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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: J. Sarah Sorenson
Position (in student organization): President
Date survey submitted: June 24, 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Colby Environmental Coalition
Number of active members: 15-20
Website: http://enviroco.wordpress.com/
Date of last meeting: May 4, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Weekly (Bi-weekly for officers)
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
Activities and issues addressed since August 2008:
(Answer to #4 as well)
Common Ground Fair Volunteering - Volunteer at the fair and advocate sustainable and organic agricultural practices. ( www.mofga.org )
Clothing Drive/ Swap
Trash Audit
Sustainability Month
Take Back the Tap
Climate Change
Earth Week
Energy Future Forum
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On Saturday, April 25, we hosted a forum at Colby called the “America’s Energy Future” forum, and Senator Collins’ key advisor on global warming attended. We stated our concerns about global warming and clean energy. We showed up with a huge force to show her that we wanted to switch to clean energy to green our economy and save our climate.
Green Graduation
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Colby’s Green Graduation has seven focus areas, including: 1. transportation; 2. dining services; 3. facilities and energy use; 4. recycling; 5. publicity and publications; 6. RESCUE; and 7.education and awareness. It is both environmentally beneficial and economically feasible. The Green Graduation helps to raise awareness about climate change, and it helps Colby take a leading role in climate change mitigation. Colby’s Green Graduation is a small step towards climate awareness and carbon neutrality.
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: Recycle Mania
Year initiated:
Frequency of competition: Annually
Participants: Campus wide
Incentives: Recognition
-RecycleMania is a nationwide recycling competition among colleges used to promote recycling programs and waste reduction programs. Over a 10-week time span, Colby competed against other colleges to see which schools could collect the most amount of recyclables and least amount of waste. Out of the 292 participating colleges, Colby came in 30th place, with an average of 20.96 pounds of recyclables per person!
#2 - Name of competition: poster competition at the conference "Climate Change 21 -- Choices for the 21st Century (CC21)", held at the University of Maine, Orono campus
Year initiated: 2008
Frequency of competition: Annually?
Participants: Maine Schools
Incentives: Recognition, Scholarship
Goal of competition: To promote or exhibit sustainable initiatives from your campus
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: N/A
Lasting effects of competition: Educational outreach
- On October 24, two ES majors, J. Sarah Sorenson '11 and Zach Ezor '10 were awarded first prize in the poster competition at the conference "Climate Change 21 -- Choices for the 21st Century (CC21)", held at the University of Maine, Orono campus. Sarah and Zach worked with Professor Russ Cole on their poster, "Colby College's Greenhouse Gas Inventory: A Guide to Carbon Neutrality", which was submitted in the category for campus initiatives related to climate change. The competition judging team was led by internationally-recognized climate scientist Dr. Paul Mayewski, Director, Climate Change Institute, The University of Maine. Honorary Judge and awards presenter was Scott Pelley of "60 Minutes" -- CBS News. Please check out the award winning poster in the display case between Rooms 207 and 208 in Diamond. Also check out more terrific student work on display on the first floor in Olin, the poster created by Becky Lipson '09 and Peter Graham '12, "Sustainability Initiatives at Colby College".
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:
Environmental Advisory Group (EAG)
-The Environmental Advisory Group will advise the president and the community on issues related to the environmental stewardship of the campus and region. For more information: http://www.colby.edu/about_cs/campusinfo/eag/mission.cfm
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
See above list of activities under 2008 inititatives
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:
-Colby Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (COFGA) - Student run and initiated organic garden which supplies greens to Colby. Contact Andy Smith.
-iBike: Student initiated bike rental program. http://www.colby.edu/campus_cs/clubs/ibike/
-Green Rep Program: (TENTATIVE 2009??) Student eco reps who promote sustainability in each dorm.
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):
Sierra Student Coalition
Greenpeace
Energy Action Coalition
Environment Maine
Natural Resources Council of Maine
Sustain Maine / Sustain US
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Name: Andy Smith
Position (in student organization): Co-organizer
Date survey submitted: 7/15/09
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Colby Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
Number of active members: ~25
Website: we'd love to have one but don't
Date of last meeting: worked in the garden frequently during finals period
Frequency of meetings: work in the garden/greenhouse multiple times a week during the growing season
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: started a new garden on Runnals Hill that is about ¾ acre and includes fruit trees, blueberries, raspberries, hardy kiwis, grapes, strawberries, serviceberries, asparagus, and all sorts of vegetables
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008: we have a new, greatly expanded garden and lots of new members plus two paid internships during the summer
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?
[ x ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe:
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school: we provide food to the dining halls, local food pantries, and sell at a local market. In addition to educating our members about sustainable agriculture, we strive to teach the community at large about the needed changes in the current food system. Members also volunteer for the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association at the Common Ground Fair in September.
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:
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): NONE, but considering Slow Food USA
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