April is always a busy time for the Office of Sustainability. With Earth Day and Arbor Day both falling in April, there are many opportunities for students to engage in campus sustainability. The fortnight of activities began with a Campus River cleanup and restoration at IU Bloomington where IU Sustainability, Landscape Services, Environmental Health and Safety, and Rewild IU partnered to remove unwanted debris from the campus river and plant native species that offer food and shelter for wildlife. IU South Bend also hosted an invasive plant removals volunteer event to support native species’ habitats.
Free bike repair events were hosted in Bloomington and Indianapolis. Many students dropped by to tune up their bikes or repair minor defects. The events in Bloomington were hosted at the Ballantine Bike Hub and outside Wells Library, and the Indianapolis event was held outside Campus Center. A bike trial event was also hosted in Bloomington, offering students the chance to test ordinary bicycles and electric bicycles; participants of the bike trial received a coupon for a discounted bike at the IU Surplus store.
IU Indianapolis hosted the annual Stuff Swap in partnership with Residence Hall Association to redistribute gently used, unwanted items within the campus community. Throughoutthe month of March, Jags donated unwanted items from their residence halls and homes. After being sorted and staged, the campus community was welcome to partake in sharing these items, free of charge.
IU Bloomington hosted a ‘Fix-it Clinic’, aimed at encouraging students to mend, repair, and maintain items they already own instead of purchasing replacements. Hosted near and in partnership with the Wells Library Makerspace, different stations were setup to assist students in mending clothing, polishing and repairing shoes, fixing household items, and cleaning everydayitems such as keyboards, water bottles, and jewelry. Most repairs were made by the attendees themselves with tutorials and guidance from ‘fix-it coaches’, volunteers who helped staff the event. Many attendees requested that this type of event be hosted more frequently, so the Office of Sustainability plans to host periodic ‘Fix-it Clinics’ throughout the school year, inviting students to drop into the E-House during open office hours. Future plans will be announced via the monthly sustainability newsletter.
Arbor Day tree plantings took place at IU Bloomington, Indianapolis, Columbus, East, and Southeast. Dozens of trees were planted, with priority given to native species that offer shade and are resilient to changes in climate and weather patterns. Student and employee volunteers alike were able to make lasting marks on campus by planting trees.
Finally, the annual Sustainability Symposium highlighted the work of sustainability interns, Sustainability Scholars, and Campus Catalysts. Read more about the 2025 Sustainability Symposium.
