Campus News

CU Hosts First Big 12 Women’s Lacrosse Championship

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:14:31 +0000

CU Hosts First Big 12 Women’s Lacrosse Championship Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:14

Andrew Daigle

On July 27, 2023, Colorado announced it would leave the Pac-12 Conference and return to the Big 12 Conference. The benefits were significant: increased national exposure, renewed conference rivalries and stability in the turbulent world of college athletics.

But the Big 12 did not have women’s lacrosse as a conference-sponsored sport. If that didn’t change, Colorado would play 2024–25 as an affiliate to another conference.

“It was unknown if the Big 12 would take on sponsoring another sport,” said head coach Ann Elliott Whidden. “The administrations for Colorado, Arizona State and Cincinnati were all strong supporters of lacrosse being added and advocated for us through the process.”

The Big 12 revealed on Nov. 9, 2023, that it would add women’s lacrosse in 2024–25 and CU was joined by ASU, Cincinnati and three affiliates — Florida, UC Davis and San Diego State.

The Buffs went 13-6 in 2024, their final Pac-12 season.

When Colorado released its 2025 schedule, it declared Prentup Field would host the inaugural Big 12 Championship, a four-team tournament for an automatic bid to the NCAAs.

“When we moved to the Big 12, everything changed,” said Jess Peluso (Engl’26). “We helped set the tone for this conference. The change pushed me to grow as a player and teammate.”

Colorado’s 2025 season (8-8, 4-1 Big 12) included wins over No. 25 Army and No. 18 Stony Brook and a two-seed in the Big 12 Championship. Madeline Pisani (Comm’24; MSOL’25) pictured above, was named Big 12 Attack Player of the Year, and Peluso earned Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year.

Despite an 18-12 semifinal loss to ASU on May 1 at Prentup Field, the historic season was remarkable.

“It was very special to be a part of the inaugural season, seeing it all unfold right in front of us,” said Pisani.

Submit feedback to the editor

Photos courtesy CU Athletics

Colorado’s move to the Big 12 sparked the addition of women’s lacrosse to the conference.

Off

Traditional

Summer 2025

White

Wóinila: A Mural of Silence and Learning

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:12:22 +0000

Wóinila: A Mural of Silence and Learning Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:12

Julia MacLean

On March 11, ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� unveiled a new mural, Wóinila: In Silence We Learn, on the second floor of the Miramontes Baca Education Building. The mural is an original work created as part of a collaboration between CU’s School of Education and the student-led Cultural Events Board (CEB).

Its title, Wóinila — a Lakota word meaning “silence” — reflects one of the first Lakota values passed down within the culture, said the mural’s creator, Danielle SeeWalker, a Hunkpapa Lakota artist from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe.

“We sit in silence as we listen to the land, the wind and the stars as they teach us. We learn to listen before we respond and speak,” SeeWalker said.

The painting includes scenes of mentorship, colorful hummingbirds, stars and two buffaloes.

Naisha Naik (BusAna’28) helped lead the project as a member of the CEB, which provides students with opportunities to broaden their knowledge on topics such as diversity and social awareness.

“Having this mural in the School of Education is especially meaningful. It serves as a reminder that education is not just about books and classrooms, but also about the stories, history and knowledge of our communities,” Naik told the School of Education.

Submit feedback to the editor

Photo by Patrick Campbell

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� new mural Wóinila: In Silence We Learn honors Lakota values by illustrating the power of listening, mentorship and cultural storytelling within the School of Education.

Off

Traditional

Summer 2025

White

Alumni Association News

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:11:20 +0000

Alumni Association News Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:11

This April, 145 Forever Buffs attended Alumni Weekend, a three-day event that included lunch at The Sink, a hike at Chautauqua, a tour of the university’s Media Archeology Lab and dinner in downtown Boulder. Current students attended several events to share about their ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� experiences.

“Sko Forever Buffs! What a fun and fabulous weekend with local and out-of-town alums,” said Phil Caragol (Comm’75) on social media. “Let’s do it again in 2026!”

The Alumni Association also hosted a special recognition ceremony for the classes of 2020, 2015, 1985 and 1975.

Next year, Alumni Weekend will include the Alumni Awards Ceremony, which previously took place during Homecoming Weekend. The annual ceremony is the second-longest-running tradition on campus and celebrates the outstanding achievements of CU Buffs. The 2025 award winners will be announced this fall.

Visit the Alumni Association website for more information.

Celebrate at Away Games

Buffs Bashes are the ultimate away-game tailgates, uniting hundreds of CU football fans. Hosted by the Office of the President, Office of the Chancellor, Advancement and CU Athletics, these events feature the CU Spirit Squad and concession-style food and drinks. Buffs Bashes occur before every away game near the opponent’s stadium. The events are free, but registration is required.

Learn more about the Buffs Bashes.

Mentorship Opportunities

Grow your professional skills and make a lasting impact on fellow Buffs through the Forever Buffs Network Mentorship Program. Access free mentoring or sign up to mentor alumni and students. The program runs from October through May, with options to meet online or in person. Participants receive training and invitations to program events.

You can also mentor incoming ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� students through the Alumni Guide Program to help ease their transition to college. The program supports two calls with an incoming student: one before classes begin and one six weeks into the semester. The first six weeks of college are a critical time, and mentorship helps lend your best support and advice.

Find out more about the mentorship programs.

Submit feedback to the editor

Photo by Paul Wedlake

2026 Roaming Buffs Trips

The Panama Canal, Pearl Islands and Darién Jungle

Jan. 9–16, 2026

Antarctica Discovery

Jan. 9–20, 2026

Treasures of Peru

Jan. 26–Feb. 5, 2026

Patagonia Explorer

Feb. 7–20, 2026

Journey to Southern Africa

Feb. 17–March 3, 2026

For more information about these trips, visit the Roaming Buffs webpage.

The Alumni Awards Ceremony moves to Alumni Weekend.

Off

Traditional

Summer 2025

White

Kale, Yeah! ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Sustainable Dining

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:08:37 +0000

Kale, Yeah! ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Sustainable Dining Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:08

Sarah Kuta

It’s a chilly, overcast spring day in Boulder — but you wouldn’t know it from inside the greenhouse at Village Dining Center, where the temperature is always a balmy 65 degrees.

Clad in a baseball cap and an oversized T-shirt, ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� junior Tessa Dempster (EnvSt, Geog’26) is harvesting kale from one of the 137 hydroponic towers that fill the temperate 2,700-square-foot room. She carefully pulls a handful of leafy greens from a vertical stand, snips off the stems and tosses the tender leaves into a plastic bin.

When she’s all finished, this kale — grown in just a few weeks using a water-based nutrient solution — will be washed, spun dry and added to the salad bar in the adjoining dining hall.

“We go, like, 15 feet and — boom! Food production ... done,” she said, grabbing another handful of kale. “It’s definitely lessening the environmental footprint, and it makes you feel like you’re working toward a higher purpose.”

Healthy and Delicious

College food can conjure images of gristly “mystery meat” and suspicious-looking casseroles bathed in the glow of buffet heat lamps. ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� offers a different vision, providing sustainable, nutritious and delicious meals to students — greenhouse-grown lettuces, colorful vegetables, luscious fruits, scratch-made soups, stone-fired pizzas, hearty grain bowls and fresh-baked breads.

The world is taking notice. This year, ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� was rated the No. 1 post-secondary institution for plant-based dining and sustainability on the Humane World for Animals’ 2025 College and University Protein Sustainability Scorecard. In addition, CU was the only university on the list with more than 50% plant-based meals on its menu.

And CU is aiming higher: The university has set a goal of boosting its plant-based menu offerings to 75% by the end of 2025.

Supreme Greens

Campus Dining Services dishes up an estimated 3.5 million scratch-made meals each year, and vegetables play a starring role in several of them. Veggies are a sustainable option since they tend to use less energy, land and water than animal-based foods, and they also produce significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions. They also bring vibrancy, color and freshness to campus dining, according to Eliah Golden, associate director for residential dining and culinary operations for Campus Dining Services.

“This is what allows us to offer so much variety,” said Golden. “I actually shudder at the thought of what a buffet line would look like without vegetables — it would be pretty boring.”

In addition, the university works with local growers and suppliers to reduce the carbon footprint of its meals and support the local economy. ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� prepares 5,000 to 6,000 pounds of dried pinto beans each year (farmed just a few miles away in Longmont) and spotlights seasonal Colorado produce like organic apples from Ela Family Farms, a fourth-generation orchard on the Western Slope.

“We’re supporting great farms and educating students about local agriculture and seasonality — it’s a win-win,” said Billy Kardys, senior executive chef for Campus Dining Services.

Preparing Future Consumers

With healthy offerings on campus, students can make lifelong food choices that are better for themselves and the planet.

This philosophy is shared by members of the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative, a group of colleges and universities using campus dining halls to help shape the food system of the future. ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� has been a member since the collaborative’s inception in 2014, and Golden serves as co-chair of the executive chefs committee.

“We make a huge impact on these incoming ‘consumers,’ as I like to call them,” said Kardys. “When students go out into the world and they’re no longer eating with us, we want them to take these values with them.”

Campus chefs also introduce students to cuisines from around the world.

“We’re with these students at a very formative time in their lives,” said Golden. “Our hope is that they’re going to expand their palate so they have a joy about food, that they’re excited to try new things and international flavors.”

Dining Options for Everyone

For diners with dietary restrictions, allergies, intolerances, religious customs or food preferences, eating out can be a stressful experience.

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� accommodates many diets, from halal and kosher to vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free. Campus Dining Services also has a registered dietician who can help students — and reassure parents — with dietary questions and concerns.

In 2022, ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� unveiled Libby on the Run, a reimagined version of the Libby Hall dining facility. It’s a full-service, grab-and-go venue that caters to students with four major food allergies: peanuts, tree nuts, gluten and wheat.

“We don’t want anyone feeling like they can’t have a happy and healthy college experience because of food,” said Golden. “We wanted to offer a completely safe zone for folks with those allergies.”

“Continuous Improvement”

Dining will continue to play a vital role as ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� works toward its campus master plan goal of adding 4,400 to 6,000 on-campus beds over the next 15 to 30 years.

Residence One, a new apartment-style residential building under construction north of Boulder Creek, and proposed sister property Residence Two will feature all-electric food service facilities — the first of their kind at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��. Farrand Hall is also slated for an upcoming renovation, allowing campus dining leaders to reimagine the on-site dining venue, The Alley.

Billy Kardys and Eliah Golden

“We’re going to kick it up like 10 gears and offer a really awesome, quick-service, restaurant-style environment that would be competitive with anything on The Hill or Pearl Street,” said Golden.

In the meantime, Campus Dining Services is experimenting with its first-ever food trailer, a 36-foot-long mobile eatery called “Roaming Ralphie.”

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� dining staffers also hope to expand their educational offerings, including cooking classes offered out of the teaching kitchen at Village Center. They’re also exploring new sustainability initiatives, such as reusable to-go boxes.

“We have a culture of continuous improvement,” said Golden. “We like to set our own bar, and we always want to be better.”

Submit feedback to the editor

Photos by Glenn Asakawa; Styled by Chris Caldes

Vegan Coconut Bread (CU Dining’s most-requested recipe from alumni)

Makes 1 Loaf

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons ground flaxseed

2 tablespoons water

½ cup vegetable oil

1 cup coconut milk

1 ¼ cups sugar

¼ cup (packed) medium firm tofu (crumbles)

1 ½ cups (packed) all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 ¾ cups shredded sweetened coconut

½ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon salt

Prep: Spray a 9x5 inch loaf pan and preheat oven to 350°F.

Wet mix: In a bowl, mix flaxseed and water. Stir in oil, coconut milk, sugar, and crumbled tofu.

Dry mix: In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, coconut, salt and cinnamon.

Combine: Gently fold dry into wet until just mixed.

Bake: Pour into the pan and bake approximately one hour, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

At ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��, innovative hydroponic farming and plant-based, locally sourced meals are transforming campus dining into sustainable, fresh and delicious food.

Off

Traditional

Summer 2025

White

Honoring Alice Eastwood’s Legacy at CU's Herbarium

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 20:01:03 +0000

Honoring Alice Eastwood’s Legacy at CU's Herbarium Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 14:01

Julia MacLean

Factoids

Specimen: Primula parryi A. Gray (Parry’s Primrose)

Location: Grays Peak, Colorado
Habitat: Found along streams and in moist meadows in the Rocky Mountain subalpine to alpine regions
Aroma: Has a skunky odor
Collected: July 1888 by Alice Eastwood

The University of Colorado Herbarium houses the world’s most complete documentation of Colorado flora. Located in the basement of the Clare Small Arts and Sciences building, the herbarium’s collection contains nearly 600,000 specimens of vascular plants, bryophytes, lichens and fungi.

The herbarium’s founding collection dates to the 1880s and belonged to Alice Eastwood, a self-taught plant scientist. During her life, she named 395 species — the fourth-highest of any female scientist.

Eastwood, who served as a teacher in Kiowa, Colorado, spent her summers collecting plants in the mountains. In the preface of her 1893 book, A Popular Flora of Denver, Colorado, Eastwood wrote that she created the publication “with the sole aim of helping students to learn the names of the plants that grow around Denver.” Her collection lived in the Colorado State Historical Society until ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� herbarium, which is part of the university’s Museum of Natural History, acquired it under curator William Weber in the 1940s.

Today, Eastwood’s specimens, along with hundreds of thousands of others, support research on and of campus — even internationally. The robust collections are often toured by CU students, faculty, botanists, scholars and local plant enthusiasts.

Said botany collection manager Amber Horning: “I believe that natural history collections have the power to inspire an audience of all ages and backgrounds.”

Submit feedback to the editor

Photo courtesy University of Colorado Herbarium (COLO)

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Herbarium is a resource for researchers and plant enthusiasts worldwide.

Off

Traditional

Summer 2025

White

News Briefs from ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��

Anna Tolette — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 19:59:39 +0000

News Briefs from ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Anna Tolette Mon, 07/07/2025 - 13:59

100 Launches for BioServe

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� BioServe Space Technologies is a research center that uses space-based research to help improve life on Earth. On April 21, it celebrated its 100th orbital launch. A SpaceX Dragon capsule carried BioServe equipment for three different projects, including colonies of billions of bacteria and algae. BioServe has collaborated with global science experiments in space since 1987, and its research has contributed to advancements in the understanding of medical conditions like bone loss and cancer.

New Master’s Program in AI

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� will be among the first universities nationwide to launch a new master’s program in artificial intelligence (AI) this fall. Students will gain theoretical and hands-on experience to prepare them for the rapidly developing AI landscape. Courses will include subjects such as machine learning, statistical learning, natural language processing and AI ethics. The program will be available online its first year and in person the following year.

1190 Gets FM Debut in Denver

After going of the air in 2022 to modernize its technologies, CU’s student-run Radio 1190 can now be heard on Denver’s radio airwaves at 92.9 FM. In February, Radio 1190 debuted on its new channel, ready to reach new audiences with a wide range of independent music. Listeners also can visit 1190.radio online to hear the station.

Heard Around Campus

“When I mention her name, people would say, ‘Oh, Professor Casey on TikTok,’ or ‘I watched her videos on YouTube...’”

– Shamika Klassen (PhDInfoSci’24) on the announcement of Casey Fiesler as the first William R. Payden Endowed Professor of the College of Communication, Media, Design and Information (formerly the College of Media, Communication and Information).

Submit feedback to the editor

Photo by Patrick Campbell

DIGITS

College of Music Pianos

Earlier this year, the College of Music introduced a new Steinway & Sons model D concert grand piano — made possible, in part, by a donor gift — which will enhance student and faculty performances.

170

Approximate number of pianos in the College of Music fleet

Average age, in years, of the college’s pianos

Number of Steinway pianos at CU

~203K

Approximate cost of the new Steinway D

50%

Of new Steinway covered by a single donation

Jack Armstrong, news director for Radio 1190

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� BioServe Space Technologies, the launch of an AI master’s program and Radio 1190.

Off

Traditional

Summer 2025

White

Introducing ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��'s Alumni Weekend

Julia Maclean — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 19:22:46 +0000

Introducing ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��'s Alumni Weekend Julia Maclean Mon, 03/10/2025 - 13:22

On April 5–7, ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� is launching Alumni Weekend, an event where former classmates and fellow Forever Buffs can reminisce on old memories while creating new ones during campus tours, Boulder excursions and plenty of opportunities to network and socialize over meals and happy hours. This inaugural weekend will include reunions for graduates from 2020, 2015,

1985 and 1975 and the Golden Anniversary Club, which is for those who graduated 50 years ago and earlier. Participants also are invited to extend their campus visit and attend ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Conference on World Affairs, a cost-free event April 7–10.

Register for Alumni Weekend.

A New Alumni Volunteer Experience

The ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Alumni Association is revamping its volunteer experience, starting with an updated online platform to connect alumni and friends to a broader range of CU-related volunteer opportunities. Forever Buffs can host or help at events, mentor alumni or current students, and support ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� initiatives. Alumni are also invited to host events in their local areas, further strengthening the Forever Buffs community and fostering deeper connections with each other across the globe.

Learn more about volunteering.

Buffs Give Back

April is National Volunteer Month! Join Forever Buffs across the country to make an impact in your community through Buffs Give Back. Last year, over 700 alumni, family and friends volunteered on behalf of ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� through scholarship reading, outdoor clean-up, event planning and mentoring programs. This year, there are plenty of opportunities during the month of April for alumni to get involved.

Find more information.

Scholarship Impact

For the 2024–25 academic year, the Alumni Association, chapters and clubs awarded $317,250 in scholarships, benefitting 204 students. Alumni volunteers and donors make these scholarships possible, which help cover the cost of attendance at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� and create lasting opportunities for students across academic disciplines.

Learn more about scholarships.

Submit feedback to the editor

Photo by Ian Scott

2025 Trips

Istanbul and the Turquoise Coast

Sept. 10–20, 2025

Flavors of Tuscany

Oct. 2–10, 2025

Patagonia and Chilean Fjords

Oct. 22–Nov. 2, 2025

Egypt and the Eternal Nile

Oct. 31–Nov. 14, 2025

Iceland and Northern Lights

Nov. 15–23, 2025

For more information about the Roaming Buffs travel program, email roamingbuffstravel@colorado.edu, call 303-492-8484 or visit here.

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� is launching Alumni Weekend from April 5-7.

Off

Traditional

Spring 2025

White

No Car, No Problem at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��

Julia Maclean — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:41:54 +0000

No Car, No Problem at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Julia Maclean Mon, 03/10/2025 - 11:41

When it comes to getting to class at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��, “not having a car” would be a tough sell for tardiness — the university prefers students not to have one at all.

“We have a whole toolbox of programs to prevent students from needing to bring a car to campus,” said Brandon Smith, ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� assistant director of sustainable transportation.

Most of these offerings are free. All students receive Regional Transportation District (RTD) bus passes and also have access to the university’s electric Buff Buses, BCycle electric bikes, CU NightRide, bike repairs on campus and summer bike storage. A CU ski bus even offers students trips to several ski resorts for $25 round trip.

And Buffs take advantage. In an average week, Buff Buses log about 30,000 boardings, 90% of which are students. In 2023, students rode RTD more than a million times. From January 2023 to November 2024, students took more than 1.3 million trips on BCycle bikes.

The payoffs for sustainable transportation are big.

“More than 60,000 commuters travel into Boulder per day, and 80% of these are single occupancy vehicles,” said Smith. “However, less than 12% of students drive solo to campus. Imagine what Boulder and campus parking, traffic and air quality would be like if we didn’t have programs that got most students out of single-occupancy cars.”

Submit feedback to the editor

Photo by Casey A. Cass

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� promotes sustainable transportation by offering students free access to buses, electric bikes and other services.

Off

Traditional

Spring 2025

White

How Alumni Keep Their ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Bonds Strong as Forever Buffs

Julia Maclean — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:34:29 +0000

How Alumni Keep Their ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Bonds Strong as Forever Buffs Julia Maclean Mon, 03/10/2025 - 11:34

April Driver

For many ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� alumni, the university is more than just the location of their college experiences. It’s a part of their lives today. They want other CU students and alumni to experience this deeper connection too, starting with embracing themselves as “Forever Buffs.”

“Your journey as a Forever Buff begins when you enroll on campus,” said Ryan Chreist (Kines’96,MPubAd’09), Alumni Association executive director. “The day you graduate, you join the larger Forever Buffs community of over 300,000 who live all over the world. It is a way to have a relationship with the university and your fellow alumni for life.”

For alumni like Rochelle Maki-Williams (Psych’96; ExecMBA’11), being a Forever Buff means more than staying actively involved with the university — it means nurturing future generations of Buffs. Since 2011, Maki-Williams has volunteered for the ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Alumni Association, the CU Athletic Department and Buffalo Belles, a group dedicated to supporting CU Athletics. As a Denver Forever Buffs chapter leader, she’s also helped raise scholarship money for local high school students.

Maki-Williams’ bond with CU is personal. It’s where she met her husband, T.H. Williams (A&S’95; ExecMBA, MFin’04), built lasting friendships and created cherished memories.

“Being a Forever Buff is something I live every day,” she said.

For Royer Lopez (Mktg’18), “being a Forever Buff is about creating endless possibilities — for yourself and others.”

His involvement is wide-ranging. He holds roles on the Leeds GOLD Board and the Forever Buffs Advisory Board, volunteers as a Leeds School of Business mentor and helps host reunions for the Multicultural Greek Council. Plus, he attends every CU football home game with his family.

Through his many CU connections, he aims to create a broader impact and ensure that future Buffs have expanded opportunities. Lopez, a first-generation college student, is passionate about helping other first-generation students and often recruits interns from Leeds.

For Maki-Williams and Lopez, being a Forever Buff is more than a point of pride — it’s a lifelong commitment to give back, stay connected and make an impact.

Become involved with the Alumni Association to connect with other Forever Buffs. Visit colorado.edu/alumni/volunteer.

Submit feedback to the editor

Photo courtesy Rochelle Maki-Williams

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� alumni stay connected to the university through lifelong involvement, giving back and supporting future generations of Buffs.

Off

Traditional

Spring 2025

White

CU Environmental Center's Legacy of Sustainability

Julia Maclean — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 17:30:13 +0000

CU Environmental Center's Legacy of Sustainability Julia Maclean Mon, 03/10/2025 - 11:30

Jessica Winter

The first officially celebrated “Earth Day” on April 22, 1970, marked the start of another green legacy: the CU Environmental Center.

A novel concept at the time, the center was founded by environmentally conscious students and acted as an on-campus organization for students to gather, develop and lead projects relevant to environmental issues. Since its inception, the “E-Center,” as it’s commonly known, has led sustainability initiatives, launched programs and partnered with green campus operations such as CU’s renewable energy campaign.

Financed by student fees since 1973, ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� E-Center remains the largest student-led environmental center in the nation in terms of funding and employee support. Its innovative creation more than 50 years ago has inspired many other schools to model their student sustainability programs after CU’s.

“The E-Center is governed by students, funded by students and powered by students,” said Marianne Moulton Martin, E-Center associate director. “Many of our current programs would not have been realized without student leadership and initiatives.”

Driven by passionate Buffs, the center offers a variety of programs that aid sustainability efforts, including a composting program (started in 2004), a campus pollinator garden (installed in 2014) and the Sustainable Buffs program — which invites students to explore how they can live, connect and lead sustainably. The center’s current priorities include developing sustainability leaders, identifying solutions to environmental issues that can be implemented beyond campus, helping ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� reach zero waste and zero emissions, and promoting Buff pride through positive environmental impact.

From the recycling program created in 1976 to the first CU Bike Station in 2004, the E-Center has a green legacy that generations of Buffs have carried forward — with its student employees at the helm. In addition to the programs and services the center carries out, its student employees help engage their peers in meaningful conversations about everything from climate justice to environmentally friendly practices in labs.

“As a key partner in sustainability on campus, the E-Center aims to support every student who wants to create a positive change in their community,” said student employee Megan McLemore (IntlAf’26). “So we also act as a liaison, helping students join or start projects they are passionate about, and connecting them with the larger community of Sustainable Buffs here at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��.”

“The E-Center is governed by students, funded by students and powered by students.”

Submit feedback to the editor

Photos courtesy CU Environmental Center

��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��'s Environmental Center celebrates 50 years of sustainability initiatives, empowering student leadership and shaping a green campus.

Off

Traditional

Spring 2025

White

Campus News

CU Hosts First Big 12 Women’s Lacrosse Championship

Off

Wóinila: A Mural of Silence and Learning

Off

Alumni Association News

Celebrate at Away Games

Mentorship Opportunities

Off

Kale, Yeah! ���Ҵ�ý�ƽ������ Sustainable Dining

Healthy and Delicious

Supreme Greens

Preparing Future Consumers

Dining Options for Everyone

“Continuous Improvement”

Ingredients:

Off

Honoring Alice Eastwood’s Legacy at CU's Herbarium

Off

News Briefs from ���Ҵ�ý�ƽ������

100 Launches for BioServe

New Master’s Program in AI

1190 Gets FM Debut in Denver

Heard Around Campus

Off

Introducing ���Ҵ�ý�ƽ������'s Alumni Weekend

A New Alumni Volunteer Experience

Buffs Give Back

Scholarship Impact

2025 Trips

Off

No Car, No Problem at ���Ҵ�ý�ƽ������

Off

How Alumni Keep Their ���Ҵ�ý�ƽ������ Bonds Strong as Forever Buffs

Off

CU Environmental Center's Legacy of Sustainability

Off

Kale, Yeah! ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Sustainable Dining

News Briefs from ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��

Introducing ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��'s Alumni Weekend

No Car, No Problem at ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ��

How Alumni Keep Their ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� Bonds Strong as Forever Buffs