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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: Jonathan Cohn
Position (in student organization): President (GU EcoAction)
Date survey submitted: 6/9/2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: EcoAction
Number of active members: 20 very active members; network of 150
Website: http://studentorgs.georgetown.edu/ecoaction/
Blog: http://guecoaction.blogspot.com/
Date of last meeting: 4/14/2009
Frequency of meetings: weekly
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
Key issues:
-branding/public awareness
-reduction of plastic consumption
-recycling in residence halls
-faculty awareness
-double-sided printing in computer/printing labs
-relationship with the administration
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
-EcoAction devised the campus's sustainability logo and slogan ("Bleed blue, wear gray, think green") which has been used on the recycling garage and the campus's recycling trucks.
-A board member is working on devising a survey of faculty attitudes and practices around sustainability, and thought was put into a survey of the student body (with a draft of such a survey produced.)
-Students compiled photos of the recycling facilities across campus in order to assess the best orientation and use of bins.
-EcoAction was able to jump start a more regular meeting schedule for the Sustainability Action Committee as well as form a relationship with the Senior Vice President's office.
-EcoAction also worked on coalition building with other clubs, co-sponsoring events with Georgetown Solidarity, the Jewish Students Association, the Black House, and other organizations.
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
Year initiated: 2007
Frequency of competition: annually
Participants: See www.recyclemaniacs.org.
Incentives: Trophies
Goal of competition: To maximize recycling on campus (See website above for specifics.)
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: Statistics can be found on link below.
Lasting effects of competition: Georgetown's recycling rate has increased over the years: http://guecoaction.blogspot.com/search/label/Recyclemania.
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:
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Additional information provided via email by Adam Alfi (Chair, Corp Green Initiative & Secretary for Green Initiatives, GUSA) on 6/10/09
The Georgetown University Student Association (http://studentorgs.georgetown.edu/gusa/?Action=About) has created the new executive cabinet position of Secretary for Green Initiatives, whose main job is to advocate on the student body's behalf with University administrators regarding campus sustainability, and ensure that student association programming is more eco-friendly. GUSA wants to fulfill its unique role as the elected representative of the student-body by supporting environmental organizations on campus (such as Eco-Action and Corp Green) in their efforts to make Georgetown a greener community.
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OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
1) In Spring 2008, EcoAction collaborated with Aramark to get reusable bags for the dining hall.
2) In October 2008, the Sustainability Action Committee (the product of a petition from fall 2007) sponsored a Green Fair on campus to showcase the University's vendors, and in April 2009, Project Hilltop, EcoAction, Corp Green, the Biology Department, the Center for the Environment, InterHall, and Campus Ministry co-sponsored "Green Square"--an event to showcase sustainability in student life.
3) EcoAction co-hosted a lecture by John Fahey, CEO of National Geographic, for Earth Day.
4) For Earth Week, we hosted a clothes swap event.
5) In conjunction with Project Hilltop, Outdoor Ed, Hoyas Global Initiative Facilities, and Res Life, we co-sponosred an end-of-the-year move out drive to donate old goods to charities, including Keys for the Homeless Foundation and Homestretch, Inc. (For statistics, contact Jess Buckley above.)
6) In December 2008, EcoAction held a fundraising event for the World Wildlife Fund by selling recycled wrapping paper courtsey fo Earth Presents (earthpresents.com.)
7) EcoAction also hosted a number of lobby days/call-ins around climate legislation.
8) In spring of 2009, Georgetown sent about 50 (Email Mike Durante) students to Power Shift 2009.
9) In spring 2009, we hosted our third annual Recycling Raid, rooting through trash cans on campus to take out everything that should have been recycled.
Board members started initiatives to tackle the issues of double-sided printing in library computer labs and worked on a recycling survey of campus as well.
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:
Georgetown University Student Garden Initiative: Ben Sacher, Mara Schechter
Project Hilltop: Jess Buckley
Corp Green: Adam Alfi
Outdoor Education: Russ Watts
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): Georgetown used to have a chapter of Campus Climate Challenge; however, EcoAction and CCC joined forces to become one consolidated club. Nevertheless, we still are in contact with the Energy Action Coalition.
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