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The Sustainable Living Experience (SLE) is a new University of Michigan Theme Community that provides students with the opportunity to experience sustainable living within a supportive community in Oxford.

The SLE is rooted in the ideals of climate and environmental justice, and uses this as a foundation to cultivate an inclusive campus community. The SLE strives to function as a microcosm of diverse students whose actions have generative and innovative impacts on the development of a more just and sustainable world.

Read about three current U-M students who are in SLE and what they enjoy most about this Michigan Theme Community.

Madisyn Guza, #Victors2022:

What is it like to be in SLE?

If you have any ideas about what you want to work towards for the campus as a whole or the environment itself, there’s always someone you can talk to at SLE to get those ideas out and see what you can achieve. I come from a really small community that doesn’t always have the environment in mind, so coming to SLE and living in a dorm where a lot of the people have the same kind of sustainable thinking as you is one of the nicest things about living in a theme community.

Did participating in a theme community help you meet people?

Definitely. The beginning of the year events were really nice because you’re all new to everybody here, so it helps you feel welcomed and not secluded. We had an event where we potted plants at the beginning of the year, and people were really into it! It turned into a bonding experience.

Also, people in SLE may be taking some of the same classes as you, so you might already know someone in your classes which is nice because you can say “Hey, I’m struggling with this. Can we work on it together?”

Oxford is definitely different because it’s small, and you can have a casual conversation with pretty much anyone about anything at all. And being in SLE helps with that because you’re guaranteed to live in one place.

There’s always someone to reach out to, even if it’s not about your courses; if you’re having a hard day or don’t know who to talk to, you can always talk to a peer mentor or an advisor. They always have your interests in mind and want to make sure you’re okay.

T.C. Knowles, RA and #Victors2020

What is it like to be in SLE?

When I was a first year in SLE, I remember feeling like there was always somebody in the hall that I could talk to about classwork, something happening around campus, or someone to just joke around with and have a fun conversation. SLE was a conduit through which I was able to meet so many awesome people, many of whom I’m still friends with two years later! It was awesome to be a part of a community at U-M that I felt was impacting the university as a whole–it really helped to make campus seem smaller and less intimidating.

Many first years don’t get the opportunity to hit the ground running and effect change in their residence hall right off the bat, but SLE gives students that platform. All of the tools for success are right at your fingertips, and if you have enough gumption, SLE allows you the space to do amazing things.

Now, as an Residential Advisor for the Sustainable Living Experience, I have the opportunity to get to know the rising sustainability leaders at U-M. My residents inspire me to get up, get out, and get fired up about sustainability issues. When I step back and look at the big picture of SLE, I realize that what we’re doing can really change the world.

Henry Pochini, #Victors2022

What is it like to be in SLE?

The class we have every week – first years participate in a weekly seminar class where we discuss sustainability issues, campus sustainability initiatives, and create our own sustainability themed projects– has taught us a lot about sustainability and how we can implement it in our lives. We also do cool activities like go to the farm – it’s different than regular class because it’s more hands-on.

Being in a community full of people who are all trying to live more sustainably motivates you to do sustainable things in your everyday life. I definitely make more conscious choices when I’m in the dining hall, and I do little things like turn off lights.

I like Oxford. It’s right next to the Arb, which is really cool. The Twigs dining hall is good, too, because it’s really small and more intimate. I wrote them a comment card one time asking them to serve more cheesecake, and then they did!

Did participating in a theme community help you meet people?

It definitely did. You go to events and class and just kind of meet people; meeting people organically can be hard, so going to events and participating is a good way to foster these relationships. You can participate as much as you want, so if you don’t want to go to a certain event, you don’t have to attend.

SLE gives you an opportunity to be part of a community, and learning alongside like-minded people about helping the world is a part of the mission. There’s not really a reason not to do it; if you join a theme community, you join a community, and you can make of it what you want.