A typical graduating class.

    That UW-Stout, man. I tell ya. That place heard the “go green” calling a few years back, and has followed it like crazy. From the ZENN Car to recycled art competitions, they’re building quite the tradition. And why stop at higher education’s longest tradition? This December Stout is going green with their gowns. Of course they’ll still be black, but instead of the regular material, students will be donning gowns made of 100 percent recyclables. To get the gown, post-consumer plastic bottles are melted and processed into a yarn called Repreve, which is then woven into a newly created fabric known as Renew. Manager of the University Bookstore, Valerie Espejo, said they heard about “green” gowns through a newsletter they receive highlighting new products. “We’re just trying it out to see the reactions with everyone this semester,” Espejo said. “It’s not set in stone yet.” “Green” gowns are a little more expensive than regular gowns (by about $4), and students don’t have a choice of whether or not they want to wear the environmentally friendly gowns, Espejo said. But who doesn’t want to help the environment while also receiving their college diploma? Double whammy!