Following their Thanksgiving Break trip to Cannon Ball, North Dakota,  the Center for Ethics and Public Engagement hosted a panel discussion for students to share their experience of protesting the Dakota Access Pipeline. Students Rebecka Green '19, Courtney Field '19, and Andres Alvarez '18 spoke about what their days looked like working in the camp, and how they have brought what they learned back to Luther College. Alvarez had the opportunity to participate in 'action', where groups of people went to certain locations along the proposed pipeline route to pray and join each other in community. He told the audience: "It wasn't like any other protest I've ever been to. A lot of the time, they prayed and expressed how they felt in a positive and enlightening way."  Please stay tuned for more opportunities to continue conversation about the Dakota Access Pipeline and to get involved. 

Following the completion of her fellowship, the Center for Sustainable Communities would like to thank Food and Farm fellow Allison Hren for her dedication and commitment t0 Luther College and the Decorah community. During the fellowship, Hren managed the operations of the Luther College Farm, oversaw the Cafeteria to Community Program, and planned events like Beet Appreciation Day and Squash Fest.  Allison is moving back to her home state of North Carolina, and will be applying for graduate school in the new year.  The Center's fellowship program is funded through a grant from the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation. Thank you Allison for your hard work and contributions to local food systems in Northeast Iowa!

In order to prevent contamination and electronic waste, the Winneshiek County Solid Waste Agency will no longer accept cellular telephones and batteries in the Winneshiek County landfill. The Center for Sustainable Communities has partnered with Call2Recycle, a company that provides free battery and cellphone recycling in North America, to help recycle e-waste coming from campus. Students, faculty and staff are encouraged to use the recycling receptacles at the Research and Technology Help Desk in the Library, the front desk of the Facilities office, or the Supply Reuse Closet in Valders 364 for batteries and old cell phones. To learn more about recycling unique materials on campus, visit the Waste and Recycling webpage. 

The Center for Sustainable Communities and Luther College's Facilities Department would like to thank the students, faculty and staff who placed their bikes in the Ashmore-Jewell Barn during the Winter Bike Storage events at the end of November. Facilities reported that they only had to remove three bikes from racks following Thanksgiving break, which makes it significantly easier for them to clear paths of snow in the coming winter months. Everyone who stored their bike in the barn will receive an email in the spring with dates and times for spring retrieval. While bikes are stored for winter, we encourage you to continue sustainable transportation practices by carpooling or using the Shopping Shuttle for off-campus needs. Please contact Sustainable Transportation Educator Sean McKenzie with any questions and concerns.