2008 Woodie Awards
Students push to have 'green' campus
By Cassidy Garvin
Rocket Contributor
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: News
Slippery Rock University has multiple obstacles to overcome before it can become a "green" campus.
"Universities can have a big impact on the environment, and recently there have been a lot of universities that are taking the initiative to become environmental leaders," said Michelle Czolba, 26-year-old graduate student in SRU's Masters of Science in Sustainable Systems Program.
One example of SRU's environmentally friendly efforts is its extensive recycling program.
There is a lot of energy being wasted on campus because of carelessness, Czolba said. In general, the public is not equipped with enough information and knowledge of the current level of SRU's sustainability, she said.
Slippery Rock purchases about 10 percent of its food from local farmers, which helps by stimulating the local economy and cutting down on food transformation.
SRU students started the "green bike initiative," which was put in place to encourages students to ride bikes short distances rather than driving. Both of these strategies reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and reduce the burning of nonrenewable resources.
"The biggest issue concerning sustainability at SRU is land and land use," Patrick Burkhart, a professor in the Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment, wrote in an e-mail earlier this week. "Once land is developed, it almost never reverts to a less-impacted status. Land is being consumed on campus and the landscape is being permanently altered."
The professors with knowledge in this field are also observing the irreversible changes being made on campus.
"The bulk of the students and faculty appear committed to the automobile, even to drive from Kiester Apartments to the ARC, ironically, to exercise," Simon Beeching, a professor of biology, said via e-mail.
These atmospheric problems have no cut-and-dried solution, but there are ways to reduce the negative impact the university is having on the environment.
"Universities can have a big impact on the environment, and recently there have been a lot of universities that are taking the initiative to become environmental leaders," said Michelle Czolba, 26-year-old graduate student in SRU's Masters of Science in Sustainable Systems Program.
One example of SRU's environmentally friendly efforts is its extensive recycling program.
There is a lot of energy being wasted on campus because of carelessness, Czolba said. In general, the public is not equipped with enough information and knowledge of the current level of SRU's sustainability, she said.
Slippery Rock purchases about 10 percent of its food from local farmers, which helps by stimulating the local economy and cutting down on food transformation.
SRU students started the "green bike initiative," which was put in place to encourages students to ride bikes short distances rather than driving. Both of these strategies reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and reduce the burning of nonrenewable resources.
"The biggest issue concerning sustainability at SRU is land and land use," Patrick Burkhart, a professor in the Department of Geography, Geology, and the Environment, wrote in an e-mail earlier this week. "Once land is developed, it almost never reverts to a less-impacted status. Land is being consumed on campus and the landscape is being permanently altered."
The professors with knowledge in this field are also observing the irreversible changes being made on campus.
"The bulk of the students and faculty appear committed to the automobile, even to drive from Kiester Apartments to the ARC, ironically, to exercise," Simon Beeching, a professor of biology, said via e-mail.
These atmospheric problems have no cut-and-dried solution, but there are ways to reduce the negative impact the university is having on the environment.
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