WASHINGTON - "Go Green," but wear red, white, and blue to Bender Arena to cheer on the American University men's basketball team at the 9th Annual Sustainability Awareness Game against Bucknell on Wednesday, February 1 at 7 p.m., presented by Official Game Sponsor Airlie Hotel and Conference Center and Airlie Berkshire Farm.

The game is planned each year by AU Athletics, Facilities Management's Energy & Engineering and Grounds teams, and the Office of Sustainability.  This year's game vs. the Bison also serves as the tip-off event to AU's university-wide participation in the Campus Race to Zero Waste competition, an eight-week national competition to reduce waste produced on campus, that will run through March 25.
 
"The annual Campus Race to Zero Waste competition allows us as a university to make progress toward our goal of achieving zero waste by 2030 and encourages each member of our community to be more thoughtful about the ways we can all reduce waste in our daily lives," said AU's Director of Sustainability Megan Litke.
 
"As a continuing source of university pride and school spirit, the Sustainability Awareness Basketball game provides for an entertaining and educational experience for our students and fans to learn about the continual and new advances in sustainability and energy efficiencies across our campus," said Robert Sherman, Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing and Corporate Partnerships.
 
Attendees will support the AU Eagles as well as spotlight the university's environmental goals and accomplishments.  They also will be able to engage with environmental student organizations, including AU Beekeeping Society, AU Outdoors, Climate Reality Corps, Wonk Trade, Food Recovery Network, PeaceJam, AU's Sunrise Hub, and the community gardens on main campus and at the Washington College of Law.  AU's Zero Waste team will be on hand to help fans sort their waste into either compost, recycling, or landfill trash bins.  A bicycle will be given away to a lucky student courtesy of AU Athletics, along with bike accessories provided by the Office of Sustainability.
 
An addition to Airlie's presenting sponsorship of the evening, the Eagles also extend appreciation to the following corporations for their support: Chartwells, Duke Energy Sustainable Solutions, The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, Siemens, Aramark Higher Education, E.C. Ernst Electrical Contractors, and InSite.
 
The doors to Bender Arena open, and the pre-game environmental and sustainability clubs fair begins at 6 p.m., while the game on the court vs. Bucknell tips off at 7 p.m. Admission is free for AU undergraduate, graduate, and WCL students with valid AU ID. Visit AUeagles.com/Tickets and use the online coupon code GREEN23 at checkout to receive and save $5 off each adult priced ticket.