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With the publication of the College Sustainability Report Card 2010, more than 1,100 school survey responses from over 300 institutions are now available online. In total, these surveys offer more than 10,000 pages of data collected from colleges and universities during the summer of 2009. To access surveys from other schools, go to the surveys section of the website. To see grades, or to access additional surveys submitted by this school, please click the "Back to Report Card" link at the beginning or end of the survey.
Name: David Emmerman and Erin Camp
Position (in student organization): Co-Chairs
Date survey submitted: 31 July 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: The Green Amherst Project (GAP)
Number of active members: 20 (over 150 total)
Website: https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/studentgroups/greenproj
Date of last meeting: 6 May 2009
Frequency of meetings: Once a week, every week.
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: Hand dryers instead of paper towels; a tray-less dining hall; composting at dining hall; a lightbulb trade; creating a "Green Green Dean" staff position at the College; "turn off your lights" stickers on light switches; coordinating an environmental community outreach program for local elementary schools; creating a community garden; proposing a Sustainability Theme House; establishing and maintaining our Five College Sustainability Alliance; participating in Power Shift; actively contacting our Congressman, John Olver; protesting at the local coal-fired power plant; establishing an Eco-Rep program; signage in our dining hall; sustainability orientation event; paper reduction initiative; food waste reduction exhibitions
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008: Complete success made on: community outreach program, formation of FCSA, Power Shift, lightbulb exchange, protests, community garden, orientation event, food waste reduction exhibitions, and our relationship with our Congressman. Partial success: "Green Dean," hand driers over paper towels, light stickers, composting, Eco-Rep program, signage in our dining hall, paper reduction initiative. Little-to-no progress: Sustainability House, tray-less dining hall.
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS
2) Does your group organize any sustainability challenges/competitions for your campus and/or with other colleges?
[ ] No
[x] Yes. Please list details for each competition.
#1 - Name of competition: RecycleMania! (nationwide competition)
Year initiated: 2008
Frequency of competition: Annually in the spring
Participants: Entire student body
Incentives: Pizza Party
Goal of competition: 1) Have a fair and friendly recycling competition. 2) Increase recycling participation by students and staff. 3) Heighten awareness of schools' waste management and recycling programs. 4) Expand economic opportunities while addressing environmental issues in a positive way. 5) Lower waste generated on-campus by reducing, reusing and recycling. 5) Organize this event successfully so it can be repeated and possibly expanded to other campuses in the future.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: 27.2 lbs. recycled per person.
Lasting effects of competition: Instills a greater awareness to recycle more!
Website: http://www.recyclemania.com/
#2 - Name of competition:
Year initiated:
Frequency of competition:
Participants:
Incentives:
Goal of competition:
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced:
Lasting effects of competition:
Website:
SUSTAINABILITY IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT
3) Does your student government include a specific position or committee dedicated to campus sustainability issues?
[ ] No
[x] Yes. Please describe:
There is a Green Advisory Committee of students, faculty and staff that advises the administration on sustainability issues.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
Attempted to organize a first-annual Freshman energy competition. As a pilot project, we decided not to use the entire school--just the new students with a passion to get engaged, but were challenged by the inability of our Physical Plant to gauge energy consumption by dorm.
Sponsored Earth First! to come to our campus for a visit/roadshow.
Tried a new clothing swap, as well.
Co-hosted a successful Focus the Nation Climate Rally with Congressman Olver (with FCSA)
Coordinated a very large 350 (350.org) soccer tournament (cancelled due to swine flu)
Hosted a statewide network meeting of Mass. Power Shift
Hosted a pizza party/live viewing of Al Gore's Power Shift webcast
5) Please list and briefly describe any other student-run organizations related to campus sustainability at your school, and provide URLs if available (e.g., student groups; student government committees; student-run food co-ops, gardens/farms, bike co-ops) and provide contact information of the student leaders, if possible:
Amherst Community Garden (https://www.amherst.edu/campuslife/studentgroups/community_garden) - Contact Shannon Smith
Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investment (https://www.amherst.edu/offices/committees/acsri) - Contact Alissa Ayden
MASSPIRG - possibly defunct (not student-run, lost funding last semester)
Questions 6 is for informational purposes only; your response will NOT be included in the Report Card evaluation process.
6) Please list any regional or national networks with which your group is affiliated (e.g., Energy Action Coalition/Campus Climate Challenge, Sierra Student Coalition, a state PIRG, a state student sustainability coalition):
Massachusetts Power Shift, Five College Sustainability Alliance, Sierra Student Coalition
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