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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: Alexander H. White
Position (in student organization): Chairman, SGA Student Environmental Committee (SEC)
Date survey submitted: July 20, 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: SGA Student Environmental Committee (SEC)
Number of active members: Approximately 9
Website: http://www.grinnell.edu/etal/green/groups/sec/
Date of last meeting: May 2009
Frequency of meetings: Weekly, when school is in session
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: 1. Dorm Environmental Coordinator (DEC) Program. 2. Student Sustainability Guide.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008: 1. The DEC Program was implemented for the 2008-2009 academic year. This program provides each cluster of dorms with a DEC who serves as the point person for people with environmental questions and concerns. The DECs are also responsible for promoting environmentally-friendly lifestyles in the dorms. 2. The Student Sustainability Guide was written and created by the SEC during the 2008-2009 academic year. The guide provides new students with the information they will need to live a green life at Grinnell, such as basic information on recycling, electrical usage, and where to get good local produce. The guide was professionally published earlier this summer for a direct mailing to all new students.
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:
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: The Student Government Association’s Constitution and By-Laws call for the existence of the Student Environmental Committee (SEC). Through the SEC, SGA promotes environmentalism at Grinnell.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school: 1. With the help of the Facilities Management (FM) and the DECs, the SEC coordinates the collection of unwanted items (such as clothes, bedding, hangers, alarm clocks, desk lamps, etc.) at the end of each academic year to help hold down the amount of waste that is sent away to the landfill. The soft items (clothes, shoes, and bedding) are donated to the Goodwill in town and the rest of the items are kept for a rummage sale at the beginning of the fall semester. The rummage sale is a great event that allows people to get some cool stuff for their dorm room on the cheap, while also providing a substantial benefit to the environment. 2. For the first time this upcoming fall semester the SEC, the DECs, and FM will team up to give a brief tour of all the environmentally-friendly things and places at Grinnell during New Student Orientation (NSO). This should help more new students live green lifestyles.
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: 1. Free The Planet (FTP). FTP is a large environmental group at Grinnell that typically works on several projects each semester aimed at large-scale environmental problems which are plaguing the earth. URL: http://www.grinnell.edu/student/groups/ftp/. 2. EcoCampus. EcoCampus is a group made up of faculty, staff, and students who meet on a regular basis to discuss environmental issues at the college. URL: http://www.grinnell.edu/etal/green/groups/ecocampus/. 3. EcoHouse. EcoHouse is a group of students who live green lives together in the college’s off-campus sustainable living residence. 4. Community Garden. The Community Garden is a small garden planted and harvested exclusively by students. URL: http://www.math.grinnell.edu/~calischs/Garden/garden.php. 5. Vegan Co-Op. The Vegan Co-Op is a large co-op that cooks a vegan meal (typically with as much local food as possible) one night each week. 6. Campus Bikes. Campus Bikes is a program sponsored by SGA that provides students with college-owned bikes to get around the campus. These bikes are painted bright yellow and are found scattered around campus for anyone to use.
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 that I am aware of.
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