DePaul Aims for Healthy Society

A healthy economy leads to a healthy society. Or so has been the traditional school of thought in the sustainable development community. Recently, however, there has been a shift in thinking. DePaul faculty member Michael Diamond, M.A. has suggested the phrase be reversed—a healthy society would in turn lead to a healthy economy. At first glance, the link between a population’s health and wellness and sustainability may not be immediately visible. According to Diamond, illness can impact an economy in many ways. When a person becomes ill and has to miss time from work or school, on average, another person is removed from the workforce or from their studies to care for the sick person. Resources and money that could be spent in the pursuit of other societal goals must then be used to care for the sick. With the potential drain both on capital and the labor force, it is in the best interest of any society to have as healthy of a population as possible.

Ultimately the choice to live and eat in a healthy manner remains with the individual. Institutions do have the ability, however, to provide incentives and push those affiliated down the path to wellness. DePaul has made great progress to encourage living and maintaining a healthy lifestyle by making small changes. One such program is the Green Steps walking program that was put in place in the Spring 2010. This program encouraged daily exercise and the use of alternate methods of transportation by connecting members of the DePaul community. Participants engaged in healthy competition and were held accountable by others to walk as much as possible during the 10-week program. Not only did the Green Steps walking program reward daily exercise, it helped to reduce the carbon footprint of those involved. The addition of bicycle storage spaces in the Clifton parking garage is another way DePaul is encouraging exercise and a healthy lifestyle.

Exercise is only half the equation when concerning a healthy lifestyle; a nutritious, balanced diet is also necessary. DePaul is helping to provide robust snacks in campus vending machines by labeling ‘balanced choice’ healthy snack options with a green symbol. By providing members of the DePaul community with nutritious options during breaks, the goal of a healthy diet is easier to attain.

It can be said that an investment in a healthy lifestyle is also an investment in sustainable development. Walking or riding a bike not only provides the individual with necessary exercise, it provides an alternative method of ‘green’ transportation, thus reducing the greenhouse gases that would have otherwise been emitted. Competitions such as the Green Step walking program are appearing across the country. When exercise is combined with a properly balanced diet the foundation is laid for a fit society. The goals of healthy living and sustainable development do not preclude each other. It is refreshing to see DePaul recognize this and implement steps to make this a reality.

Posted by: Nicholas Stratton
Photo Credit: http://www.brocktonpublicschools.com/page.cfm?p=106

Connecting Students and Chicago – DePaul’s Community Involvement

As a large, urban university DePaul University must consider the social and communal relationship that it has to Chicago and Chicago’s neighborhoods. In so doing, DePaul can have a significant role in building Chicago’s sustainable future. At this time DePaul is moving forward in building these partnerships. The Irwin W. Steans Center for Community-Based Service Learning and Community Service Studies is working hard to foster these relationships and putting DePaul at the forefront of helping students understand their relationship to Chicago.

Founded in 2001 through a generous donation from Chicago banker Harrison Steans, the Steans Center’s mission is to develop mutually beneficial relationships with community-based organizations in order to develop a sense of social agency in DePaul students, faculty, staff and alumni. Using the ABCD model of community development, the Steans Center is committed to building a community where all community members have a voice, working to empower Chicago’s neighborhoods and foster a more satisfying community experience for all community members. Through this model the Steans Center not only focuses on community needs but seeks active participation from the community.

The Steans Center believes that if all community members are welcome to participate, a community is fostered and made more sustainable. For a greater understanding of the ABCD model for community development visit http://www.proveandimprove.org/new/tools/ABCD.php. The Steans Center provides a vital link between nonprofit and government organizations in Chicago and DePaul University. Among these organizations are ABC Youth Center, an after-school tutoring program on Chicago’s West Side, and Off the Streets, a youth development organization working to get Chicago youth off the streets.

The Steans Center website lists over 500 community and government organizations that collaborate with the Steans Center and DePaul University. Through the Steans Center website community-based organizations can apply to collaborate with DePaul and the extensive resources accessible through the DePaul University community. In fostering these relationships, the Steans Center organizes service learning classes for DePaul students, including a “Discover Chicago” course that combines seven weeks of course learning with a week-long immersion on a chosen topic outside the classroom and out in Chicago. Furthermore, the Steans Center organizes and facilitates student internships with numerous community organizations in Chicago. This vital link brings DePaul students face-to-face with Chicago’s problems, making them active participants in the communities they live in.

The Steans Center is creating tomorrow’s service leaders. As DePaul students graduate, there is a hope that because of the great work occurring through the Steans Center, DePaul alumni will lead the way toward creating a just and sustainable future for Chicago’s citizens.

For more on the Steans Center at DePaul University visit their website: http://steans.depaul.edu/

To watch a short video on DePaul’s vision to take students outside the classroom and into Chicago watch the video here: http://www.depaul.edu/multimedia/ExtendClassroomLearning.asp

You can also follow the Stean Center’s activities and development on facebook and twitter: http://twitter.com/DePaulSteans
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chicago-IL/DePaul-University-Steans-Center

Posted by Marshall Houserman
Photo credit: Steans Center

Vincentian Identity as the Core of DePaul’s Sustainable Efforts

What distinguishes DePaul’s sustainability efforts is the Vincentian mission. For DePaul, the values of the sustainable learning community are not new but the logical extension of its strategic plan, Vision twenty 12 released on March 4, 2006. The plan declares six goals: I-Enrich academic quality, II-Prepare students to be socially responsible future leaders and engaged alumni, III-Be a model of diversity, IV-Selectively increase enrollment, V-Strengthen financial position, and VI-Further institutional DePaul’s Vincentian and Catholic identity. Four objectives under the six goals explicitly articulate our ethical responsibilities and Vincentian, Catholic and urban identity:

*Objective 1e-Provide opportunities for all students to learn ethical systems and demonstrate ethical practice;
*Objective 2b-Become a university known for its students’ lifelong commitment to social justice and civic engagement;
*Objective 6a-The board, faculty and staff will assume responsibility for the institution’s Vincentian and Catholic identity; and
*Objective 6d-Externally, be well-known for civic and community engagement and a commitment to the common good as expressions of our Vincentian, Catholic and urban identity.

The White Paper on Sustainability at DePaul University released on August 31, 2009 reaffirms our values: “The sustainable learning community requires a shared vision of integral human development that is achieved through dialogue and is marked by justice, the common good, and stewardship. This shared vision demands a heightened moral awareness and sense of social responsibility….Our Vincentian charisma requires a “bracketing in” of moral concern.”

Being aware of its mandate as a higher education institution, DePaul provides education that links economic, social, cultural and personal development across the curriculum with Vincentian identity as a core value. Students as well as faculty and staff are accustomed to analyzing what is going on, discerning what we value, and asking ourselves what must be done—as Madame de Gondi asked Vincent de Paul 400 years ago. Indeed, St. Vincent de Paul created sustainable and institutionalized solutions to address it. To follow the footsteps of Vincent de Paul, we must read the signs of our time and respond to them. We, the Depaulians, need to discern what we value and think about what kind of world we want to pass on to future generation. These are our sustainable efforts being practiced for the past 112 years since its foundation in 1898.

At DePaul, efforts in attaining a holistic view toward sustainability are made not only in classrooms but also outside of classrooms. In 2009 study abroad programs were offered in more than 40 locations throughout the world. Over 700 graduates and undergraduate students participated to see what is really going on in the world and to form vision on what should be done and what we can do. Arizona State University also sees study abroad programs as effective educational opportunities for students and includes them in its sustainable education course.

Kates (2005) states that sustainable development can be viewed as social movement and the underlying principles are the evolving product of a global dialogue. The original emphasis on economic development several decades ago and environmental protection has been broadened and deepened to include human and social notions of development and alternative views of nature (anthropocentric versus ecocentric.) However, in 2010, prevailing notions of and actions for sustainability are ‘GO-green’. The human and social aspects of environmental protection, especially from a global viewpoint, are not yet widely understood. For example, the sustainable efforts taken at U.S. universities and colleges, as represented by the members of the Association for the Advancement of sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), are directed mainly toward green initiatives.

My Google research about university/college mission statements which articulate holistic approach to sustainability found only two.

One is Bellarmine University: Its mission statement says: “The foundational Bellarmine mission statement of 1950 insisted that students must be taught to evaluate this society and to exercise their trained human powers to change it whenever necessary. Accordingly, we must continue to imbue our students with the knowledge and skills to develop solutions and opportunities—creative, serious, substantial and enduring—for a globally sustainable future….These principles, then, are the hallmarks of a Bellarmine education: Gospel values; Catholic identity; inclusive Merton spirit and sensibility. They are enacted with a commitment to excellence in all that we do; the provision of transformational educational experiences; internationalism; and global sustainability.”

The second is University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. On its website under ‘Sustainability Initiative’ UMass Dartmouth writes: “Our Mission is to assure that all graduates from UMass Dartmouth….will be environmentally literate and responsible, and work toward regional sustainability; to contribute to the international re-examination of paradigms in business, science, and technology through the establishment of educational programs that combine stellar interdisciplinary research and groundbreaking partnerships with business, non-profit groups, government agencies, and educational institutions.”

DePaul should include a statement on the front page of its website about DePaul's Vincentian heritage, its holistic approach, and its efforts toward a globally sustainable future. If revising the Mission Statement would require a long process, adding a few sentences in the vision or goals may serve to let people know of our stance and holistic approach to sustainability.

Posted by Toyoko Sakamaki
Image: Center panel of triptych, Vincent de Paul with poor at circular table of the Lord, face shown on table; dog at lower left; original in Vincentian church, chapel of Mercy, Graz, http://stvincentimages.cdm.depaul.edu/Pictures/2.%20Paintings/Austria,%20Graz,%20Vincent%20de%20Paul%20with%20poor%20at%20table.jpg

[Reference]

Kelley, Scott. 2009. What must be done? DePaul as Sustainable Learning Community. http://works.bepress.com/scott_kelley/11

Engagement of the Mind and Body

DePaul possesses an active and passionate student body and faculty; one that is focused on service and revolves around Vincentian values. DePaul has taken the initiative and engaged students on several levels to promote sustainable living practices. An area in which students have been consistently engaged is in the realm of campus recreation. In addition to making the actual campus recreation facilities greener, DePaul promotes healthy living with the goal of sustainability.

There are two campus recreation programs that really stand out in terms of sustainable practices. The first of these is the Green Steps walking program. This program, a part of the Wellness Center, encourages DePaul faculty to record their steps every day with a free pedometer. This program, currently only available to DePaul staff and faculty, encourages healthy living practices. It also builds a team spirit and connects the faculty on a higher level. The results of this program are multi-fold. On one level, the faculty is encouraged to use alternative forms of transportation. To reach their step goal every day, the simply must walk more. Because they are walking more they are encouraged to use a more sustainable mode of transportation. The program also engages the faculty to use healthy living practices in their own lives. This example is a very good one for the student body. If the faculty and staff are engaging their own health through sustainable practices, it can inspire the student body to do the same. It also shows DePaul’s commitment to engaging both the students and the faculty.

A program in Campus Recreation that engages students while promoting sustainability is the Spring Break Ozarks Volunteer Vacation. Because this program is with Campus Recreation, it engages students to practice healthy living at its core. Students travel to the Ozark Mountains, and help to construct the Buffalo National River Trail. This trip aligns with Vincentian values of service, and helps to make a sustainable trail that will be enjoyed for generations. Students have the chance to not only marvel at the beauty of the Ozark Mountains, but they have the chance to practice sustainable living. They are not only exercising their body, but they are also engaging their mind and making the world around them a better place.

DePaul, through the Wellness Center, also has a Bicycling Initiative. The website states, “Our valued mission is to enhance the quality of life within the DePaul community. The bicycling initiative is an extension to this mission, meant to create a balance between nature and humankind. Changing your transportation mode(s) is understandably difficult. But making small changes to your transportation routine can lead to a more active and healthy lifestyle that promotes the wellness of DePaul’s surrounding community and environment.” By promoting bicycling, and other healthy modes of transportation, DePaul is not only engaging its students and faculty to live healthy lives, but also to live sustainable lives.

While these three programs are just three examples of DePaul’s sustainable practices, they are three very important examples of what the university is doing to engage its students to live healthy, sustainable lives.

Posted by: Timothy Scheel

Photo courtesy of : DePaul University

Students Pursue Sustainable Development at DePaul

Student interest in issues surrounding sustainability is growing. The Sierra Club website, Cool Schools for 2010 quotes a Princeton Review survey in which “two-thirds of university applicants say that a school’s environmental report card would influence whether they’d enroll.”

DePaul is actively addressing the environmental impact of the University through programs designed to reduce the carbon footprint of the physical operation of the campus including; recycling programs, switching to more energy efficient lighting systems, replacing heating and cooling systems, maintaining a green roof and completing a certified Gold LEED building on the Lincoln Park Campus. DePaul is also addressing sustainability in the areas of transportation,lfood services and dorm life.

DePaul is not limiting efforts in sustainable development to the physical plant of the University. Interest in sustainability has moved DePaul to incorporate sustainable development into the curriculum and student life. At DePaul students can pursue their interests in sustainability in a number of ways including coursework, community outreach programs and student groups.

Academics:

For Undergraduates, The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences offers an Environmental Science Program with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a B.S. in Environmental Sciences. The Environmental Science Department also maintains a helpful link with information about environmental jobs, careers and internships. The School of New Learning also offers courses for undergraduates that explore environmental sustainability including SW: 341 Ecology of Personal Life and for the fall 2010 term, a retreat style course SW: 315 Environmental Ethics and Sustainability, in Madison, Wisconsin.

The Kellstadt Graduate School of Business not only offers courses with sustainability as a central focus (including social entrepreneurship and sustainability) but the school also offers the option of a degree concentration in Sustainable Management. The Sustainable Management concentration encourages framing business strategy to incorporate environmental and social concerns.

Many of the courses the School of Public Service, SPS, incorporate issues of sustainable development into the curriculum including: 511 Sustainable Development and NGOs, 572 Urban Poverty, 571 Metropolitan Planning and 604 Environmental Policy, among others. Several of the Study Abroad opportunities in SPS have a strong focus on sustainable development including programs in Chiapas, Mexico, India, Kenya and the Philippines.

DePaul’s Continuing and Professional Education arm offers a Certificate in Sustainability Design and Construction as well as a Certificate in Sustainability in Business. These certificates are designed for the professional community. The Certificate in Sustainability Design introduces concepts and terminologies of green building and sustainability. The Certificate in Sustainability in Business presents concepts of sustainability practices and how they can impact the bottom line.

Outreach:

The Steans Center for Community-based Service Learning, the Steans Center is dedicated to involving students in community service projects. In 2009, The Steans Center developed a ten week undergraduate internship the HYPERLINK "http://steans.depaul.edu/students/internships/environmental.asp"Environmental Stewardship Community Internship (ESCI) which focuses on urban agriculture and youth development.

Student Organizations:

A number of student organizations at DePaul University are engaged in activities surrounding not only environmental sustainability but also social, political and economic sustainability including;

DePaul Student Government’s Environmental Concerns Committee (ECC) promotes environmental awareness issues by sponsoring various programs as well as working with other student environmental groups and the DePaul Sustainability Initiatives Task Force (SITF).

DePaul Sci Club (Science Club) works with Chicago Public School teachers and students to increase math and science skills through tutoring and class activity programs.

Global Bridges at DePaul (an affiliate of Global Bridges Inc.) works to promote health and sustainable development in various countries including Honduras and Panama.

Outdoor Awareness Club’s aim is to increase environmental awareness through social activities, volunteer opportunities and presentations.

Oxfam America DePaul Chapter primary interests are advocacy surrounding issues of international social justice and poverty.

These are just a few of the many student organizations interested in promoting social and environmental sustainability, you can find more organizations listed in Demon Direct.

~Terri Williams

Photo Credit DePaul University website

DePaul’s Sustainable Seafood Menu

DePaul University feeds thousands of students, faculty, and staff every day in several cafeterias throughout their campuses. Very often people order their favorite items without thinking of the environmental impact their choices may be having. Do you consider where the meat from your cheeseburger came from, or if your chicken strips contain added hormones?

DePaul has taken the environment and sustainability of its food selections into consideration before serving it. One of their sustainability best practices is that they purchase 98% of their seafood from distributors who meet the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch guidelines. Seafood Watch program raises consumer awareness about the importance of sustainability when it comes to consumption of seafood. They encourage restaurants, schools, and individuals to purchase their seafood from sustainable sources and be aware of which species are being over fished.

Seafood Watch Pocket Guides and an iPhone application are two ways in which they broadcast their message about what seafood is sustainable. As the list is always changing, it is important for people to be proactive about being up to date on current trends.

Commercial fishing gear is a main issue when it comes to overfishing. Longlining and bottom trawling are two methods of fishing that destroy other species of fish and damage the natural habitat of the sea floor. Unintended catch, or “by-catch” accounts for 3-7 pounds of unwanted fish for every pound of shrimp. This not only means a depletion of shrimp, but also a large number of other species that are accidentally killed in the process.

One alternative to wild caught seafood is farmed fish. While aquaculture, or fish farming, is a potential solution to overfishing, there are several problems that have arisen such as pollution from waste; isolated populations are vulnerable to disease and genetic problems; and non-native fish that escape into surrounding waters can wreak havoc on local wildlife.

Ironically, aquaculture can also require massive amounts of wild-caught fish. Many popular farmed fish like salmon and shrimp are carnivorous, and require many times their own weight in other fish to feed them. These feeder fish have to be wild-caught in the ocean, so the net result of farmed fish may actually represent a double whammy of environmental impact.

Sustainable seafood appears to be a rising trend among chain restaurants, retailers and wholesalers and each sector sees significant growth in the percentage of their seafood that will be sustainable in five years. Majorities in each sector are concerned about the health of the ocean and its impact on their businesses. All sectors have taken action to remove seafood items from their product list due to environmental considerations, and in greater numbers than a few years ago.

Because 75% of the world’s fisheries are fished to capacity, or overfished, it is up to consumers to buy sustainable products to decrease overfishing. It is estimated that we’ve lost 90% of large predatory fish, like sharks, due to the fact that the species they feed on have been overfished. Seafood Watch looks at several issues including species, habitat, and management to determine what may become endangered. It is up to consumers, and food service institutions like DePaul to make informed choices about the seafood we consume. We can thank DePaul for serving sustainable seafood choices in their cafeteria!


More information on sustainable seafood is available at:

Walsh, Bryan. “Code Blue. One woman’s quest to save our oceans the simple way: protect them.” Time Magazine. October 2, 2010: p40-48.

http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx
http://www.metaefficient.com/food-and-drink/choosing-sustainable-seafood.html
http://www.nrdc.org/oceans/seafoodguide/page2.asp
http://www.seafoodchoices.org/resources/publications.php

Posted By: Amanda Blair
Image Credit: http://www.edf.org/page.cfm?tagID=1521&redirect=seafood

Sustainable Procurement at DePaul University

Many organizations, including America’s most influential universities, recognize that it is their responsibility to implement initiatives which reduce their carbon footprint. What they may not recognize, however, is that they can significantly influence the carbon footprint of their vendors through sustainable procurement practices. Campuses are careful to have recycling programs, install water control systems and use low-watt compact fluorescent light bulbs for lighting in dormitories, classrooms and offices whenever possible. One practice, however, requires no retrofitting of buildings or significant upfront cost. It simply requires consciously vetting, selecting and monitoring the sustainable practices of vendors when procuring products that universities must purchase anyway. Learn more about DePaul's procurement initiatives here.

DePaul received a paltry D+ grade on the 2009 College Sustainability Report Card, which independently evaluates campus and endowment sustainability activities. Although far below acceptability, DePaul’s D+ rating was an improvement over the previous year and the University continues to make advancements in its practices. One such improvement is in the University’s green purchasing procurement policy. According to The Sustainable Endowments Institute in Cambridge Massachusetts, “green purchasing” has become a priority at many schools across the U.S. with 61 percent of schools implementing some form of a green purchasing policy. Of the schools with sustainable procurement policy programs, about half limit their green purchasing to a single initiative (e.g., buying Energy Star appliances). Far fewer have adopted more robust policies involving multiple types of purchasing areas and vendor practices. DePaul, however, takes sustainable procurement quite seriously.

In order to be good stewards of the environment, DePaul must have a holistic view of the procurement process. For DePaul, the process begins with the Request for Proposal (RFP). The university makes it quite clear when distributing RFPs that it prefers vendors that are diverse, sustainable and socially responsible. Vendors are held accountable for their practices and must evaluate their competitiveness as many other universities also adopt this practice. In addition to social responsibility inquiries, potential vendors must explain practices such as:

1. Describe any programs your organization has implemented to provide goods/services in an environmentally sustainable way. Describe both in terms of the actual products sold to the University as well as practices in place at corporate and other locations.

2. Describe any re-use and recycling programs that your organization offers.

3. Describe your packaging and shipping options and how those impact sustainability efforts.

4. List any key environmental organizations you belong or any certifications your organization carries (e.g. EPEAT, LEED, Cradle to Cradle, Green Seal, Energy Star, etc.). Include the date of the last certification and its expiration.

5. Please provide links to websites that highlight your company’s commitment to sustainability (corporate statement on sustainability, press releases on specific initiatives, etc).

DePaul’s procurement department requires that all potential vendors reflect on their company’s sustainable policies and markets several vendors, including Staples and CDW-G, who have eco-friendly and sustainable products available. According to Cheryl Procter-Rogers’, Vice President, Public Relations and Communications, response to the 2010 Sierra Club “Cool School” questionnaire, the university purchases only paper with at least 30% post consumer recycled content and is endorsed by The Rainforest Alliance, the Sustainable Forest Initiative and the Forest Stewardship Council. Review DePaul’s core RFP requirements here.

While it is impossible to monitor the daily sustainable practices of 100 percent of its vendors, DePaul is committed to improving its sustainable procurement practices. Requiring vendors to be introspective in the RFP process is a significant step toward emphasizing the importance of how the university values sustainable practices.

posted by: Sondra Elder
photo courtesy of Procura+

Sustainable Dining at DePaul: Food and Facilities

Food is something we all see smell and taste every day. Because of the ubiquity, or perhaps growing up with a health food store named after me, the sustainability of growing and consuming food has been a long time interest of mine. There are so many facets beyond health and nutrition: cultural, economic, historic, and environmental factors to name a few. As an introduction to the topic of campus dining sustainability, the first websites that I wanted to read were the ones that offered a rating or report card. The Sierra Club gave a 5/10 ranking of food, about in the middle range of the issues ranked, with an overall grade of D. The College Sustainability Report Card had food and recycling as the highest ranked category of all, B, with an overall score of D+. So overall, the food and dining at Depaul is ranking ahead of many of the other areas graded on these two reports,Sustainability Report Card and Sierra Club.


The College Sustainability Report Card was based on a more detailed study as this was the one part of the grade that was based on a survey conducted with DePaul dining staff.

Dining hall sustainability falls into many categories: local food, organic food, “natural” food (hormone-free), sustainable food (fishing guidelines), fair trade and non-food consumables (trays, utensils). The statistics I found most interesting and inspiring was the amount of money DePaul spent on sustainable food, $68,046 on locally produced food, $234,335 on locally processed, and $41,007 on organic food from the total budget of $3,985,997. Yes this is shy of 9%, so may not seem near large enough, but this is not including all of those other sustainable practices, fair trade, cage free eggs or sustainable caught fish. So if close to 10 percent of the food consumed in DePaul, is in some way more sustainable than the average food found in the Jewel, this is progress and deserving of our good rankings. The survey, completed by the Director of Dining, may speak more to the corporate sustainability of the contractor, The Compass Group, which owns Chartwells, the campus food service provider. Looking at Chartwells’ sustainability page, they seem to focus more on the waste reduction, composting, recycling and reducing waste, but less on the nature of the food goods themselves. They do have a section talking about the vegetarian options, and a short mention of their sustainable food emphasis but not as explicitly as I was expecting given the local wave of local and sustainable food books, movies and media in the past few years.

DePaul does give Chartwells credit for their green practices, ”DePaul's food service provider, Chartwells, is active in sustainable practices throughout the entire food operation. Thirty percent of meals in the dining halls are vegetarian options; 15 percent of food expenses are devoted to local or organic products.” When an institution is as large as DePaul choosing a contractor that shares similar philosophies and values is probably the most efficient way to reach their sustainability goals.

Locally grown and processed foods reduce transportation costs and emissions and add to the local economy. Organically and naturally grown foods reduce the amount of fertilizers, pesticides, and other chemicals entering our soils and running into our waterways. Becoming a more local and organic food chain is certainly not going to fix all of the problems in America with food and farming. But the college dining hall, a place where many students are making all their own food choices for the first time in their lives, is an excellent place to inspire food awareness. In the few dining facilities I have been to since coming to DePaul, one thing I have found lacking is better signage and labeling of the goods. If there were signs showing the foods that came from local farms, or are organic, or if I knew 98% of the fish was listed on the sustainable fish list, I may make different choices. Assuming that with more students aware and choosing these choices, that will lead to more demand and increased amounts of money spent on sustainable products would increase.

By Rebecca Dill
Photo: gapersblock.com, Green Acre Produce, a DePaul food supplier, at Chicago’s Green City market