Convocation spotlights the importance of sustainability

Attendance for this year's Convocation has more than doubled since the last.
Lisa Bardill Moscaritolo, Dean for Student for the PLV campus, released a memorandum on Sept. 3 to announce the rise in attendance from last year's 853 students, faculty, staff and guests attended to this year's expected 1,955.

The reading material assigned to be the theme of this year's Convocation was "Unbowed" by Wangari Maathai.  The book is based on the theme of self sufficiency and sustainable development, both ideals Maathai has been familiar with her entire life.

Maathai grew up in Africa and quickly asserted herself against the idea that women could not be educated nor could not change the world.  She has earned her Bachelor's degree and her Master's, along with being the "first women both to earn a PhD in East and Central Africa and to head a university department in Kenya," according to her book.
Maatahi has been a pioneer in the Green Belt Movement. According to Nobleprize.org, "Wangari Maathai was active in the National Council of Women of Kenya in 1976-87 and was its chairman in 1981-87."

Other accomplishments are, but not limited to, serving in the National Council of Women where she eventually developed the idea of the Green Belt Movement. With the Green Belt Movement, over 20 million trees have been planted by women on personal farm, community school and church grounds.

The University has been very fortunate to continue its "Going Green" attitude through the Computer Resource Center by initiating a double-sided print default setting, and the Office of Housing and Residential Life by using recycled products.  Residence Halls are also taking advantage of the sustainability idea by creating themed floors such as the "True Green Floor" in Maria's Tower.

Abby Miller, one of the Resident Advisors on the "True Green Floor" says, "I believe this year's reading of ‘Unbowed' will help our residents [and other University students] realize what they have and that they have to take care of it."

Maathai has inspired a generation and the world to be aware of their actions and how it affects not only them but their successors.