Week's Focus on Purple Turning Green Yields Positive Results

Week's Focus on Purple Turning Green Yields Positive Results

The College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts recently celebrated its annual Purple Goes Green week, a week-long event focused on environmentalism, sponsored by the Student Government Association (SGA). This year's event was filled with informative sessions, interactive activities, and opportunities for students to engage in discussions about sustainability and faith.

During the week, students had the chance to participate in various events such as an off-campus clean-up where they picked up trash around Holy Cross, an SGA pub night with environmental trivia, and a movie screening. One of the highlights was Pies for the Planet, a Table Talk Fundraiser for Catholic Climate Covenant, which took place on Friday.

Campion House, a centre for spirituality and social justice at Holy Cross, hosted discussions on environmentalism and faith during Pies for the Planet. The Men's Rowing team also participated in the off-campus clean-up.

Cathy Liebowitz, the first Director of Sustainability at the College of the Holy Cross, assumed her position in April. Details about her vision for sustainability at the college can be found in a Q&A interview conducted by a staff writer. The Office of Sustainability at Holy Cross has made significant headway on several environmentally-progressive initiatives since its establishment in April 2020.

The Show the Waste Event during Purple Goes Green week invited students to weigh their leftover food to highlight food waste accumulation. Another interesting feature was a box truck with a tiny home made of repurposed dumpster material, available for touring on Thursday. Thursday also saw a Hogan lobby table offering baked goods in exchange for students' sustainability plans and practices.

It's worth noting that Holy Cross, a Jesuit school, aims to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. The college is also planning to hire a new Director of Sustainability in the coming months.

While there are no specific sustainability events listed for the future on the college's website, interested students are encouraged to check the college’s official website or the sustainability office directly for the most up-to-date information.

In addition, it's important to mention that an upcoming Laudato Si Green Festival is scheduled for July 19–20, 2025, but this event will take place at Holy Cross Lake View Secondary School in Uganda, not the College of the Holy Cross. Other sustainability events mentioned, like the Regenerative Futures Education & Sustainability Leadership Conference in September 2025 and other international sustainability conferences, do not appear to be hosted by or directly related to the College of the Holy Cross.

In conclusion, Purple Goes Green week at Holy Cross was a successful event that provided students with opportunities to learn about sustainability, engage in discussions, and contribute to environmental initiatives. The college's commitment to sustainability is evident in the various facilities and buildings where sustainable practices are integrated, and the establishment of the Office of Sustainability. With the hiring of a new Director of Sustainability, Holy Cross is poised to continue its journey towards a more sustainable future.

1. During Purple Goes Green week at The College of the Holy Cross, students participated in various events, such as the off-campus clean-up, SGA pub night with environmental trivia, Pies for the Planet, a movie screening, and an optional student interview with Cathy Liebowitz, the school's first Director of Sustainability.
2. The College of the Holy Cross, a Jesuit school, is aiming to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 and is planning to hire a new Director of Sustainability in the coming months.
3. The Show the Waste Event during Purple Goes Green week invited students to weigh their leftover food to emphasize food waste accumulation, and on Thursday, a box truck with a tiny home made of repurposed dumpster materials was available for touring.
4. Interested students are encouraged to check the college's official website or contact the sustainability office directly for the most up-to-date information regarding future sustainability events at The College of the Holy Cross.
5. While The College of the Holy Cross does not seem to be hosting significant future sustainability events mentioned, such as the Regenerative Futures Education & Sustainability Leadership Conference in September 2025 and other international sustainability conferences, one upcoming event, the Laudato Si Green Festival, is scheduled for July 19–20, 2025, but it will take place at Holy Cross Lake View Secondary School in Uganda, not the College of the Holy Cross.
6. The Office of Sustainability at The College of the Holy Cross has made significant progress on environmentally-progressive initiatives since its establishment in April 2020, evidenced by the various facilities and buildings where sustainable practices are integrated.
7. When discussing climate-change and environmental-science issues, Educational-and-self-development opportunities are vital for students to grow, fostering a deeper understanding and commitment to sustainability within the College of the Holy Cross community.

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