UM celebrates sustainability at 115th Founder's Day | Environment

From a bike tour of the campus to the organic community garden, the events scheduled for the 115th Founders' Day focus on the University of Montevallo's strides to become a more sustainable community.

The day's events are bookended by two Founders' Day traditions--the robing of graduating seniors in the morning and the annual Life Raft Debate in the evening, both held at Palmer Auditorium. It's the in-between activities that point to the school's recent green initiatives.

At 2:30 p.m., the bike-sharing program ValloCycle will launch with a ribbon cutting ceremony at the campus "Becoming" statue. A bike tour will then follow, taking participants to the organic community garden, the James Wylie Shepherd Observatory, the Central Utilities plan and ending at Bibb Graves Hall. At each stop, there will be a presentation about how that part of the campus is practicing sustainability. A shuttle ride will take those not riding bikes to each location.

The 14th annual Life Raft Debate kicks off at 7 p.m. in Palmer. The debate pits six faculty members against each other as they defend their discipline as one necessary for survival in a society building from the ground up. (For more info, see www.liferaftdebate.com).

Tonight's Life Raft Debate will be streamed online for free viewing here: www.ustream.tv/channel/masscomm-at-montevallo

Happy Founders' Day, Montevallo!