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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: Erin Dame, Molly Shea
Position (in student organization): President, member
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: Sierra Student Coalition
Number of active members: 35
Website: www.oussc.org
Date of last meeting: June 1, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Weekly
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
The Sierra Student Coalition at Ohio University has taken on many programs and issues in the past year including: Power Vote, Power Shift, Mountain Fest, Rooftop Community Gardens, Sustainable Living Retreats (3), Earth Month, Green Jobs Day of Action, Green Market, and various lectures and movies that address sustainability.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
OU SSC achieved the second most Power Vote pledges signed in the country, reaching more the 4,000 students. Active participants in SSC also increased significantly during the Power Vote campaign, topping out at around 65 volunteers. In addition to Power Vote, SSC was able to recruit over 50 Ohio University students to attend Power Shift 2009, joining more than 10,000 youth in Washington, DC.
OUSSC organized three “Sustainable Living” trips throughout the year, hosting one each quarter. Each trip involved 20 students participating in a weekend-long adventure in sustainable living, hosted in West Virginia.
OU SSC partnered with the Office of Sustainability at Ohio University to develop programming for Earth Month 2009 (April). Programs sponsored by OUSSC included: Creation Care Lecture with J. Matthew Sleeth, M.D. and Nancy Sleeth, a benefit concert, and the Conveniently Green Market. During Earth Week and Mountain Fest (a weekend dedicated to raising awareness about mountaintop removal and other environmental issues), over $1,000 was raised and donated to Ohio Student Environmental Coalition (OSEC) and OU SSC. OSEC is a statewide network for student environmental groups, largely focusing on clean energy issues. OU SSC partnered with community organization, such as Community Food Initiatives (CFI) and the Athens City Council, to work towards creating the first handicapped accessible, rooftop vegetable gardens in Athens, on top of a parking garage uptown. While this project has not yet been fully realized, it is still underway.
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.
Name of competition: Power Vote
Year initiated: 2008
Frequency of competition: Annual
Participants: 4,056
Incentives: None.
Goal of competition: To empower the youth vote on the Ohio University campus to vote for a clean energy future.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: N/A
Lasting effects of competition: Increased participation in Ohio University’s SSC, added to the 341,127 pledges from across the country, bringing attention to clean energy issues in Athens.
Website: www.powervote.org
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:
As of this upcoming year, the Ohio University Student Senate has added the position Environment Director. This position will serve on the President's Ecology and Energy Conservation (EEC) Committee and will further sustainable projects in the OU and Athens communities.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
Mountain Fest is one of the biggest and most popular annual events bottom lined by OU SSC. This weekend-long event raises awareness about coal issues, particularly mountaintop removal. In addition, each year all proceeds go towards fighting coal issues. In past years, proceeds were donated to Keepers of the Mountains, Meigs CAN, and Ohio Student Environmental Coalition. Over $2,000 has been raised and donated.
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:
Please see remaining pages of this report.
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):
Energy Action Coalition
Campus Climate Change
Sierra Club
Ohio Student Environmental Coalition
Keepers of the Mountains
Meigs Citizens Action Now (Meigs CAN)!
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Name: Katherine Bercik
Position (in student organization): President/Editor
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: College Green
Number of active members: 25-30
Website: collegegreenmag.wordpress.com
Date of last meeting: May 26, 2009
Frequency of meetings: All-Staff meetings bi-weekly, each section staff meets weekly
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008: College Green is an independent media source at Ohio University that will strive to present interesting and necessary information about the environmental news within the region. We hope to serve the purpose of providing a forum for discussion and for informing the public.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008: The web site is up and running.
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.
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:
As of this upcoming year, the Ohio University Student Senate has added the position Environment Director. This position will serve on the President's Ecology and Energy Conservation (EEC) Committee and will further sustainable projects in the OU and Athens communities.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
None so far. We plan to host fundraisers that will help educate participants about environmental issues. These activities would include seed planting, green markets, etc.
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:
Please see remaining pages of this report.
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):
We are trying to serve as an independent media organization and are not affiliated with any other organizations.
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Name: R. Josh Herzer
Position (in student organization): President
Date survey submitted: July 5, 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1)Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: OU Real Food
Number of active members: 15
Website: http://companies.to/ourealfood/
Date of last meeting: May 20, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Monthly
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
Establishing the group in order to work towards sustainable dining services at Ohio University.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
The Group was established, and now has 15 active members. In the future, we hope to work with the university and community to provide healthy and sustainable food in our dinning halls, as well as raise awareness regarding our complex food system.
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.
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:
As of this upcoming year, the Ohio University Student Senate has added the position Environment Director. This position will serve on the President's Ecology and Energy Conservation (EEC) Committee and will further sustainable projects in the OU and Athens communities.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4)Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
N/A at this time.
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:
Please see remaining pages of this report.
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):
The Real Food Challenge, www.realfoodchallenge.org
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Name: Molly Shea
Position (in student organization): Founding Member
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: Greeks Going Green (Ohio University Student Senate)
Number of active members: 10
Website: www.tinyurl.com/OUGreeksGoingGreen
Date of last meeting: May 24, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Weekly
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
Greeks Going Green was developed by the Off-Campus Living Commission and the University Life Commission of Student Senate. The Ohio University Student Senate, Greek Life, and the Green Network teamed together to develop, implement, and fund this project with the help of Vision OHIO. The aim of this project is to work with Greek Life on Ohio University’s campus to promote sustainable living habits and energy efficient practices within the Greek chapter housing.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
Three phases were developed in order to achieve the goals of Greeks Going Green; Evaluate, Educate, and Challenge. During the evaluation phase, Greeks Going Green organizers worked with the Women’s Pan-Hellenic Association (WPA), the Interfraternity Council (IFC), and the National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) to reach out to all campus fraternities and sororities. Organizers developed an audit on the house, based on a walking tour of each chapter house that looked at sustainable practices. Some of these practices included lighting features, types of dishware, refuse and recycling facilities, and water conservation practices in restrooms. Individual audits were also distributed to all house members that measured individual habits of participations including transportation habits, shower length and personal electronic use. These audits provided a quantifiable and qualitative level of each chapter’s sustainability efforts.
Step two, Educate, took place during winter quarter to present the findings of the sustainability audits and to present ways of living more sustainably. The web address listed above is for an invitation to this event. The program featured an interactive presentation by members of Student Senate and the Office of Sustainability, including reusable Greeks Going Green water bottles for participating crowd members. The event was a mandatory Wellness Event for WPA chapters and a mandatory Community Service Event for IFC and NPHS members. Over 250 Greek Life members joined for the night of sustainability.
the last stage, Challenge, took place during Earth Month. This phase challenged Greek Life Chapters to compete for the title of “Most Green” by demonstrating the highest energy and water savings as well as participation in Earth Month events. Chapters were awarded points based on energy and water reading reductions, and by the number of participants that went to Earth Month activities, including the Greeks Going Green Zero Waste Cook Out, the Athens Farmers Market, and speakers such as Andy Revkin.
The winning Chapter, Delta Gama, received the title of ‘most green’ during Greek Week activities and received a green house package, including CFL’s, smart strip surge protectors, reusable dishes and grocery bags, and a water filer and water bottles.
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.
Name of competition: Greeks Going Green
Year initiated: 2008
Frequency of competition: Annual
Participants: Student Senate, Greek Life, and Green Network
Incentives: Most Green title during Greek Week and a green home package
Goal of competition: lower utility usage of the Greek Community and encourage sustainable living practices
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: Not sure, cannot find final results
Lasting effects of competition: Continuation of the program in future years and increased awareness of sustainable living habits among Greek Community.
Website: www.tinyurl.com/OUGreeksGoingGreen
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:
As of this upcoming year, the Ohio University Student Senate has added the position Environment Director. This position will serve on the President's Ecology and Energy Conservation (EEC) Committee and will further sustainable projects in the OU and Athens communities.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
N/A
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:
Please see remaining pages of this report.
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):
N/A
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Name: Molly Shea
Position (in student organization): Member
Date survey submitted: July 2, 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
** NOTE: The Green Network is primarily a student organization, but faculty and staff are also welcome and encouraged to participate. The Office of Sustainability coordinates all the meetings and projects.
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: The Green Network
Number of active members: 15-20
Website: http://www.ohio.edu/sustainability/greennetwork.htm
Date of last meeting: June 2, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Bi-Weekly
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
Reusable Bag Campaign, Graduation Trees, Earth Month, Residence Challenge, Paw Paw Express, and Compost Education.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
The Green Network has participated in many projects within the past year. A majority of these projects were not bottom lined by the Green Network (the Office of Sustainability usually coordinated the projects), though members were integrally involved in brainstorming and implementing many projects. Green Network members volunteered as drivers for the Paw Paw Express in the fall, a free shuttle from campus to the annual Paw Paw Festival. Members also volunteered during the Residence Challenge to exchange CFL’s for incandescent in dorm storms. In addition, Green Network members have helped with the Compost Education campaign during winter and spring quarters, helping students in the student center sort waste appropriately, in preparation for the in-vessel composting system.
The Green Network also developed two programs this past year. The Graduation Trees program involved digging up tress from college green, on Ohio University’s campus, and selling them during graduation weekend. The trees were accompanied with how to plant information, carbon emission reduction associated with planting a tree, and the phrase “So enter that daily thou mayest GROW in knowledge, wisdom, and love” as is cited on college gate on campus. The Graduation Trees raised $220 to be used for later Green Network ventures.
In addition, the Green Network developed and implemented a Reusable Bag Campaign, to involve on campus markets with selling reusable bags. Working with Dining Services, the Green Network designed, with the help of the Office of Sustainability, ‘Bobcats Heart Earth’ bags and purchased the bags. They will be in markets across campus beginning in the Fall of 2009. Additional advertisements, such as a raffle of sustainable goods from the markets for purchasing a bag and reminders to bring you bag to the market in residence halls, will also take place in the fall to encourage the use of reusable versus disposable bags.
The Green Network has also helped organize and promote RecycleMania on campus, particularly helping the Office of Sustainability organize and implement the 2nd Annual Trash Dance. This mock prom encourages participants to make clothes out of ‘trash’ while promoting RecycleMania.
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: Residence Challenge
Year initiated: 2001
Frequency of competition: Annual
Participants: Office of Sustainability, Green Network, EcoReps, Residence Life, Facilities, and all on-campus residents (over 7,000 students).
Incentives: A trip to Cedar Point for winning residence hall (number of tickets based on tons of CO2 avoided).
Goal of competition: Reduce energy consumption in residence halls on campus
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: In 2009, the winning dorm on West Green saved 13.4% on energy use, East Greens top dorm saved 16.8%, and East Greens top dorm saved 17.8%. The competition saved a total of 261 tons of CO2 over the 7 week competition, resulting in 218 total tickets awarded to Cedar Point.
Lasting effects of competition: Raise awareness about saving energy and reducing emission, and potentially continued reductions throughout the year.
Website: http://www.ohio.edu/sustainability/ResChallenge2009.htm
#2 - Name of competition: Residence Challenge
Year initiated: 2001
Frequency of competition: Annual
Participants: Recycling Center, Office of Sustainability, Green Network, EcoReps, Residence Life, Facilities, and all students, faculty and staff.
Incentives: None.
Goal of competition: Increase waste diversion through recycling.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: In 2009, over 348,000 lbs of recyclables were diverted from the landfill during the 10 week competition.
Lasting effects of competition: Raise awareness about recycling and waste diversion on campus.
Website: http://www.recyclemaniacs.org/university_detail08.asp?ID=2606
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:
As of this upcoming year, the Ohio University Student Senate has added the position Environment Director. This position will serve on the President's Ecology and Energy Conservation (EEC) Committee and will further sustainable projects in the OU and Athens communities.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
All 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:
Other student run organizations will be addressed in other forms. However, some non-student run organizations that often include student involvement on sustainability issues is the Dinning Services Development Committee (http://www.facilities.ohiou.edu/food/extsrvs_dsdc.htm) and the President’s Advisory Council on Sustainability (http://www.ohio.edu/sustainability/attention_students.htm).
The Dining Services Development Committee meets bi-weekly, and includes Dining Services Staff and any interested students. Students often join in conversations about sustainability, including vegetarian/vegan meal availability and local foods. The President’s Advisory Council on Sustainability is a newly formed council, designed to create a comprehensive sustainability plan by the fall of 2010 in accordance with Vision OHIO and the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment. Three students are members of this committee and participate in the planning process. Monthly meetings started in July, 2009.
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 directly, but often work with students who are involved in other organizations, including ones that have national networks (OU SSC etc).
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Name: Courtney Denning
Position (in student organization): President/Founder
Date survey submitted: July 6, 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: ReLeaf for OHIO
Number of active members: ~ 75 members on e-mail list, 87 members on Facebook group
Website: http://releaf-treeblog.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=2313049615&ref=ts
Date of last meeting: 6-25-09 (last group e-mail)
Frequency of meetings: Very infrequent (use e-mail/facebook as main source of communication)
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
Organizing a tree planting for students and community members.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
Have begun fundraising for money to purchase trees.
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.
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:
As of this upcoming year, the Ohio University Student Senate has added the position Environment Director. This position will serve on the President's Ecology and Energy Conservation (EEC) Committee and will further sustainable projects in the OU and Athens communities.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
ReLeaf has organized two previous tree plantings, one along US State Rt 33, the other along 682 near the Richland Ave bridge. ReLeaf has also held three bake sales as fundraising events, the proceeds of the first benefiting the Nature Conservancy's Plant a Billion Trees Campaign (http://www.plantabillion.org/). We have also co-organized events related to trees or the environment, including growing plants for a free craft event involving decorating pots as part of OU's Earth Month celebration and a musical event with the group Esta! to celebrate Tu b’Shevat. Our group's Facebook page serves as an area for members to post information about other tree plantings, invasive plant pulls or native plant rescues. We rarely have meetings in person, utilizing e-mails and Facebook to communicate.
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:
Please see remaining pages of this report.
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):
ReLeaf for OHIO has donated funds to the Nature Conservancy and has registered planted trees with the United Nations Plant a Billion Trees campaign as part of the Plant for the Planet Environment Programme.
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Name: Molly Shea
Position (in student organization): Member
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: Rev-AMP
Number of active members: 10
Website: none, www.tinyurl.com/stopAMP (related, but not official Rev-AMP website)
Date of last meeting: May 24, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Weekly
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
Rev-AMP (Reversing AMP) is a student and community organization working to prevent the implementation of the American Municipal Power plant scheduled to be begin construction in late fall, 2009 in Meigs County. Rev-AMP works with Meigs CAN (Meigs Citizen Action Now!), OSEC (Ohio Student Environmental Coalition), the Sierra Coalition, Athens SDS (Students for a Democratic Society), Ohio University students, and Southeastern Ohio community members to prevent the fifth coal plant in an 11.5 mile radius in SE Ohio.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
Since the formation of the group, during the winter of 2009, the group has built membership and connections with other organizations. A letter writing campaign has been initiated, to develop a relationship with the AMP plant committee chair and work with him to prevent the construction of this plant. Weekly letters are being sent by Rev-AMP members. In addition, Rev-AMP members, along with Meigs CAN members and Sierra Coalition employees, participated in the June 2 EPA permit hearing in Racine, Ohio. Many members voiced concerns about the plant and the social and environmental implications.
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.
3) Does your student government include a specific position or committee dedicated to campus sustainability issues?
[ ] No
[X] Yes. Please describe:
As of this upcoming year, the Ohio University Student Senate has added the position Environment Director. This position will serve on the President's Ecology and Energy Conservation (EEC) Committee and will further sustainable projects in the OU and Athens communities.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
N/A
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:
Please see remaining pages of this report.
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):
Meigs CAN (Meigs Citizen Action Now), Sierra Coalition, OSEC (Ohio Student Environmental Coaliton), and Athens SDS (Students for a Democratic Society).
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Name: Donna Jennings
Position (in student organization): President
Date survey submitted: 7/22/09
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: OUZ Green Bobcats
Number of active members: 8
Website: www.greenbobcats.webs.com
Date of last meeting: May 25, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Weekly
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
OUZ (Ohio University Zanesville) Green Bobcats works to create a more sustainable campus and community, by raising awareness through the involvement of students, and other university and community members.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
This year, OUZ Green Bobcats bottom lined the initiative to involve OU Zanesville in Recycle Mania. This program involved all 1,500 students and employees of OUZ resulting in the diverting over 11 tons of recyclables during the ten week competition, placing higher than both Ohio University Main Campus and Ohio State University.
In addition, Green Bobcats participated in their second year of adopt-a-highway, adopting Newark Rd. They also had 5 people participate in a ‘clean up walking trails’ work day at Dillon State Park, in early October.
Green Bobcats have also been instrumental in the organization of several community forums on sustainability. Approximately 10 people participated in the town hall style meeting on clean energy and creating a sustainable community and also worked on the Global Warming Q&A, with about 30 participants, featuring professors to answer questions from community members about global warming. In addition, Green Bobcats assisted Zanesville Mayor Zwelling in a forum called ‘Community Roundtable for Green Industries on May 16, 2009. Over 70 people participated in the forum, including community organizations and green businesses in the area.
Green Bobcats have also worked to lobby elected officials, particularly Congressman Zach Space, to vote yes on ACES (American Clean Energy & Security Act). Working with Repower America and Environment Ohio, Green Bobcats were able to mobilize over 700 signatures on a petition, facilitate 300 phone calls, and encourage 250-400 letters. In addition, Green Bobcats was able to deliver information packets to the office of Congressman Space every day for two weeks. Congressman Space voted yes on the bill, and it passed through the senate.
OUZ Green Bobcats are also currently working towards creating a Muskingum County Student Coalition, combining the three colleges in the area (Muskingum College, Zane State College, and OU Zanesville) in order to foster relationships and work together in order to have comparable resources as larger universities. The Green Bobcats also have an interest in working with the local school system to create sustainability awareness, and have already gone to a kindergarten classroom as well as a high school classroom, reaching over 50 students so far. In addition, the Green Bobcats hope to involve High School students, particularly from the Fox Fire Alternative School, to encourage sustainable living habits and ‘teach them to dream.’ Already, Green Bobcats has worked with the principal in order to allow students to use working with Green Bobcats to count as community service credits. Green Bobcats will be working with students to help create their own student organization and hopes to encourage more students to seek addition education after high school.
In addition, OUZ Green Bobcats was able to send 4 participants to Power Shift 2009, including two from OUZ, 1 from Fire Fox, and another OUZ student hopeful. The Green Bobcats were able to fundraise and use university funds in order to cover most costs of the trip, and were able to network with other student organization from across the country.
The Green Bobcats are also in the planning stage to access an empty building on campus to be used as a space to encourage sustainability initiatives on campus. The goal is to try to encompass different disciplines, including the science departments and organizations. The first goal is to implement an experiment between production solar panels and homemade panels to see if they are comparable, then potentially teach community members to make their own solar panels. In addition, using the space as an area to host additional workshops for children is a goal.
The community at large has been particularly supportive of OUZ Green Bobcats, and in particular the University Dean, James Fonseca and the Green Bobcats advisor, Al-Saghir has been a great asset and supporter of Green Bobcats.
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: RecyleMania
Year initiated: 2009
Frequency of competition: 1st year
Participants: all campus-1,500 participants
Incentives: none.
Goal of competition: To promote waste reduction activities on campuses across the nation. The Green Bobcats has a personal group goal of having recycling bins in every class room on campus, which was encouraged by the success of RecyleMania.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: 11 tons of recyclables diverted from waste stream
Lasting effects of competition: increased awareness, changed location of some bins to make them more accessible, increased recycling generally (throughout year, not just during competition), office supply exchange program started likely as a result of raising awareness through Recyclemania (2 months after competition)
Website: www.recyclemaniacs.org
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:
Also hopes to work with the university in order to create and implement more environmentally focused classes and incorporate sustainability into a wide spectrum of courses.
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):
Environment Ohio
RePower America
Energy Action Coalition
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