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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: Kim Pearson
Position (in student organization): Global Warming Solutions Campaign Coordinator for Arizona PIRG
Date survey submitted: 9/23/09
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Arizona PIRG
Number of active members: 15
Website: http://www.arizonapirg.org/ and a Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=103836458533#/pages/Tempe-AZ/Arizona-PIRG-at-ASU-Tempe/58782394972?ref=ts
Date of last meeting: May 3, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Once weekly during the school year
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: Each semester, we have two or three campaigns. During the fall semester, we had the Campus Climate Challenge and Student Vote campaign. During the spring, our busier semester, we chose the campaigns Global Warming Solutions, Hunger and Homelessness, and Truth About Credit (changing policies regarding predatory credit card tactics geared towards students).
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008.
In fall of 2008, Arizona PIRG worked on the Campus Climate Challenge campaign, in addition to the Student Vote Coalition. Those were its main areas of focus.
During the spring of 2009, the GW Solutions campaign’s goals were to pass legislation for funding for renewable energy, public transportation, and other sustainability initiatives, culminating with the Waxman-Markey bill, in addition to educating the general student population. We collected 1000 public petitions for renewable energy initiatives (sent to Representative Harry Mitchell) and organized two Critical Mass Bike Rides (I <3 Public Transit on February 14th, Too Cool for Fossil Fools on April 2). PIRG was a chief planner of the first-ever solar powered concert held on Earth Day, partnering with SANS, USG Green Team, RAD Recycling, the School of Sustainability, and the Global Institute of Sustainability. The concert featured two bands playing off of a solar trailer provided free by a local company, state legislators Ed Ableser and Dave Schapira, a bevy of environmental clubs on campus, a sustainable prizes raffle (a bike, organic food, sustainable clothing), and organic food sold by a local restaurant. Arizona PIRG was the initiator of the concert, attracting the bands, finding the solar trailer, and organizing a coalition with the other groups.
The Hunger and Homelessness campaign achieved success by raising $500 for a local homeless shelter, in addition to organizing service days at that homeless shelter.
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS
2) Does your group organize any sustainability challenges/competitions for your campus and/or with other colleges?
[ X ] No
[ ] Yes. Please list details for each competition.
#1 - Name of competition:
Year initiated:
Frequency of competition:
Participants:
Incentives:
Goal of competition:
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced:
Lasting effects of competition:
Website:
#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 committee within the undergraduate student government called USG Green Team, which helps provide recycling across the campus, at various events, and within the dorms.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
We have had several speakers, including one trained by Al Gore to give his “An Inconvenient Truth” lecture. Also, the Arizona PIRG Executive Director, Diane Brown, came to speak about the importance of public transportation. We typically have tables at least once a month, promoting renewable energy (especially wind power), public transportation, and other issues. One of our most notable tables occurred on Feb. 14th, with our I <3 Public Transit Day. We made a model of the new Phoenix Light Rail, had people pose within it for pictures, and write their names on hearts which were then posted on the train. We collected over 400 public comments that day in support of public transit. Another table was entitles “True Cost Ticket: Spring Break,” where we asked students where they were going for spring break, how they were getting there, and then approximated through an equation how many pounds of carbon their trip would produce. Then, if they wanted, they could sign a petition to Congressman Harry Mitchell, asking for better public transportation and a high-speed rail system in the U.S.
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:
SANS (Students of Arizona Network for Sustainability) – a sustainability clubs coalition, organizing events and helping groups stay in contact regarding endeavors throughout the semester.
RAD Recycling – a group aiming to provided recycling in the dorms, electing students to be Recycling Gurus in their dorms. Recycling Gurus help organize recycling in the dorms and answer questions students have. The students are in cooperation with Campus Grounds and Recycling.
USG Green Team – mentioned above.
SHAB – Sustainability House at Barrett, the Honors College. Solar panels, a grey water reuse system, an organic garden, an experimental green roof, and state-of-the-art energy use modeling are all being negotiated as extra features for the Sustainability House building. http://shabasu.org/
EcoAid – a club for students interested in attaining internships and green jobs. They feature speakers from sustainable businesses. http://webdev.uui.asu.edu/sdmu/mu/new/clubs/search.asp?clubid=1341
Bike Co-op – Attached to the Student Recreation Complex, the co-op is a volunteer-based group that repairs bikes and sells new and used parts. http://www.asu.edu/tour/sustainability/bikecoop.html
Emerging Green Builders – http://webdev.uui.asu.edu/sdmu/mu/new/clubs/search.asp?clubid=733
Local Food Initiatives – a group made up partially of student volunteers who help collect and provides food produced on campus. ASU Tempe is an arboretum, with many food-producing plants, such as Medjool dates and Seville oranges. The on-campus sustainable restaurant Engrained incorporates these items and more. There is also an herb garden, with herbs used in the University Club restaurant. http://www.asu.edu/tour/sustainability/food.html
Greenpeace @ ASU - http://webdev.uui.asu.edu/sdmu/mu/new/clubs/search.asp?clubid=1224
Net Impact – a club similar to EcoAid. http://webdev.uui.asu.edu/sdmu/mu/new/clubs/search.asp?clubid=1335
VegAware at ASU – a group for people interested in vegetarian or vegan lifestyles, providing resources and organizing events. http://webdev.uui.asu.edu/sdmu/mu/new/clubs/search.asp?clubid=1150
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): Campus Climate Challenge, Environment Arizona, and Students Act Now for Sustainability (a state student sustainability coalition). //
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Name: Natalie Fleming
Position (in student organization): Director of Campus Environment Department
Date survey submitted: 7/21/2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Undergraduate Student Government
Number of active members: 1 Director, 2 Coordinators, 4+ Interns, 110 Green Team members
Website: http://asasu.net/usg4/
Date of last meeting: 4/18/09
Frequency of meetings: biweekly/as seen necessary
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: Recycling program was reestablished/revamped, move-out and move-in recycling education, recycling services offered for events, compactor painting to raise awareness, "EcoMadness" competition, funding students to attend PowerShift and other conferences, coordinating and working with with ASU Recycling and University Sustainability Practices (USP)
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008: Recycling awareness and participation have greatly increased, in some cases up to 400% greater participation. Also, contamination levels have decreased due to education of Community Assistants and their residents, even achieving no visible contamination in one compactor.14,233 pounds of total goods donated to Swift Charities for Children in the inaugural “Ditch the Dumpster” move-out collection drive.
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: EcoMadness
Year initiated: Spring 2009
Frequency of competition: Weekly throughout March
Participants: Residence halls and Greek life
Incentives: $1,000 for the living facilities of the winning team
Goal of competition: To encourage a sustainable lifestyle
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: Known by previous director
Lasting effects of competition: Recycling habits established, and an overall sustainable-mindedness was instilled in students
Website: n/a
#2 - Name of competition: Recycling Compactor Painting
Year initiated: Fall 2008
Frequency of competition: Once yearly
Participants: Open to all residents (participation varied by complex, from 5-75)
Incentives: Lunch at Engrained, ASU's sustainable restaurant
Goal of competition: To paint them so that they were distinguishable from the trash compactor
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: Indirectly, a large amount
Lasting effects of competition: Residents who were not even aware of our recycling service began to recycle.
Website: n/a
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: (described in this survey)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
We have funded numerous recycling bins for campus. Both permanent receptacles and collapsable bins for the use of events have been secured. Also, two of our largest events that we provided recycling for were the Pat Tillman Run (10,000 people) and Commencement (over 60,000) via Green Team members and coordination with ASU Recycling.
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:
EcoAid on Campus (Joseph Hoxie), Emerging Green Builders at ASU (Carly Jacobson), Global Health Student Association (Jennifer Grand), Greenpeace @ ASU (Erik Young), Net Impact ASU (Timothy McCarthy), Recycle Club at ASU (Alissa Fiset), School of Sustainability Graduate Student Board (Auriane Koster), Students of Arizona Network for Sustainability (Stacia Turner), Sustainability House at Barrett (Joseph Canarie), Sustainability Jedi (Peter Gbelia), The Devil's Initiative (Alexandra Lynch, http://www.myspace.com/thedevilsinitiative), The Transhumanism Club at ASU (Charles Provine), VegAware at ASU (Natalie Lew), Arizona PIRG (Jason Donofrio, http://www.arizonapirgstudents.org/), RAD Recycling (Brian McCollow)
http://www.vpsa.asu.edu/SDMU/mu/new/clubs/search.asp?category=39
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):
Students of Arizona Network for Sustainability
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While an additional student group has completed a survey for the College Sustainability Report Card 2010, they have requested that their full response not be published.
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