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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: Catherine Ferrara
Position (in student organization): Former Co-President, Hamilton Environmental Action Group
Date survey submitted:
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Hamilton Environmental Action Group (HEAG)
Number of active members: ~40
Website: http://www.hamilton.edu/sustainability/studentalumni.html
Date of last meeting: April 28, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Bi-weekly
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: Dorm energy efficiency and usage (Dorm Energy Battle and TempeRangers Dorm Heat Task Force), eating locally-grown foods (Local Farmers' and Artisans' Market, supporting Hamilton Community Garden), generally increasing awareness of and participation in environmental issues (informational events, trip to PowerShift '09)
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008: Initiated Dorm Energy Battle in fall'08, and expanded the event in spring'09, with tangible results and plans to continue into future semesters. Kept up Hamilton's strong support of locally-grown foods; HEAG hosts the Local Farmers' and Artisans' Market, which is very popular among students and faculty, during Green Week each semester; and the Bon Appetit food services staff supports the effort by purchasing and labeling local items, including food from the on-campus Community Garden. We saw a significant jump in the number of students regularly attending meetings throughout the 2008-2009 year, and 27 Hamilton students traveled to Washington, DC for the Energy Action Coalition's PowerShift '09 educational and activism event.
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: Dorm Energy Battle
Year initiated: 2008
Frequency of competition: once per semester (duration: 1 month)
Participants: All Hamilton students living on-campus
Incentives: This year, pizza and pride; but we hope to receive funding for additional Resident Advisor budgets for winning dorms in the future.
Goal of competition: Reduce student energy usage in dorms
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: 17% (during April 2009, as compared to average of student dorm energy usage for April 2008, April 2007, and April 2006)
Lasting effects of competition: Student enthusiasm, awareness of energy-saving techniques
Website: http://buildingdashboard.com/clients/hamilton/
SUSTAINABILITY IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT
3) Does your student government include a specific position or committee dedicated to campus sustainability issues?
[ ] No
[ ] Yes. Please describe:
DON'T KNOW
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
Every semester, HEAG hosts Green Week to educate and excite Hamilton students about environmental issues. These weeks usually include the Local Farmers' and Artisans' Market, an environmental film showing, an eat-local day sponsored by Bon Appetit, and a speaker or discussion event on a current environmental issue (examples include greening local public schools, Colony Collapse Disorder in honeybees, and the environment in the 2008 presidential election).
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:
- Recycling task force- organizes cram and scram, recyclemania, and generally oversees recycling on campus. http://www.hamilton.edu/college/recycling/index.html
-
The Community Garden- The community garden is a student designed and run project which provides fresh vegetables for students and local residents. website?
-
The Bike Guild- This student run organization provides and maintains golden bikes for students to use as transportation around campus. http://www.hamilton.edu/Transportation/GildedBikes/
Questions 6 is for informational purposes only; your response will NOT be included in the Report Cardevaluation 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): Our group is not affiliated with any networks
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