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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: Zein Nakhoda
Position (in student organization): Member of Steering Committee
Date survey submitted: July 18, 2009
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Earthlust
Number of active members: 15-20
Website: http://orgs.sccs.swarthmore.edu/earthlust/
Date of last meeting: May 4, 2009
Frequency of meetings: Weekly
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008:
a) Wind Power Campaign: pushed for 100% wind credits on campus electricity purchases
b) The Environmental Justice working group initiated a community garden in the neighboring town of Chester
c) The Environmental Justice group started a community grass roots coalition called the Delco Environmental Justice Alliance, with members from Chester and other towns in Delaware County
d) Organized delegation to attend the Power Shift 09 Summit in Washington D.C.
e) GREENMarch Campaign: a month long campus awareness campaign
f) Earth Week: a week of campus awareness
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008:
a) Petitioned the administration with student and faculty signatures. The recommendation of 100% wind credits was added to the Sustainability Committee’s official recommendation list for the administration of 2009-2010.
b) The Environmental Justice working group was awarded a Clinton Global Initiative Grant toward further development of the community garden
c) The Delco Alliance meets bi-weekly
d) Swarthmore sent 30 students to Power Shift 09
e) Engaged the campus on environmental issues regarding food, energy, consumption, and transportation; inception of what will become an annual campaign
f) Brought several speakers to campus and screened films around environmental issues
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?
[ ] No
[X] Yes. Please describe: An administrative Sustainability Committee was institutionalized in the beginning of the 2008-09 school year. The committee is composed of faculty, administrators, facilities and several students. The committee posts meeting notes to the public and accepts written sustainability suggestions from students.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that you or your group has initiated at your school:
- Continual talks and interactions with facilities and the administration on energy reduction and a more sustainable campus
- Tabling and Call-in campaigns across campus on environmental legislature
- The Environmental Justice working group produced a documentary about building on toxic dump sites in the city of Chester. The EJ group held a few film showing, panel discussion/ community outreach in the city of Chester
- The Good Food group (independent of Earthlust) maintains a campus garden. Garden days were held in the spring inviting the campus to participate.
- The Good Food group has begun composting disposable cups and dishware for the campus
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:
- Environmental Justice; EJ works in surrounding communities of Swarthmore around issues of environmental justice and food accessibility.
Chester Garden Blog: http://chestergardenproject.wordpress.com/
- Good Food; a student-run organization at Swarthmore College that works on sustainable food issues in our community through gardening, composting, sustainable food advocacy, and fair food activism.
The Good Food Project Blog (contact info online): http://thegoodfoodproject.wordpress.com/
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):
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