Talking Stick - May/June 2009 - 10

Just in College and university personnel and programs have seen eliminations, cuts, and limitations since the economy started its slide. Some institutions are mandating furloughs for their employees, and some have had to make painful cuts from their staffs and programs. Even so, sustainability positions and programs seem to be doing pretty well. While few may have the money to buy energy efficient windows campuswide, other sustainability goals can be achieved at a relatively low cost. In addition, some campus sustainability representatives serve the institution in another capacity, so the position is somewhat insulated. Of course, size is a factor, and larger schools have more resources. Signatories of the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment are expected to provide a detailed study of greenhouse gases on campus and then produce a report identifying specific areas and plans for improvement. As reported in the article “Cash-Strapped Colleges Defer Climate-Commitment Responsibilities“ (The Chronicle of Higher Education, March 6, 2009), most of the institutions that have not completed one or both of the first two requirements are smaller schools, often community colleges. Their commitment to sustainability is not in question, but commitment alone doesn’t pay for a greenhouse gas report or the staff time it takes to assemble the necessary materials. Some institutions have been able to afford to hire sustainability professionals, justifying the expense by citing the institution’s commitment to the project, the potential for long-term savings, and the good publicity it brings. Among these are Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina; the University of Florida in Gainesville; George Washington University in Washington, D.C.; the Sustainability Center at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville; Colgate University in Hamilton, New York; Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois; and Auburn University in Alabama, which also established an office of sustainability. Some sustainability professionals serve their institutions in other capacities: Dr. Lindy Biggs, director of Auburn’s new office Photo CoUrtesy of Joe JaCks nIng gree uses aMP c Sustainability Initiatives Battered, Not Bowed of sustainability, is also an associate professor in the Department of History, specializing in environmental and industrial history. The savings from sustainability efforts can be significant; Colgate University’s new sustainability coordinator, John Pumilio, helped his previous employer, Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, save thousands of dollars by cutting energy consumption. The positive publicity doesn’t hurt either, and schools compete for honors such as being one of Planet Green’s “Top 5 Green Colleges,” being among the Sierra Club’s “Top 10 Coolest Schools for Commitment to Green Practices,” and scoring 98 out of 99 on the Princeton Review’s Green Rating system. Other institutions take a hybrid approach, appointing staff and faculty members to a sustainability council. Since the departure of the sustainability director from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., the sustainability committee has filled the gap, and at Edmonds Community College in Lynnwood, Washington, English and horticulture instructors join a sustainability researcher on the sustainability council. Though sustainability efforts often involve large projects like building green or reducingJaCks costs, simple strategies like Photo CoUrtesy of Joe energy recycling and composting can also play an important part in conserving resources. The nationwide project RecycleMania has brought a great deal of attention to sustainability efforts, as have composting programs like the one at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, which prevents 2.5 tons of dining hall scraps from being dumped into the landfill each week. For more information, visit the following Web sites: American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment: http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org. Auburn University’s Office of Sustainability: http://www.auburn. edu/projects/sustainability/website/our_office/staff.html. Evergreen State College’s Sustainability Office: http://www. evergreen.edu/sustainability/home.htm. Arcade Favorite Finds On-Campus Accommodations Residents at Columbia College in Chicago are finding new ways to express themselves within the confines of the residence hall, starting with some yellow dots. The windows of the 2 E. 8th Street residence hall now display a scene from the popular arcade game Pac-Man. Sophomore Joe Jacks initiated the project after noticing a tiny Pac-Man in one of the building’s windows. Jacks took a photo of the building and made a grid, outlining every window. With a $42 budget, he purchased 350 sheets of paper, 16 poster boards, and 16 packages of tape. He and three of his floor-mates cut out 450 yellow circles and distributed them to residents to put on their windows. Aside from the circles, the maze – which covers 15 floors – includes four ghosts, one large Pac-Man and Ms. Pac-Man, and one cherry. An advocate of resident involvement, Jacks recently led a dance party for his fellow residents with 1,500 balloons. “I feel that I need to think outside the box even more,” says Jacks. “Everyone loves these crazy ideas I have, and they make college even more fun.” 10 Talking STick

http://www.presidentsclimatecommitment.org http://www.auburn.edu/projects/sustainability/website/our_office/staff.html http://www.auburn.edu/projects/sustainability/website/our_office/staff.html http://www.evergreen.edu/sustainability/home.htm http://www.evergreen.edu/sustainability/home.htm

Talking Stick - May/June 2009

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