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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: Lindsey Wilson
Position (in student organization): President
Date survey submitted: July 9, 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: EnvOrg
Number of active members: 20
Website: https://reason.kzoo.edu/envorg
Date of last meeting: May 26, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Once weekly
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: Trayless Cafeteria, Bottled water, Superfund sites on the Kalamazoo River, Local food movement, Mountaintop removal, Ecofeminism, Bookstore Challenge to protect ancient forests
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008: Trayless cafeteria implemented, saving 15% of water and natural gas used by the cafeteria, Kimberly Clark products removed from campus bookstore, Coordination with campus and local groups promoting local and organic food, Speakers brought to campus to address local and national environmental challenges
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:
Trayless cafeteria, Earth Fest, Do It in the Dark challenge
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: Digging In Renewable Turf: Organic garden club, the Hub: Bicycle rental and repair program available to everyone in the campus community, Campus Energy Group: Student Organization which promotes education and understanding of energy usage and environmental issues, Sustainability Guild: Organization to link students, alumni, and friends of the college around areas of passion and career, Facilities Management, Farms 2 K: Student Organization that works closely with the college, local farmers, and advocacy groups to bring local food to the cafeteria and community
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, Focus the Nation, Sierra Student Coalition, Kalamazoo River Watershed Council, Mountain Justice, Campus Progress
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Name: Nicholas Kelly
Position (in student organization): President (2008-9 academic year)
Date survey submitted:7-21-09
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Campus Energy Group
Number of active members: 10
Website: n/a
Date of last meeting: Wed, June 3, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Weekly
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: Economics of Energy (Fall Theme),Energy Use and Climate Change (Winter Theme), Energy Policy (Spring Theme)
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
Economics of Energy- Hosted a lecture followed by Q&A by Mr. Kurt Cobb (journalist on energy issues, blog at: http://resourceinsights.blogspot.com/) to talk about peak oil and energy scarcity. CEG also hosted Mr. Mark Bauer of Bauer Power (http://www.bauerpower.com/), for both an assessment of renewable energy potential on Kalamazoo College’s campus as well as to talk with members of the campus community about the current economics of renewable energy. Also, developed and distributed information packets regarding energy FAQ and quick facts about U.S. and global energy policy/ issues.
Energy Use and Climate Change- Facilitated a “dynamic dialogue” on energy topics using the methods of Augusto Boal (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augusto_Boal), hosted by theater professor Kevin Dodd. Theater games were used to broach touchy subjects, e.g. climate change legislation and person freedoms. Also, members of CEG went around campus with a thermal camera, weatherstripping windows that would no longer properly seal.
Energy Policy- Hosted Mr. Robert Kruse of General Motors Corp. to talk about the Chevy Volt. Mr. Kruse is GM’s executive director of global vehicle engineering for hybrids, electric vehicles, and batteries. A Q&A session followed a presentation on the vehicle’s innovative technology and engineering. Also, held a public showing of “Planet Earth: Ice Worlds”, as presented by the BBC/ Discovery Channel, to raise awareness of the beauty of and threat to the polar regions of Earth through continued use of fossil-fuel energy sources.
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: Took part in “Trayless Tuesday” campaign during Winter academic quarter, successfully implementing a no-tray-default policy in the school’s cafeteria (i.e., trays were made available only upon request, not immediately upon entering the cafeteria).
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:
Helping Understand Bikes (HUB): Bike co-op; borrowing and repair
Digging in Renewable Turf (DIRT): Campus organic garden
Environmental Organization (EnvOrg): Environmental activism/ advocacy/ education group.
Farms2K: Advocates for local farming and incorporating local food into the college’s cafeteria.
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
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Name: Amanda Lawrence
Position (in student organization): Member
Date survey submitted: July 21, 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Helping Understand Bikes
Number of active members:12
Website: https://reason.kzoo.edu/recycling/thebatcave/helpingunderstandbikes/
Date of last meeting: Thursday July 16
Frequency of meetings: Changes between school season and summer. In the summer, bi-weekly or more.
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: Bike safety (by renting locks, helmets, and and trying to find funding for lights to rent out with each bike); bike awareness (began heavily publicizing group trips to the Farmer's Market every Saturday as well as working with groups like Wilderness Spirituality and Kzoo Outdoors Club for weekend trips), accessibility (by creating maps of bike paths in the county, bike racks around campus, and HUB locations).
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008: For the most recent semester, the bike rental program was functioning at full capacity during 8 of the 10 weeks and the HUB sponsored trips were very successful.
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS
2) Does your group organize any sustainability challenges/competitions for your campus and/or with other colleges?
[X ] Not yet but planning on it for the upcoming year.
SUSTAINABILITY IN STUDENT GOVERNMENT
3) Does your student government include a specific position or committee dedicated to campus sustainability issues?
[ X] No
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
-Sustainability Living Learning House Unit:7-8 students each year (myself in 2008) dedicate themselves to trying to live in the most sustainable way possible (i.e. buying food in bulk sizes from local farm CSA's and becoming involved in the local grocery co-op, giving workshops on how to winter-proof a house, bridging social networks from the sustainable-minded community onto the College campus, conserving water use, conserving electricity use, etc.). Beyond living the idea, the house is obligated to educate the campus throughout the year, and many times expand educational programs to connect with younger students in the nearby Woodward Elementary School.
-Radical Education Coalition: Myself and Elizabeth Chiaravalli started this group with the intention of increasing awareness on campus of personal accountability for creating a new sustainable way of life. Practically, this means expanding and personalizing the ideas that other groups like the Sustainability LLU or EnvOrg introduce to campus towards a point of awareness that makes sustainability conscious lifestyle choices preferable to all the other alternatives.
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:
EnvOrg-hosts events to rally all the sustainability-minded organizations
DIRT-organic garden. Ben Cooper k06bc02@kzoo.edu
HUB-Bike co-op. Ben Buckley k06bc02@kzoo.edu; Claire Bopp, Rob Townsend.
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
Kalamazoo Bike Club (HUB)
City of Kalamazoo (HUB)
Meristem Co-op, Gibb's House, Fletcher Co-op (Sustainability LLU)
People's Food Co-op (Sustainability LLU)
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Name: Ellen Smith
Position (in student organization): Secretary, 2008-2009
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: EnvOrg
Number of active members: about 20
Website: https://reason.kzoo.edu/envorg/
Date of last meeting: 5/26/2009
Frequency of meetings: once a week
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
In collaboration with other student organizations, EnvOrg ran a campaign to institute a trayless cafeteria in order to save water and energy.
EnvOrg hosts speakers and events (often in collaboration with academic departments and/or other StuOrgs) aimed at educating the campus on local, national, and global environmental issues. We try to translate education into some kind of action at every event.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
K's cafeteria officially went trayless in spring of 2009.
In the fall, we hosted a panel on environmental issues in play in the 2008 election, featuring representatives from: the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council, the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, and the League of Conservation Voters.
In the winter, EnvOrg and the English Department cosponsored an event on CAFOs with author Janet Kauffman.
In the spring, with the help of many student organizations and academic departments, EnvOrg brought environmental and Native American land rights activist Dune Lankard to speak about environmental activism, social entrepreneurship, and environmental justice issues. Also in the spring, EnvOrg cohosted David Cooper's Mountaintop Removal Roadshow on mountaintop removal coal mining in Appalachia with the K Democrats.
SUSTAINABILITY CHALLENGES AND COMPETITIONS
2) Does your group organize any sustainability challenges/competitions for your campus and/or with other colleges? (Sidenote: EnvOrg generally assists with the annual energy reduction competition (ie, last year we organized Do It In The Dark Week, I think a few of us helped out with the Energy Sting competition this year. But we don't specifically host an annual competition, so I answered no.)
[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: In winter of 2008 EnvOrg ran a campaign against bottled water and committed the college to end the sale of bottled water at the bookstore and the distribution of bottled water at graduation and in the admissions office.
Each year, EnvOrg hosts two festivals dedicated to promoting and celebrating sustainability: Fall Fest and Earth Fest (at the end of Earth Week). Each festival includes student organizations, local environmental organizations, local food, and local bands.
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: CEG, Farms 2 K, Sustainability Guild, HUB, DIRT, Sustainability House
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): Though EnvOrg is an independent organization, we often work with off campus groups to allow us to bring better events to campus. In November, 8 EnvOrg members attended the Great Lakes Bioneers Conference in Traverse City. In February EnvOrg leaders helped organize 30 students to attend Powershift09 in Washington, D.C. We have also worked with Focus the Nation, Campus Progress, the Think Outside the Bottle campaign (part of Corporate Accountability International), Greenpeace, and several local organizations.
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