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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: Stephanie Boyd, on behalf of Thursday Night Group
Position:
Date survey submitted: 7/1/09
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
1) Please describe the student-run campus environmental/sustainability
organization in which you have a leadership role.
Name of organization: Thursday Night Group (TNG)
Number of active members: 15-20
Website: Facebook group: Thursday Night Group with 123 members.. We are planning on having a website soon
Date of last meeting: end of spring semester, 2009.
Frequency of meetings: every week, Thursday 10-11 pm. The group leaders will often
meet before/after and regular meeting.
-Winter Blitz addressed the needs of local homeowners by providing "comfort measures" to help with heating costs and decrease emissions; this program will continue this fall with the second annual event. Close to 100 students volunteered to install weatherstripping, change out lightbulbs, insulate hot water pipes in low income homes in the area.
--PowerVote & Powershift: Thursday Night Group encouraged Williams students to become involved in the national movement to stop climate change. TNG organized several call-ins and petitions for legislation and campus issues. Also got Williams students connected with national issues and promoted awareness of global climate issues and sustainability.
--Earth Week: Thursday Night Group promoted campus awareness and covered a number of topics from food sustainability to current legislation through tabling in the student center, fun events in the evenings and posters. Zilkha Center water bottles were distributed to students who signed a pledge committing to reduce their use of bottled water. As a result of this pledge and concerns regarding bottled water consumption Williams will be banning the use of water bottles at the campus Grab-N-Go lunch counter in the Fall of ’09.
--Do It in the Dark energy competition: also promoted campus awareness, reduced electricity usage and emissions in campus dorms.
--RecycleMania: Williams College participated in this national competition. Students promoted the event and held various awareness raising programs.
--Other: several call-ins and petitions for legislation and campus issues: also got Williams students connected with national issues and promoted awareness
--Take Charge campaign in North Adams: along with Winter Blitz, got Williams students involved in community efforts to improve energy efficiency, provide environmental education, and reduce emissions
Key issues addressed and programs implemented since August 2008.
--TNG organized a petition in support of the proposed building policy drafted by Campus Environmental Committee.
-- TNG installed shower timers in student residence showers to encourage students to take shorter showers, to save energy and water.
Progress made on each issue/program since August 2008: Each
campaign/project has been completed or is on-going.
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: 2006
Frequency of competition: every fall
Participants: entire campus
Incentives: prizes for being the dorm that reduces energy usage the most
Goal of competition: to raise awareness and reduce energy usage as much as possible.
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced: Winning dorm reduced electricity by 29%, second and third place 19% and 13% respectively.
Lasting effects of competition: Camaraderie and increased awareness, visibility
for TNG
Website:
#2 - Name of competition: Recyclemania
Name of competition: Recyclemania
Year initiated: 2007
Frequency of competition: Annually
Participants: All campus
Incentives: Various – parties, pizza, etc to raise awareness.
Goal of competition: to increase diversion rate and reduce total waste
Percent of energy/water/waste reduced:
Lasting effects of competition:
Website: Recyclemania 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: Student council elects students to sit on the Campus Environmental Advisory Committee.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
4) Please describe any additional campus sustainability activities or projects that
you or your group has initiated at your school:
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:
We work closely with neighborhood governance boards, Lehman Council for
Community Engagement/CCE, Students for Social Justice, Experiential Education and several others.
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 Coaltion,
Mass PIRG
Center For Ecological Technology
Hoosic River Watershed Association
Berkshire Regional Planning
Berkshire Community Coalition
Others.
Through the offices of Community Engagement, Zilkha Center, Center for Environmental Studies, Experiential Education Williams students have the opportunity to be involved with numerous volunteer and paid positions in the community that support the sustainability related initiatives.
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