The Brandeis Climate Change Campus Weeks, a two-week series of events focused on issues and solutions surrounding growing problems associated with climate change, wrapped up on Dec. 1 with the Green Unity Gala in the Levin Ballroom.The Climate Change weeks, according to the Brandeis website, were co-sponsored by the Center for German and European Studies in cooperation with the Campus Sustainability Initiative, the class "Greening the Ivory Tower,"the Environmental Studies Program, the Sustainable International Development Program and Students for Environmental Action. According to Kilian Leibundgut, a graduate student assistant for the Center for German and European Studies, there were six events during the two weeks, from Nov. 15 to Dec. 1: the Students for Environmental Action coffeehouse, a screening of the film A Sea Change, a local and organic food banquet, a panel discussion on becoming a low-carbon society, presentations by Joseph Ole Tipanko and Prof. Bob Lange (PHYS) and the Green Unity Gala.

Leibundgut wrote in an e-mail to the Justice that he thought the gala was the most successful event, in terms of attendance and discussion, during the two weeks.

The events were initiated by the Transatlantic Climate Bridge program, which according to the website of the German Mission in the United States is an effort "to foster transatlantic cooperation and partnerships between Germany, the US and Canada on climate and energy policies, at the German Embassy, wrote Leibundgut. Prof. Sabine von Mering (GRALL) said during an interview with the Justice that the German Embassy, in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of German unification, conducted a number of events around the country to celebrate the progress made on climate change, and Brandeis was one of the universities involved in the programs

Hannah Saltman '12, president of Students for Environmental Action, wrote in an e-mail to the Justice, "While all . events at Campus Climate Weeks were successful, I think the Gala was the most exciting as it brought everyone involved with sustainability on campus together in celebration of all we have accomplished at Brandeis thus far." Leibundgut wrote that the Gala had a great turnout and that it included a good mixture of presentations which provided "a wonderful finish to the two climate change campus weeks."

The gala included "posters describing the differences between Germany and the US in their approaches to climate change, the debate society discussing the role of Nuclear power in Germany, a raffle with over 20 intriguing and fun prizes, [and] performances by Voicemale and Up the Octave," wrote Leibundgut.

Leibundgut and Saltman agreed that the events were publicized very well and that publicity was enhanced by the Maasai home constructed outside of the Usdan Student Center. According to a Nov. 16 feature in the Justice, the Massai house was constructed by Lange and his colleagues as an example of the kinds of sustainability work, including introducing more efficient stoves and installing solar panels, that he has been conducting with the Maasai tribe in Kenya and Tanzania.

Von Mering said that she was "blown away by the dedication of the students." She said she had never seen a response from the Brandeis community like the one received at the Green Unity Gala.





-Alana Abramson contributed reporting.