Two University instructors teamed up in 1999 to start a class to help students form partnerships with campus organizations in an effort to help improve the environment. Two years later, students who have taken similar classes are still trying to make the University as green as possible.
Kari Heimerman, a graduate teaching fellow in biology, teamed with Teresa Spezio, an environmental studies instructor, to give students a firsthand look at the University and its environment.
Through a class, “Climate Change and the UO,” students have focused on the University’s contributions to global climate change. Students examine the effects of energy and transportation on campus.
“In these courses, the students have to recognize and understand environmental problems and challenges,” Heimerman said. “More importantly, they have to come up with concrete actions that the University can take to diminish their ecological footprint while getting to know and understand the actions that the University already takes to do this.”
The Environmental Studies Program received a grant from University Administrative Affairs to perform an environmental assessment of the campus, which was based on figures from a 1995 University study of the climate. Heimerman said the class members were pleased with what they found, but they also came up with recommendations of their own.
A June 2000 environmental assessment by environmental studies found that 24,341 pounds of hazardous waste was generated in the 1998-99 school year, which was an increase of 3,125 pounds since 1993-94. The chemistry department produced 33 percent of the overall hazardous waste on campus in 1998-99.
In its assessment, the ENVS program suggested that the University publish results of environmental assessments and initiate a brief environmental orientation for incoming students. Doing so, according to the assessment, would strengthen the environmental education system at the University. The assessment also recommended future assessments to give the University a chance to review activities, as well as to increase the possibility of implementing more “environmentally friendly activities.” Amy Lake, administrative program assistant for Facilities Services, said the class did a study in winter term 2001 to examine the effects of computer use on campus. To do the study, Facilities Services walked the students around campus to help with the inspection. Although she has not seen the results, Lake said the department will take into account the figures compiled by the class for future decisions.
Christine Thompson, planning associate for the University Planning Department, said the class has become a partner with the department to help study what can be done at the University.
“We have helped them understand what it is we, as a University, have done,” she said.
Thompson said the class helps the department gather information on the campus environment, and in turn, the class provides recommendations to the department on what should be done. While not all recommendations are acted on, they are taken into account.
Heimerman said the University’s administration has been supportive of the classes.
“Overall, I’d say the administration’s response has been very favorable,” she said. “There is a lot of money to be saved via greening measures, as well as a degree of prestige.”