Talking Stick - November/December 2015 - 25

sharing an interest in sustainability
with their peers. The University of
Toronto, Mississauga in Ontario,
Canada, sponsors a residence council
called the Green Team, a volunteer
group of students that focuses on
"their environmental impact and
coordinates campus-wide clean ups
that have a lasting impact," says Chad
Nuttall, director of student housing and
residence life. At Hobart and William
Smith Colleges (HWS) in Geneva,
New York, the EcoRep program allows
student volunteers to certify rooms as

At HWS this passion has extended
into a living-learning community
focused on sustainability and with
direct ties to service learning. One part
of this experience is an opportunity
for hands-on work at a newly acquired
34-acre farm. Tom Drennen, professor
of economics, explains that the new
farm is used "either for instructional
purposes or for getting students
involved in civic engagement." The
students "planted, maintained, and
harvested a fall crop of greens that was
then donated to the community lunch

partner with resident assistants to
check on the students' well-being,
ensure that students understand
community expectations, and help with
their overall transition. Ryan Roche,
associate director at Emory University
in Atlanta, Georgia, feels that volunteer
opportunities allow students to see
their peers as role models. Similar to
orientation mentors, their Sophomore
Advisor volunteer position - a 30-yearold program established for second-year
students to serve as peer leaders in
their community - helps RAs promote

VARSITY ATHLETES, SORORITY AND FRATERNITY MEMBERS, AND LEADERS
FROM ACROSS CAMPUS ALL HELP UNLOAD CARS, CARRY BOXES, AND,
MOST IMPORTANT, SERVE AS FRIENDLY AND WELCOMING FACES.
green while teaching residents about
sustainability practices. Adam Maurer,
sustainability manager at HWS, works
with residential education to allow
EcoReps to access their assigned halls
and collaborate with student staff
on programming and campaigns to
heighten sustainability awareness.
According to Maurer, "Students
volunteer for the EcoRep program
because they are concerned about
climate change and the environment
and the effects humans have on
one another and earth. There's a
recognition and desire for some
students to take action and be part of
the solution." In addition, the program
allows volunteers to share their
passions with students who may be less
informed, as well as with new students,
particularly first-years, allowing them
to identify with someone having
similar interests. "The EcoRep program
ensures that students who want to live a
sustainable lifestyle have peers who will
support them," says Maurer.

program," notes Drennen. "While the
farm is still a work in progress, there is
no doubt that community engagement
will be one of the motivators for
programming." As a way to educate
students about similar sustainability
issues, the University of Toronto has
developed a community garden which
donates its produce to their on-campus
food room.
Student volunteers can also give
back to their campus by serving
as mentors. At HWS, orientation
mentors, mostly rising sophomores,
are able to give back to incoming
first-year students. "Student leaders
truly love this place and want to help
new students find their own sense of
place," says Kristen Tobey, director of
student activities. "This role provides
the opportunity for them to share
their own story and serve as a resource
to new students." As mentors, the
student leaders offer some first-year
programming in the residence halls
during the first weekend of school,

community through programming, role
modeling, and support. Roche shares
that "students are attracted to the
position because of their ability to assist
first-year students with the transition to
college." These volunteers live among
new students and "they celebrate
their highs and comfort them as they
experience low moments."
Student volunteers can also be of
great help during move-in day. At St.
Mary's, "Parents, families, and students
love that volunteers carry almost
everything to the room, alleviating that
stress and workload from the students,"
says Goldwater. Greeting first-year
and upper-division students, move-in
crew members are probably the most
diverse group of student volunteers.
Varsity athletes, sorority and fraternity
members, and leaders from across
campus all help unload cars, carry
boxes, and, most important, serve as
friendly and welcoming faces. Faculty
and staff also lend a helping hand.
"That so many campus organizations

NOVEMBER + DECEMBER 2015

25
Talking Stick - November/December 2015

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Talking Stick - November/December 2015
