The University has a reputation for being an environmentally friendly school with solar panels, a big recycling program and numerous sustainability-minded student groups. Although this reputation is well deserved, we might not keep it much longer if we don’t support more sustainable development on campus.
Right now, Campus Recycling receives funding from mandatory student fees. This is unusual, given that many other college recycling programs in the nation are sponsored by administration funds, not the student body. If Campus Recycling were to become an administration-sponsored program, it would alleviate student dollars that could be put toward other green efforts. The solar panels in Lillis Business Complex are awesome, but a lot of other buildings on campus could use solar panels or even just a basic efficiency upgrade (anyone been in Deady Hall lately?). Finally, student sustainability groups such as LiveMove and the Center for the Advancement of Sustainable Living don’t have an easy way to communicate with each other or collaborate on mutual goals. Like any good athlete, we need to keep upping our game.
There are, however, simple ways to fix these problems so we can keep our green reputation and make it possible for the University to meet the carbon reduction targets of the President’s Climate Commitment, signed by former University President Dave Frohnmayer and current President Richard Lariviere, and the Climate Action Plan, which aims to have the University carbon-neutral by 2050.
A Sustainability Center would allow student sustainability groups to pool resources, collaborate on projects and share ideas. In the same tradition as the Women’s Center and the Multicultural Center, a Sustainability Center would include a permanent staff member to provide educational information and project continuity in the ever-changing cycle of student organizers.
Most importantly, a Sustainability Center would make it easier for the ASUO, the University administration and environmental student groups to communicate clearly with each other and work together on environmental issues.
A student Sustainability Center would not only secure our reputation as a green university, but it would put us on the path to becoming a model green school for the rest of the state and the nation.
Already, the ASUO Executive staff, Holden Leadership Center and Office of Student Affairs are finding ways to fund the Sustainability Coordinator position, as reported in Thursday’s Emerald (“Proposals cause Senate contention,” ODE, May 20).
We thank ASUO President Emma Kallaway, President-elect Amelie Rousseau and Vice President of Student Affairs Robin Holmes for their work in making this possibility a reality. If you would like to get involved, we at the Climate Justice League invite you to attend our meeting next Thursday at 7 p.m. in 110 Willamette.
[email protected]