Vanderbilt the Possible
Imagining a Sustainable Campus
Brewery
We have a vision of a sustainable microbrewery at the center of campus where students can gather as an inclusive community.
Where We Are
Social gatherings and parties at Vanderbilt frequently divide the community instead of bringing it together. Students separate themselves into different cliques and groups, seeking out those peers with whom they have the most in common. Vanderbilt currently lacks a place where the entire community can come together in an inclusive, on-campus environment.
Where We Are Going
We want to raise awareness of sustainability while also changing the way Vanderbilt thinks of drinking and socializing. We plan to make the coal plant a new student-run gathering place and brewery. Its location in the middle of campus makes it the ideal place for a fundamental reconsideration of the social structure at Vanderbilt.
We believe that Vanderbilt should change the power plant from a polluting relic of 20th century fossil fuel use to a space that contributes positively to the community. By making it a place where students can learn the entire process of brewing, from growing hops to crafting beers, we will help educate students about the necessity of sustainable living and provide a more affordable place for students to gather together. It would also reduce the waste generated by fraternities and create a new forum for listening to musical performances and exchanging ideas.
Success Stories
UC Davis
UC Davis has a Professional Brewers Certificate Program and a campus farm that serve as a model for Vanderbilt's efforts to create a sustainable microbrewery.
Local Breweries
Yazoo is an example of a local microbrewery that embraces sustainability while also nurturing the community.
Where
The Power Plant.
