November 11, 2025 — This feature offers a brief preview of student life at Marist — from events and performances to a sneak peak at the new Marist University Sustainability Action Plan.

Sustainability Day

Fashion students ready to repair tattered clothes to promote sustainability. Photo by Cira Shaw '26/Marist University.

On October 29, the Dyson Center was filled with students, faculty, and staff eager to hear about the sustainability initiatives happening across campus. The event was sponsored by the Sustainability Action Planning Committee (SAPC) in collaboration with the SGA Sustainability Board and displayed various other groups committed to sustainability, including the Campus Sustainability Advisory Committee (CSAC) and Gourmet Dining. Attendees learned about composting, recycling, e-waste, sustainable fashion, robot mowers, and the Semester Sweepout. SAPC also shared the four pillars of the soon-to-be-announced Marist Sustainability Action Plan, which include education and research; energy, greenhouse gases, and transportation; buildings, grounds, and lands; and food, water, and waste. Across the way, bins collected 11,020 pounds of electronics—contributing to a total of 128,646 pounds (over 64 tons) of responsibly e-recycled materials.

Hold the Line on Hunger

Students at the Hold the Line on Hunger event (left) with speaker Sam King (right). Left photo by Tori Hegenauer '27. Right photo by Emily Portnov '29/Marist University.

For the second event of Hunger Month, Spiritual Life and Service (SLS) hosted an interactive simulation experience. This experience helped shed light on what impacts food insecurity on a systemic level. Participants assumed an identity assigned to them, and moved forward or backward depending on whether the circumstances read aloud applied to their persona. Gaps between participants were visibly apparent, illustrating real-world disparities in relation to food insecurity. As the Director of Ecology and Sustainability for the Marist Brothers USA, guest speaker Sam King further delved into how ecological issues directly contribute to food insecurity through his thought-provoking talk.

Mehendi Workshop

Students sharing culture and creativity through the art of henna. Photo by Emily Portnov '29/Marist University.

Marist International Student Association (MISA) collaborated with International Student Services to bring the tradition of Mehendi art to the Marist community. Mehendi, more commonly known as henna, is an art form home to South Asian regions and involves intricate designs that symbolize happiness, community, and spiritual awakening. “It was a great opportunity to bring people together in celebration of culture, creativity, and togetherness,” said Sharvhani Manandhar ’26, a psychology major from Kathmandu, Nepal. “Hosting this event allowed students to experience a part of that cultural richness firsthand, while also helping us build a more inclusive and culturally aware campus environment.”

Night on Broadway

Sirens A cappella performing “The Sparkling Diamond” from the Broadway musical Moulin Rouge. Photo by Ananya Andrade '28/Marist University.

Marist Singers performed their annual Night on Broadway concert during the first weekend of November. Proceeds from the performances, along with raffle earnings, went to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Tickets were sold through Hometown and were reasonably priced at $15 for general admission and $10 for students and senior citizens. The performances featured songs from Tick, Tick... Boom!, The Outsiders, Rent, Dear Evan Hansen, Waitress, and Sweeney Todd. In order to promote the event, Rebecca Brown ’26 honored the theme of “What Baking Can Do” by asking professors for their “Recipes For Success” for a career in communications. You can see her interviews here.