.
“This is the perfect opportunity for members of the Big Rapids community and Ferris State University to foster dialogue about the importance of sustainability and recycling, and how we all can be a part of the global warming solution together,” Herron said.
Anderson hopes to attract the idea of recycling to students in the Big Rapids community, and by participating in this event, she wants to let those who are interested know what the city has to offer and how easy it really is to recycle.
“Many people are not aware that we even have a recycling center,” she said. “It’s a great chance for me to inform Ferris students and the community about what the city does do in terms of recycling and how easy it is to do."
Those attending the event are invited to drop off their recyclables, courtesy of the FSU Recycling Truck provided by Physical Plant.
The last hour of the evening will be spent participating in an interactive Webcast discussing global warming solutions.
Sponsors of the event include Focus the Nation, a non-profit organization promoting civic engagement, sustainability and global warming solutions; Ferris’ Political Engagement Project, Student Leadership and Activities Office, Dining Services/Gordon Food Service, Ferris Recyclers and the Physical Plant.