Coming up on 'Impact:' Making a Difference

A new episode of BTN?s new original series, Impact The World, airs at 10:30 PM ET Tuesday. Hosted by Dennis Haysbert, the weekly program showcases some of the incredible Big Ten breakthroughs that are changing lives in the United States and around the world. The seventh of the eight-episode series will demonstrate how Big Ten students and faculty rally together to make a difference in their communities.

• Traditionally, Maize and Blue are the two colors that flood Michigan?s home football games at the Big House. But thanks to some environmentally conscious students, a third color now receives substantial support. ?Go Blue, Live Green? is the motto that motivated U-M students to create the largest stadium recycling program in the country. By recycling cardboard and plastic bottles for a full season, Michigan?s recycling has helped save 576 trees, 9,000 gallons of oil and 168,000 gallons of water.
• For over 30 years, Michigan State Sociology Professor Carl Taylor has served as a professor, a novelist and a pillar in the East Lansing community, yet his true crusade is to encourage his students to become difference-makers in local, urban communities. Scores of MSU students have been moved to action by Dr. Taylor?s teachings, including Spartan basketball legend Mateen Cleaves. In this episode, Taylor and Cleaves combine forces to help restore peace in Cleaves? hometown of Flint, Mich., where the grim economic reality has left many children without hope. Taylor is impacting lives both inside and outside the classroom by taking action to connect with inner-city youth and inspiring others to do the same.
• Two days before attending their first class as Northwestern freshmen, the entire class of 2015 finished Wildcat Welcome Week by participating in the inaugural and largest student service project in Northwestern history, SCAPE (Serving Communities And Promoting Engagement).  The group of new students and peer advisers fanned out across the Chicagoland area to assist 44 organizations and help those in need. The service day established a sense of community among the new students, teaching them what it is like to be a part of the Northwestern community and demonstrating the rewarding benefits of volunteerism.