EcoInsight:?Work with Board of Trustees, Green Initiatives Committee brings optimism
Sierra Flanigan '09
Issue date: 11/12/08 Section: Features
Twice each year, Wheaton's Board of Trustees visit campus to converse directly with students about the three most pressing issues demanding the college's attention for the given semester.
This homecoming weekend, sustainability took the spot light as several passionate students engaged in stimulating dialogue with the Trustees regarding three specific propositions.
With a special emphasis on economic effectiveness, the following ventures were proposed:
1) A full/part time sustainability coordinator position which will eventually grow into an office of sustainability;
2) A complete campus energy audit to diagnose wasted energy on campus and assess future opportunity savings
3) The inception of a sustainability revolving fund to provide stipends for green projects and ultimately self-sustain itself.
Overall, the presentation was a success. We will not know the actions the trustees will take, however, the general sense of receptiveness, excitement, and genuine concern was pertinent and encouraging.
There is now an electronic copy of Wheaton sustainability documents and the presentation prepared for the trustees, along with several tools and resources to allow for further inquiry.
Back on the home front, many sustainable developments have hit the ground running with a bouquet of diverse initiatives currently underway and unfolding at an accelerating pace.
In light of Wheaton's innovative declaration at the beginning of the year to propel sustainability into the forefront of campus concerns, an increasing number of students, faculty, and staff members are joining together to address a complex of collective global and community imbalances.
The Green Initiatives Committee has officially begun. Infused with inspired motivation and fresh ideas, this student-SGA entity will be laying the foundational groundwork, generating cost-effective initiatives, while working cohesively with the Sustainability Committee.
This homecoming weekend, sustainability took the spot light as several passionate students engaged in stimulating dialogue with the Trustees regarding three specific propositions.
With a special emphasis on economic effectiveness, the following ventures were proposed:
1) A full/part time sustainability coordinator position which will eventually grow into an office of sustainability;
2) A complete campus energy audit to diagnose wasted energy on campus and assess future opportunity savings
3) The inception of a sustainability revolving fund to provide stipends for green projects and ultimately self-sustain itself.
Overall, the presentation was a success. We will not know the actions the trustees will take, however, the general sense of receptiveness, excitement, and genuine concern was pertinent and encouraging.
There is now an electronic copy of Wheaton sustainability documents and the presentation prepared for the trustees, along with several tools and resources to allow for further inquiry.
Back on the home front, many sustainable developments have hit the ground running with a bouquet of diverse initiatives currently underway and unfolding at an accelerating pace.
In light of Wheaton's innovative declaration at the beginning of the year to propel sustainability into the forefront of campus concerns, an increasing number of students, faculty, and staff members are joining together to address a complex of collective global and community imbalances.
The Green Initiatives Committee has officially begun. Infused with inspired motivation and fresh ideas, this student-SGA entity will be laying the foundational groundwork, generating cost-effective initiatives, while working cohesively with the Sustainability Committee.
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