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Environmental Studies Department |
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Campus Environmental Issues CommitteeFebruary 20, 2003
The meeting began with a report from Al concerning the hiring of a Director of Environmental Affairs (DEA) (as stipulated by the implementation plan of the Talloires Declaration). This issue is currently being discussed in the Long Range Planning Committee. Al noted that educational institutions similar to Macalester have hired alumni to fill positions analogous to a Director of Environmental Affairs. This approach ensures that the individual is familiar with the functioning of the campus. Because Macalester is now a member of the National Wildlife Federation, an individual hired to fill the position of DEA could receive free training through the NWF. It would therefore not be necessary to find someone with extremely specific technical skills in order to fill the position. Patty Pfalz then reported that she and Brett Smith had met with Denise Farm (the new head of purchasing) in order to discuss the college’s procurement policy. Denise had apparently looked at some different vendors for purchasing items such as paper. However, certain items are purchased through contracts which involve all the ACTC schools. This adds an element of complexity to the prospect of re-structuring current purchasing practices. In spite of this complication, the meeting was apparently quite positive and Denise Farm agreed to look into some of the suggestions offered. The next item on the agenda was a discussion of Earth Week events and activities. Individuals from the ES senior seminar presented some of the ideas that they had been pursuing. They stressed the fact that, although they have been planning some possible activities and events as part of their class, they want to work in conjunction with other groups, individuals, and organizations to create a memorable earth week. They extended an invitation to all individuals to attend the senior seminar planning meetings on Thursdays at one o’clock. They are also planning to attend the earth week planning meeting being organized by Julia Eagles, the environmental issues area coordinator for the CSO. This meeting is open to all interested individuals and will take place on February 25 from 12:00 to 1:00. (Interested individuals should RSVP to Julia by Friday the 21.) They began with a brief overview but later expanded upon this information at the request of several individuals at the meeting. In order to avoid duplication, I will merely include the expanded version of this information. The basic concept was to structure each day of the week around a particular environmental theme. Monday would address the issue of recycling. Possible activities for the day would include a clothing drive, the creation of ‘garbage art’ utilizing recycled materials, and a trash competition (modeled upon the trash competitions of past years in which individuals carried around the garbage that they had accumulated during the week and attempted to minimize this trash). Information regarding the recycling of batteries and printer cartridges would also be supplied. In addition, an outdoor movie would be shown (on Shaw Field) and a new and existing tradition of environmental crush notes would be instigated. The idea for Tuesday (Earth Day) centered on the topic of sustainable agriculture. A speaker (probably from the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy) would discuss this subject in the evening in conjunction with a meal prepared from organic food (hopefully donated by local food co-ops and CSA’s). Earlier in the day, a photograph of students, faculty, and staff would be taken outside the campus center. The picture would be intended as a message supporting the greening of the community. After this event, a tree would be planted in honor of Earth Day. The day might also include environmental games and the wearing of green articles of clothing. Wednesday would focus on the topic of alternative energy. Tom Welna (from the High Winds Fund) mentioned that there was a ceremony planned to flip the switch on the new campus wind turbine sometime during the week. It was decided that this would take place on Wednesday. Tom explained that it would be a staged media event covered by some of the local papers. Individuals from the community (many of whom expressed support for the project and others of whom expressed concerns regarding the project) are being invited to attend the ceremony. MULCH is also planning a native species planting around the base of the wind turbine which would take place in conjunction with the ceremony. Tom also reported that someone working with the Green Expo had offered to loan a small fuel cell and a bicycle generator. These things could be set up in the Campus Center as an educational display (which would demonstrate things such as the difference between the amount of energy required to power an incandescent versus a florescent light bulb). Melody reported that the president of the American Wind Association had expressed concerns regarding the turbine at Macalester. He believed that, because the turbine would produce very little energy (it is expected to produce enough electricity to power one home), it could provide negative press for the wind industry. Tom Welna responded that it should not necessarily be assumed that the turbine would be a failure as it could prove to be very successful. He was of the opinion that it provided a good opportunity to study the potential of wind in an urban setting. Thus, it would serve as both an education tool and a means of producing electricity. He also expressed the idea that the visual image of the turbine would at least provide increased public awareness regarding alternative energy options even if the turbine produced relatively little energy. Janet Ebaugh responded that, if the potential educational opportunities offered by a wind turbine acted as an important rational for the acquisition of the turbine, it would be extremely important to diligently monitor the turbine and ascertain its effectiveness in an urban environment. She pointed out that the potential site for a wind turbine would usually be monitored prior to installation. As extensive advance monitoring has apparently not been undertaken in this case, monitoring will be important in the future. A speech given by individuals from the green institute was suggested as another activity for Wednesday. The speech would focus on the energy co-op program in the Philips Neighborhood. Both the director of this program and the director of the Green Institute have agreed to come and speak and several individuals from the senior seminar have set up a meeting with them to plan the event. Indigenous people and energy development was suggested as the theme for Thursday. Emily from the ES senior seminar had contacted Winona LaDuke who agreed to come speak at Macalester. Although she is not requesting payment for speaking, money would need to be raised to cover the costs of housing, food, and transportation. Chris Curran is working toward bringing a hip-hop group to campus. The group performs music focused on themes of social justice and oppression (and the environment for this occasion). The group will be performing on either Thursday or Saturday. Friday would focus on the connections between war and the environment. Ideas for several potential speakers are currently being pursued. Saturday is the actual day of Springfest so it was decided that it would be unwise to interject too many serious events and speakers. However, the day will have an environmental theme and media services has agreed to assist in the broadcasting of environmental public service announcements. Other ideas for the day include offering discounts to individuals who bring their own plates and cups. The senior seminar class also proposed that the week include several different ongoing projects and events. The tables in the campus center have been reserved for the entire week. Each day, information regarding the particular theme of the day will be provided. In addition, individuals will be given the opportunity to engage in some form of direct action addressing the particular environmental theme (such as writing postcards to their senators and representatives). A display case, which could contain a variety of different environmentally related objects, has been reserved in the Campus Center. A display case, which will include environmental books, has also been reserved in the library (for one month). The Mac Weekly has agreed to devote space to different articles and announcements during earth week. Brief facts relating to the environment, energy consumption, war, and social justice, (titled ‘weekly energy facts’) will be provided each week (beginning on Friday February 21) in the Today. (During earth week such facts will appear daily.) Jesse suggested that creating a highly visible piece of art, such as a tree or a globe made from cans, would be a good way to attract attention. Someone agreed to talk to Campus Programs about this possibility. Patty thought that the creation of this work of art could be utilized as a fun activity during earth week. It was eventually decided that this work of art should be created at the beginning of earth week (or possibly even the week before) so that it could be included in the photographs taken on earth day. Several possible events and activities could also be held prior to earth week. The senior seminar had discussed the creation of buttons and other paraphernalia with an illustration and slogan that could also be used on all earth week related publicity. The possibility of flooding the Springfest board with environmental designs for t-shirts was also discussed. A bake sale and other fund raising schemes are currently being planned. Tom Welna provided some background information on the purpose and history of the High Winds Fund at Macalester. The High Winds Fund focuses on neighborhood relations. They address issues of community outreach and development by providing grants to community councils. They also deal in real estate and own several houses and commercial developments on Grand Ave. In addition, they lobby the legislature on certain issues. Tom Welna (who has been involved in the wind turbine project and has an impressive background working with environmental issues) is hoping to focus increasingly on issues of sustainability within the community. He offered to assist in the publicizing of earth day events in local media outlets. Minutes prepared by Bernadette Miller. |
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