Sustainability from a KEEN point of view

KEEN Footwear is scheduled to show its documentary STAND, which focuses on sustainability and student involvement, this Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in room 228 of Smith Memorial Student Union.

The documentary consists of nine interviews with sustainable or “green” people, including interviews with prominent organic farmer Susie Quick, and champion free-skier Allison Gannett. Also featured in the documentary is local artist Matt Cartwright, who has constructed several recycled-metal works currently on display in parks across the state.

KEEN is an outdoor-footwear company that uses recycled material to make its shoes.

The campus tour includes stops at 50 colleges to screen STAND for students and provide them with information about sustainable or green living, a lifestyle that promotes such activities as waste reduction and recycling. Ben Ohmart, campus ambassador to KEEN for Portland State, said the documentary is meant to connect students with people who lead green lives.

The screening is also an opportunity for students to enroll in a contest offering $150,000 in overall prizes, according to KEEN Marketing Manager Erika Bruhn. The contest and documentary are part of KEEN’s Hybrid.STAND campaign, which serves as a slogan for KEEN’s tour, Ohmart said.

“The ‘Hybrid dot STAND’ idea is sort of a cross-section between the name of the documentary and the green lifestyles promoted by KEEN,” Ohmart said. “It just means that this whole tour is promoting green awareness. And STAND is a big part of that.”

The contest includes three main categories, each with a $25,000 grand prize and five $5,000 prizes for runners-up, with winners to be announced in March 2008. The deadline for submissions, which can be turned in after the documentary screening or at www.keenfootwear.com/stand, is Dec. 31.

The three categories, according to Bruhn, are: “Stand Up,” a category for artistic works such as photography and essays; “Stand Out,” a category for personal statements from outdoor athletes such as cyclists and hikers to explain why their athletic pursuits are sustainable; and “Stand For,” a category for environmental activists and researchers to describe their work and how it is sustainable.

John Ellison, event coordinator for Henry V, the group responsible for KEEN’s Portland State campus visit, said that KEEN decided to schedule a screening at PSU because of how well the university is integrated with the city.

“Portland is a very green town and is often regarded a leader in sustainability, so it was a natural inclusion for the tour,” Ellison said.

“Portland is in our backyard, so it made sense,” Bruhn said. “There are a lot of potential students to reach at PSU.”

Students may visit information booths located between Smith Memorial Student Union and Neuberger Hall through Wednesday to learn more about KEEN, the contest and the campaign, according to Ohmart. He also mentioned a citywide culmination event scheduled for June 2008, which will celebrate the contest winners and promote the documentary.

“The festival is still early in the works, but it’s going to be huge,” Ohmart said. “It’s going to be a celebration of green living, and [Wednesday’s] screening is a great way to get ready.”