Exploring What UVA Students Can Do with Lela Garner

With Earth Day approaching, it is crucial to reflect on how we can all contribute to a more sustainable future. That’s why I decided to interview one of the top leaders in engaging students in sustainability at UVA, Lela Garner.

Lela is currently a Master’s student at UVA and the Office for Sustainability’s Student Outreach and Engagement Specialist. She has been working tirelessly on waste management initiatives and encouraging students to get involved in sustainability on Grounds. I got to ask Lela a few questions about how UVA students can partake in sustainable efforts around grounds and make a positive impact on the environment, this Earth day and every other day of the year.

Whether it's implementing small changes in daily habits or contributing to larger community events, there are lots of ways for students to take action and advance towards a more sustainable future. Let's hear from Lela and learn how we can all play a part in making a difference this Earth Day.

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The Office of Sustainability’s Role at UVA

The first question I asked Lela had to do with what some of the biggest challenges are for students trying to adopt more sustainable lifestyles on campus. Lela mentioned the lack of accessibility and awareness of the initiatives and resources that exist around Grounds. To combat this, Lela says that whenever she gives a presentation in a class or to a student group at UVA, she always likes to ask if anyone knew that UVA had an Office for Sustainability prior to this class. “It's normally a pretty mixed bag,” she told me. One of her goals to overcoming this obstacle is making sure resources are available for students who want to use them.

She went on, “We have to remind ourselves that, particularly at a bigger school like UVA, everyone has a really diverse background and some people have been composting since they were born other people may not even know what that means.” The Office for Sustainability aims to collaborate with all stakeholders affiliated with the University, including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the community, with the goal of creating awareness about available resources and events. By aligning everyone's understanding, they aim to foster a culture of environmental, economic, and social responsibility throughout the University grounds.

Lela then expanded on their scope, “I see the office for sustainability as a facilitator for a lot of these initiatives happening on grounds. We are behind the scenes trying to get the infrastructure in place for the UVA community to be able to use these resources.” If you have ever eaten near the Amphitheater, you may have noticed the composting waste bins. The bins were strategically placed by the Office for Sustainability after observing the high volume of lunchtime waste generated in that area. In addition to this proactive measure, the Office engages in extensive strategic planning, including the upcoming release of a climate action plan and a waste and food action plan.

Tips for Students to Advance Sustainability on Ground and in their Lives

Lela and I went on to discuss her perspective on the most impactful approaches to engage students in activities and initiatives around Grounds. First and foremost, she emphasized the importance of being an ally and changemaker in preexisting social networks. She gave the example of how her friends have encouraged her to eat a more plant-forward diet. She said, “I’m not a vegetarian. I do eat meat, but a lot of my close friends are vegan or vegetarian. They are always cooking me these awesome meals or letting me try theirs when we are out to eat. Slowly but surely, I have almost fully adopted a vegetarian diet because those friends or acquaintances that have encouraged me to explore new behaviors.” Leading by example is a major way to enact change in others, without being overbearing about sustainability.

Lela pointed out other ways people can lead by example. First, she said “Get involved in a sustainability focused community. If you do have a small interest in these topics, find a CIO or club. Apply to an internship in our office, C3, or a local energy provider, take a class with like minded students focusing on sustainability.” If you still are not sure where to start, contact Lela (ldg6b@virginia.edu)or someone else from the Office for Sustainability (sustainability@virginia.edu). Developing a network of supportive people also invested in sustainability and making the planet a better place is really important.

In addition to developing a supportive community, Lela taught us everyday changes college students can make to lower their carbon footprint. She said, “Unless you have a smart outlet or smart power strip, your appliances will continue to use electricity if they are plugged into an outlet. So particularly when leaving for a break, make sure to unplug those appliances like TVs or microwaves or mini fridges if they're empty.” Doing this will reduce your energy load for your room when you are there, and especially when you are not.

Lela went on, “Another thing that is easy to do is being mindful of throwing away your materials. UVa has three different waste streams; we have landfill, we have recycling which includes plastics, metals and papers, and we also have composting.” Being aware of what materials go where is really important to reducing waste in college.

Lastly, Lela said the Office has seen a growing interest around sustainable food, but they “also realize there is a huge equity component related to that like most topics that have to do with sustainability.” She says that “Being mindful, if possible of your food choices; if you are eating in the dining hall, you may want to try a plant forward meal once a week, once a day, or whatever that would look like for each person.”

Another tip? Visiting the farmer’s market, such as the one at IX Park or Cville Market, in the Amphitheater, is a great way to start learning about where the food we consume comes from. There is also an initiative with UVA Dine and the Sustainable Food Collaborative to uplift and amplify black and brown farmers in the area. UVA Green Dining is another great resource!

Parting Thoughts

As a final thought on the Office for Sustainability’s role in creating a more eco-friendly campus environment, Lela told me, “I feel really excited and grateful to work in a sustainability space where everyone seems on board with moving forward with these initiatives. It's awesome to be working and attending at an institution that does prioritize sustainability from both the top down and grassroots perspective. UVA students should know that sustainability is really prioritized on grounds and we have been supported with our initiatives so we are excited to be expanding and making UVA a greener space.”

To find more information about how to get involved with the Office for Sustainability and where to find them on Earth Day, visit their events page here!

But before I close, I wanted to share a way that I personally have found to engage with sustainability on Grounds: by taking climate-forward classes. Working courses and professors in my schedule that prioritize sustainability not only allows me to interact with like-minded students, but also provides me with an opportunity to deepen my understanding of climate change through an academic lens.

My favorite class this semester has been Religion, Ethics, and Environment (RELG 2210) with Professor Willis Jenkins. This course combines the three aforementioned topics in a unique way by looking at our evolving ecological connections through the lens of religious and spiritual traditions across the world.

Happy Earth Day!

–Maggie Eastlack