President’s Fall Address at Colorado State University Will Go Green on Thursday, Sept. 6

Note to Editors: Parking for the media will be provided on Isotope Drive, on the south side of the Oval. Media must arrive by 11:25 a.m. to park on the Oval as it will be closed to all traffic at 11:30 a.m. sharp.

Colorado State University President Larry Edward Penley will give his annual Fall Address at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 6 at the university’s historic Oval. The annual all-university picnic that follows the speech will "go green" thanks to the combined efforts of several campus departments to make it a virtually zero-waste event.

The annual event provides an opportunity for Penley to share his vision of the university for the coming year with faculty, staff and students. He also will discuss recent progress and achievements and the current state of the university. The university community is invited to gather at the Oval at 11:15 a.m. with the Colorado State Marching Band. Penley will begin his comments at 11:30 a.m. from the southwest end of the Oval. Colleges and other campus units and student groups will be represented at the event with a number of displays focusing on some of the university’s environmental initiatives.

The all-university picnic for students, staff and faculty will begin following Penley’s address and conclude at 1:30 p.m. The university community is invited to enjoy the annual picnic, which features a complimentary lunch and entertainment. CAM the Ram also will make an appearance during the celebration.

Efforts by Housing & Dining Services, Facilities Management, and Waste-Not Recycling are ensuring the sustainability of this year’s picnic. Guests will be dining with lightweight utensils made from potato starch, which are compostable and can withstand temperatures of up to 170 degrees Fahrenheit. The utensils come from a selection of tree-free biodegradable plates made from bagasse, a sugarcane byproduct, which can be disposed of in compost bins and are priced better than their paper counterparts.

Disposable, compostable and biodegradable plates made from 100 percent bagasse sugarcane fiber will also be used. Sugarcane products are a renewable resource, and they also can be turned into products normally made from plastic or paper while avoiding the pollution from the normal burning of sugarcane pulp. The composting utensils will biodegrade within 30 days in a commercial composting system.

Booths sponsored by both campus and student organizations will also help highlight Colorado State’s sustainability efforts.

University classes will not be canceled, but departments are encouraged to arrange schedules to accommodate those who wish to attend. The Oval will be closed to traffic and parking throughout the day.

For more information about the event, call (970) 491-4634 or visit www.president.colostate.edu

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