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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: Ann Marie Polaneczky
Position (in student organization): President
Date survey submitted: July 7, 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role
Name of organization: Engineers Without Borders (EWB) - Northeastern University Chapter
Number of active members: 15
Website: www.ewb.neu.edu
Date of last meeting: 7-6-09
Frequency of meetings: 1 Weekly General Meeting, 4 weekly committee meetings
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: Apply engineering principles in a sustainable way in developing countries.
Engineers Without Borders NU Chapter is part of Engineers Without Borders– USA, the mission of which is to support community-driven development programs worldwide through the design and implementation of sustainable engineering projects, while fostering responsible leadership.
The EWB NU Chapter has made progress on each issue/program since August 2008: Designed and implemented a sustainable water distribution system in El Chaguite, Honduras, and recently began design on sustainable water system in Bbanda, Uganda.
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: Sustainability Director, Student Government Association
The Director of Sustainable Initiatives will be responsible for addressing student concerns related to sustainable operations of the university. Through this role they will work as the main form of communication between the students and the staff, faculty, and administration on any sustainability related issue. The Director will be tasked with researching other institutions progress as well as creating innovative projects and initiatives that will further the university's commitment to sustainability. By sitting on the three university committees devoted to sustainability, the Director will address student opinions on the university's progress in fulfilling the stipulations to the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
We are currently planning an EWB Regional Conference to be held November 2009 with approximately 200 attendees. This will be Northeastern's first Zero-Waste conference.
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:
Food Advisory Committee: works to enhance services and options within campus dining facilities.
Website unavailable
Contact: Ryan Fox, Coordinator,
Graduate Environmental and Geo-Environmental Students (GEGES): The purpose of this group is to improve the quality of the graduate environmental and geo-environmental experience at Northeastern University. Seminars, workshops, field trips, and other events will be organized to introduce and further the knowledge of various topics in environmental and geo-environmental fields. It will provide a forum for networking with graduate students, faculty, professionals and societies in the environmental and geo-environmental fields and leadership to younger students interested in joining the environmental program.
Website: http://www.coe.neu.edu/environment/NUGEGES/
Contact: Nehreen Majed, President,
Husky Energy Action Team (HEAT)’s mission is to help the university reorient itself towards a more just, healthy, and sustainable future through its operations, practices, awareness, and education. As a student group working towards environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality at Northeastern University, HEAT is part of Campus Climate Challenge (campusclimatechallenge.org), a nationwide coalition of over 500 schools all working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on their campus. By educating and promoting energy saving practices to the Northeastern community while working alongside the administration, HEAT is creating a greener campus.
Websites: http://www.heat.neu.edu/ and http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2222320731, email:
Contact: Dave Charnuska, Executive Director
Northeastern University Vegetarian United – advocacy group that works towards increasing access to vegetarian food campus-wide; no website available; contact Ryan Fox, Food Advisory Group Coordinator
Resident Student Association (RSA) is an advocacy and programming organization that serves as the official liaison between the students living in Northeastern University residence halls and the staff and administration of University offices.
Website: http://www.rsa.neu.edu/wordpress/
Contacts: Matthew Soleyn, Executive Vice President
Students for Environmental Action (SEA) is one of the oldest student groups on campus. Although its mission statement has changed over the years, its main focus has always been raising awareness and making changes on campus. It has been mentioned on Northeastern University’s sustainability report card for the past 2 years as being a source of environmental activities on campus.
Website: http://commugreen.wetpaint.com/page/Students+for+Environmental+Action
Contact: Anderson Page
Student Government Association (SGA) is the student government arm on campus that affects policy and program development.
Website: http://www.sga.neu.edu/
Contact: Jessica Dervin-Ackerman, Sustainability Director and Ryan Fox, President
Question 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):
EWB-USA, EWB-Boston, EWB-Northeast Region, Sustainable Harvest International, Americans Caring Teaching and Sharing, Millenium Campus Network, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE), and the Bachelors of Science in Civil Engineering (BSCE).
____
Name: Nehreen Majed
Position (in student organization): President
Date survey submitted: 06/18/09
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Graduate Environmental and Geo-Environmental Students (GEGES)
Number of active members: 15
Website: http://www.coe.neu.edu/environment/NUGEGES/
Date of last meeting: 04/15/09
Frequency of meetings: Once in 2-3 weeks
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: The purpose of this group is to improve the quality of the graduate environmental and geo-environmental experience at Northeastern University. Seminars, workshops, field trips, and other events will be organized to introduce and further the knowledge of various topics in environmental and geo-environmental fields. It will provide a forum for networking with graduate students, faculty, professionals and societies in the environmental and geo-environmental fields and leadership to younger students interested in joining the environmental program.
Website: http://www.coe.neu.edu/environment/NUGEGES/
Contact: Nehreen Majed, President
Held seminars and professional showcase.
For example, some seminars topics were as follows:
1. "Cushman Farms - Facilitating Energy and Climate Change - Developing and
Expanding a Local, Renewable Energy Resource"
2. “Microorganisms in microfabricated landscape
3. Gyrotaxis in variable shear: the formation of thin phytoplankton layers
Professional showcase was brought to us by Carollo Engineers who showed us an expanded ranges of work opportunity and professional areas
that they dwell with.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
Students’ exposure to professional fields and have a platform to present their own progress.
Students got a chance to interview with two companies’ executives namely Carollo Engineers and Fuss O’Neil Company
Graduate Students from Civil & Environmental Engineering also got opportunity to present their own research and get feedback from fellow students and colleagues. Some presentation titles are as follows:
1. Non linearity in coupled chemical and mechanical processes in natural soils
under electric current
2. Effectiveness of Reactive Mat for Remediation of Contaminated Sediments
3. An overview on Monte Carlo Simulation as a statistical tool
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: Sustainability Director, Student Government Association
The Director of Sustainable Initiatives will be responsible for addressing student concerns related to sustainable operations of the university. Through this role they will work as the main form of communication between the students and the staff, faculty, and administration on any sustainability related issue. The Director will be tasked with researching other institutions progress as well as creating innovative projects and initiatives that will further the university's commitment to sustainability. By sitting on the three university committees devoted to sustainability, the Director will address student opinions on the university's progress in fulfilling the stipulations to the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
Due to unavailability of any kind of funding, no activities or projects outside campus (except for seminars and bringing speakers) were possible.
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:
Engineers Without Borders: Supports community-driven development programs worldwide through the design and implementation of sustainable engineering projects, while fostering responsible leadership. The EWB NU Chapter has made progress on each issue/program since August 2008: Designed and implemented a sustainable water distribution system in El Chaguite, Honduras, and recently began design on sustainable water system in Bbanda, Uganda.
Website: www.ewb.neu.edu
Contact: Ann Marie Polaneczky, President
Food Advisory Committee: works to enhance services and options within campus dining facilities.
Website unavailable
Contact: Ryan Fox, Coordinator
Husky Energy Action Team (HEAT)’s mission is to help the university reorient itself towards a more just, healthy, and sustainable future through its operations, practices, awareness, and education. As a student group working towards environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality at Northeastern University, HEAT is part of Campus Climate Challenge (campusclimatechallenge.org), a nationwide coalition of over 500 schools all working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on their campus. By educating and promoting energy saving practices to the Northeastern community while working alongside the administration, HEAT is creating a greener campus.
Websites: http://www.heat.neu.edu/ and http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2222320731, email: nuheat@gmail.com
Contact: Dave Charnuska, Executive Director
Northeastern University Vegetarian United – advocacy group that works towards increasing access to vegetarian food campus-wide; no website available; contact Ryan Fox, Food Advisory Group Coordinator
Resident Student Association is an advocacy and programming organization that serves as the official liaison between the students living in Northeastern University residence halls and the staff and administration of University offices.
Website: http://www.rsa.neu.edu/wordpress/
Contacts: Matthew Soleyn, Executive Vice President, soleyn.m@neu.edu
Students for Environmental Action (SEA) is one of the oldest student groups on campus. Although its mission statement has changed over the years, its main focus has always been raising awareness and making changes on campus. It has been mentioned on Northeastern University’s sustainability report card for the past 2 years as being a source of environmental activities on campus.
Website: http://commugreen.wetpaint.com/page/Students+for+Environmental+Action
Contact: Anderson Page
Student Government Association is the student government arm on campus that affects policy and program development.
Website: http://www.sga.neu.edu/
Contact: Jessica Dervin-Ackerman, Sustainability Director, and Ryan Fox, President
____
Name: Matthew Soleyn
Position (in student organization): Executive Vice President
Date survey submitted: 7/13/2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Resident Student Association
Number of active members: 85 (fall/spring); 20 (summer)
Website: www.northeastern.edu/rsa
Date of last meeting: July 2, 2009
Frequency of meetings: weekly (fall/spring); bi-weekly (summer)
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
Recycling in residence halls
Energy conservation awareness
Reducing dining waste
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
Bins will be added to halls
Co-sponsored residence hall energy reduction competition
Supported peer composting efforts
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: Do It In the Dark [Co-Sponsored]
Year initiated: 2005
Frequency of competition: yearly
Participants: all resident students
Incentives: prizes
Goal of competition: reduce energy waste/use
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: unknown
Lasting effects of competition: education
Website: N/A
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: Sustainability Director, Student Government Association
The Director of Sustainable Initiatives will be responsible for addressing student concerns related to sustainable operations of the university. Through this role they will work as the main form of communication between the students and the staff, faculty, and administration on any sustainability related issue. The Director will be tasked with researching other institutions progress as well as creating innovative projects and initiatives that will further the university's commitment to sustainability. By sitting on the three university committees devoted to sustainability, the Director will address student opinions on the university's progress in fulfilling the stipulations to the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
We have supported the implementation of high-efficiency washing machines, reducing unneeded lighting, adding recycling bins to each suite on campus, and educating students about the impact they have on the environment
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:
Engineers Without Borders: Supports community-driven development programs worldwide through the design and implementation of sustainable engineering projects, while fostering responsible leadership. The EWB NU Chapter has made progress on each issue/program since August 2008: Designed and implemented a sustainable water distribution system in El Chaguite, Honduras, and recently began design on sustainable water system in Bbanda, Uganda.
Website: www.ewb.neu.edu
Contact: Ann Marie Polaneczky, President
Food Advisory Committee: works to enhance services and options within campus dining facilities.
Website unavailable
Contact: Ryan Fox, Coordinator
Graduate Environmental and Geo-Environmental Students (GEGES): The purpose of this group is to improve the quality of the graduate environmental and geo-environmental experience at Northeastern University. Seminars, workshops, field trips, and other events will be organized to introduce and further the knowledge of various topics in environmental and geo-environmental fields. It will provide a forum for networking with graduate students, faculty, professionals and societies in the environmental and geo-environmental fields and leadership to younger students interested in joining the environmental program.
Website: http://www.coe.neu.edu/environment/NUGEGES/
Contact: Nehreen Majed, President
Husky Energy Action Team (HEAT)’s mission is to help the university reorient itself towards a more just, healthy, and sustainable future through its operations, practices, awareness, and education. As a student group working towards environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality at Northeastern University, HEAT is part of Campus Climate Challenge (campusclimatechallenge.org), a nationwide coalition of over 500 schools all working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on their campus. By educating and promoting energy saving practices to the Northeastern community while working alongside the administration, HEAT is creating a greener campus.
Websites: http://www.heat.neu.edu/ and http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2222320731
Contact: Dave Charnuska, Executive Director
Northeastern University Vegetarian United – advocacy group that works towards increasing access to vegetarian food campus-wide; no website available; contact Ryan Fox, Food Advisory Group Coordinator,
Students for Environmental Action (SEA) is one of the oldest student groups on campus. Although its mission statement has changed over the years, its main focus has always been raising awareness and making changes on campus. It has been mentioned on Northeastern University’s sustainability report card for the past 2 years as being a source of environmental activities on campus.
Website: http://commugreen.wetpaint.com/page/Students+for+Environmental+Action
Contact: Anderson Page
Student Government Association is the student government arm on campus that affects policy and program development.
Website: http://www.sga.neu.edu/
Contact: Jessica Dervin-Ackerman, Sustainability Director and Ryan Fox, President
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):
National Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls
North East Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls
____
Name: Jessica Dervin-Ackerman
Position (in student organization): Senator
Date survey submitted: July 10th, 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Student Government Association
Number of active members: 60
Website: www.sga.neu.edu
Date of last meeting: July 6th, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Weekly during the fall and spring semesters, bi-weekly in the summer.
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
1. Recycling: access and ease of use, expanding materials recycled
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
1. Evaluation of current practices and placement of recycling bins around campus. Established plan to implement pilot program which will color code receptacles depending on content and increase frequency of receptacles. Plan to expand plastic recycling from 1 and 2 plastics to 1-7 plastics by September 2009.
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 Director of Sustainable Initiatives will be responsible for addressing student concerns related to sustainable operations of the university. Through this role they will work as the main form of communication between the students and the staff, faculty, and administration on any sustainability related issue. The Director will be tasked with researching other institutions progress as well as creating innovative projects and initiatives that will further the university's commitment to sustainability. By sitting on the three university committees devoted to sustainability, the Director will address student opinions on the university's progress in fulfilling the stipulations to the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
In a joint effort with Husky Energy Action Team (HEAT), and the Office of Student Affairs, the Student Government Association has been working towards starting a farmers market on the Northeastern Campus which will begin spring 2010.
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:
Engineers Without Borders: Supports community-driven development programs worldwide through the design and implementation of sustainable engineering projects, while fostering responsible leadership. The EWB NU Chapter has made progress on each issue/program since August 2008: Designed and implemented a sustainable water distribution system in El Chaguite, Honduras, and recently began design on sustainable water system in Bbanda, Uganda.
Website: www.ewb.neu.edu
Contact: Ann Marie Polaneczky, President
Food Advisory Committee: works to enhance services and options within campus dining facilities.
Website unavailable
Contact: Ryan Fox, Coordinator
Graduate Environmental and Geo-Environmental Students (GEGES): The purpose of this group is to improve the quality of the graduate environmental and geo-environmental experience at Northeastern University. Seminars, workshops, field trips, and other events will be organized to introduce and further the knowledge of various topics in environmental and geo-environmental fields. It will provide a forum for networking with graduate students, faculty, professionals and societies in the environmental and geo-environmental fields and leadership to younger students interested in joining the environmental program.
Website: http://www.coe.neu.edu/environment/NUGEGES/
Contact: Nehreen Majed, President,
Husky Energy Action Team (HEAT)’s mission is to help the university reorient itself towards a more just, healthy, and sustainable future through its operations, practices, awareness, and education. As a student group working towards environmental sustainability and carbon neutrality at Northeastern University, HEAT is part of Campus Climate Challenge (campusclimatechallenge.org), a nationwide coalition of over 500 schools all working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions on their campus. By educating and promoting energy saving practices to the Northeastern community while working alongside the administration, HEAT is creating a greener campus.
Websites: http://www.heat.neu.edu/ and http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2222320731,
Contact: Dave Charnuska, Executive Director,
Northeastern University Vegetarian United – advocacy group that works towards increasing access to vegetarian food campus-wide; no website available; contact Ryan Fox, Food Advisory Group Coordinator
Resident Student Association is an advocacy and programming organization that serves as the official liaison between the students living in Northeastern University residence halls and the staff and administration of University offices.
Website: http://www.rsa.neu.edu/wordpress/
Contacts: Matthew Soleyn, Executive Vice President,
Students for Environmental Action (SEA) is one of the oldest student groups on campus. Although its mission statement has changed over the years, its main focus has always been raising awareness and making changes on campus. It has been mentioned on Northeastern University’s sustainability report card for the past 2 years as being a source of environmental activities on campus.
Website: http://commugreen.wetpaint.com/page/Students+for+Environmental+Action
Contact: Anderson Page
____
Name: Alyssa Pandolfi
Position (in student organization): Director of Policy
Date survey submitted: 7/9/2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Husky Energy Action Team (HEAT)
Number of active members: There are approximately 50 people who consistently attend the general HEAT meetings during the Fall and Spring terms. During the summer, there are about 15-20 members because not everyone remains on campus for the summer terms.
Website: www.heat.neu.edu
Date of last meeting: 7/8/2009
Frequency of meetings: In the summer, our Directors meet every week while our general meetings our held every other week. During the Fall and Spring semesters, Directors' meetings and general meetings occur on a weekly basis. Also in the Fall and Spring terms, sub-committees are led by Directors on a weekly basis to expedite event organization and other interests specific to that Director.
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
- During the 2007-2008 school year, HEAT worked to establish a Student-Generated Renewable Energy Fund. HEAT proposed an opt-out $30 fee per year per student, which would be collected in increments of $10 per fall and spring semesters and $5 per summer semester. The money collected through the fund would be allocated to renewable energy projects on and off campus. Throughout the fall of 2007 and spring of 2008 HEAT campaigned for the opt-out fee and surveyed students to get an opinion from the student body. With overwhelming positive results from the surveys, HEAT took the next step and worked with the Student Government Association and the Resident Student Association to draft legislation. Both organizations passed the legislation and the fee was voted on by the Board of Trustees in June 2008. HEAT also actively worked to get the administration to match the money collected from the students as well as allow alumni to donate to the fund.
- Working to make Northeastern’s Dining Services more sustainable.
- Working with Northeastern Administration to move towards the actions and steps outlined by the ACUPCC to move towards climate neutrality.
- Establishing an on-campus Farmer’s Market
- Hosting Trash to Treasure
- Hosting Do it in the Dark
- Hosting Renewable Energy Week
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
1. Since the Board of Trustees did not vote the Renewable Energy Fund as an opt-out fee, HEAT is currently working to make the fund opt-out. As an opt-in fee, students have the option of paying the Renewable Energy Fund and must log onto the Northeastern University payment system to contribute to the fund. If the Renewable Energy Fund were an opt-out fee, students would be automatically billed for the fund unless they went into their bill and selected not to pay it. In an effort to encourage students to donate money to the fund, HEAT passed out certified organic, locally printed t-shirts that said “I [windmill] NU” (which plays off of the “I [heart] NY” t-shirts) on the front and had information about the Renewable Energy Fund on the back.
2. HEAT has been working with the Food Advisory Board (FAB) and Northeastern’s Dining Services to make the on-campus Dining Halls more sustainable. For example, since HEAT has been working with the FAB, more local and organic produce has been purchased for use in the Dining Halls. Also, vegetarian and vegan options have been expanded. To control the amount of napkins wasted in the Dining halls, new napkin holders that only allow a user to take one napkin at time have been added to the Dining Halls. Other changes include purchasing more compostable products (such as cups and cutlery produced by Ecotainer) and working with students and Dining Hall staff to make sure that composting is taking place efficiently. Also, in an attempt to reduce water usage and consumption of harmful chemical cleaners/detergents, HEAT and some members of the FAB have been campaigning to remove trays from the Dining Halls. After the annual Food Preferences Survey went out in spring of 2009 with a question asking students for their opinion on the question, it was found that approximately 80% of the student body supported Northeastern going “trayless.” However, Northeastern Administration and student groups have taken no actions yet on removing trays and are trying to ensure that if a decision is made it does not compromise the needs of either side of the “trayless” debate. For now, efforts are being made to reduce the amount of trays being used by students.
3. With the establishment of student positions held by HEAT members on the Executive Sustainability Committee, the Sustainability Sub-Committee, and the Sustainability in Academics Committee, HEAT is helping contribute ideas to and receive ideas from Northeastern staff regarding the requirements of the ACUPCC. This relationship between Northeastern staff and students has been very beneficial in the exchange of ideas and progress of sustainable initiatives.
4. HEAT is working towards establishing an on-campus Farmers’ Market that will bring local, organic produce and other products to the students, staff, faculty, and community members of Northeastern University. The Farmers’ Market has been approved by Northeastern Administration and is being overseen by the Office of Student Affairs. It will most likely be permanently established in the spring of 2010 and take place on a weekly basis. For now, HEAT is working on contacting local and organic vendors (i.e. produce vendors, bakeries, specialty vendors, etc.) and inviting them to take part in the market.
5. For the first time, HEAT is hosting Trash to Treasure (T2T). During the spring move-out of 2009, HEAT members worked with the moving bin collectors on move-out days to collect unwanted items from students who were moving out. If students were moving out and no longer wanted to keep something (i.e. non-perishable food, televisions, clothing, shoes, electronics, appliances, etc), rather than throwing it out, all they had to do was leave the item in their move-out bin and HEAT members would take the item (as long as it was in working, adequate condition). In the fall of 2009 during “Welcome Week” for Northeastern students, HEAT will host a sale of all of the goods that were collected in the spring. All of the proceeds (after costs of operation are taken into account) will be donated to a decided upon charity.
6. Do it in the Dark (DIITD) is an annual three-week long competition that takes place between all on-campus residence halls. Every year, HEAT invites speakers and performers such as David Schlosberg and Bill Nye the Science Guy to campus to help promote student participation in DIITD. Also, films with energy and environmental themes (i.e. “Everything’s Cool,” “A Delicate Balance,” and “The Greening of Southie”) are shown throughout the competition. In the next section (“Sustainability Challenges and Competitions”), Do it in the Dark is more fully explained.
7. Renewable Energy Week took place during the fall of 2008. For each day of the week, a different form of renewable energy was examined and discussed:
- Monday, Wind Power: Clean Power Now, a grassroots group that educates and empowers citizens to support viable renewable energy projects, showed a movie on wind power and discussed the Cape Wind project. There was also a Q&A session about wind power with the presenters.
- Tuesday, Geothermal: Members of HEAT described the basic in and outs of geothermal energy.
- Wednesday, Solar: Solar Fenway, a volunteer committee made up of Fenway residents committed to bringing solar installations to those in the Fenway community, showed a screening of "Solar Energy: Saved By the Sun" and did a Q&A about solar technologies
- Thursday: HEAT showed "A Crude Awakening: The Oil Crash", winner of 7 International Film Festivals.
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: Do it in the Dark
Year initiated: Spring 2007
Frequency of competition: Annually
Participants: All students who live in Northeastern residence halls
Incentives: To reduce energy consumption by employing energy-reducing strategies.
Goal of competition: The competition takes place between students living in all the on-campus residence halls. Whichever hall reduces their energy consumption by the greatest percent after three weeks is declared the winner. Facilities monitors the electricity being used by each residence hall and reports the results to HEAT.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: The reductions of each dorm for the Spring 2009 competition can be viewed on the website provided below. The amount of reduction ranges between 6.67% and 26.63%. Despite variances in amount, every dorm showed some reduction in energy consumption.
Lasting effects of competition: Students who participate in the competition learn everday practices that reduce the consumption of energy. For the 2009-2010 school year, HEAT is going to host DIITD in the fall rather than the spring so that students learn energy saving practices early on and then use them throughout the entire year.
Website: http://www.heat.neu.edu/events/full/57
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: Sustainability Director, Student Government Association
The Director of Sustainable Initiatives will be responsible for addressing student concerns related to sustainable operations of the university. Through this role they will work as the main form of communication between the students and the staff, faculty, and administration on any sustainability related issue. The Director will be tasked with researching other institutions progress as well as creating innovative projects and initiatives that will further the university's commitment to sustainability. By sitting on the three university committees devoted to sustainability, the Director will address student opinions on the university's progress in fulfilling the stipulations to the American College & University Presidents' Climate Commitment.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
All projects are listed above.
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:
Engineers Without Borders: Supports community-driven development programs worldwide through the design and implementation of sustainable engineering projects, while fostering responsible leadership. The EWB NU Chapter has made progress on each issue/program since August 2008: Designed and implemented a sustainable water distribution system in El Chaguite, Honduras, and recently began design on sustainable water system in Bbanda, Uganda.
Website: www.ewb.neu.edu
Contact: Ann Marie Polaneczky, President
Food Advisory Committee: works to enhance services and options within campus dining facilities.
Website unavailable
Contact: Ryan Fox, Coordinator,
Graduate Environmental and Geo-Environmental Students (GEGES): The purpose of this group is to improve the quality of the graduate environmental and geo-environmental experience at Northeastern University. Seminars, workshops, field trips, and other events will be organized to introduce and further the knowledge of various topics in environmental and geo-environmental fields. It will provide a forum for networking with graduate students, faculty, professionals and societies in the environmental and geo-environmental fields and leadership to younger students interested in joining the environmental program.
Website: http://www.coe.neu.edu/environment/NUGEGES/
Contact: Nehreen Majed, President,
Northeastern University Vegetarian United – advocacy group that works towards increasing access to vegetarian food campus-wide; no website available; contact Ryan Fox, Food Advisory Group Coordinator,
Resident Student Association (RSA) is an advocacy and programming organization that serves as the official liaison between the students living in Northeastern University residence halls and the staff and administration of University offices.
Website: http://www.rsa.neu.edu/wordpress/
Contacts: Matthew Soleyn, Executive Vice President,
Students for Environmental Action (SEA) is one of the oldest student groups on campus. Although its mission statement has changed over the years, its main focus has always been raising awareness and making changes on campus. It has been mentioned on Northeastern University’s sustainability report card for the past 2 years as being a source of environmental activities on campus.
Website: http://commugreen.wetpaint.com/page/Students+for+Environmental+Action
Contact: Anderson Page
Student Government Association (SGA) is the student government arm on campus that affects policy and program development.
Website: http://www.sga.neu.edu/
Contact: Jessica Dervin-Ackerman, Sustainability Director and Ryan Fox, President,
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
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